Winning Kasi's Love

By Mildred Colvin

Sometimes our past interferes with our present. Kasi Davis has loved Travis Harris since she was too young for him to notice. Then she made a mistake and thought she had to marry Jake Ziliki. How she blames herself for Jake's death and feels unworthy of Travis. Kasi works at the school cafeteria and feels inferior to the teachers, including her old friends she has managed to avoid for a year now. But as school begins, she discovers one old friend won't be so easy to ignore. Travis Harris has taken a job as Pleasant Spring, Missouri's high school coach and he's thrilled to find Kasi and begin a campaign to win her love. He's loved Kasi from the start, but how can he convince her? And how can he stop seeing Jake every time he looks at Kasi's son?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mildred Colvin
• Release date: Mar 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311240644

Mildred Colvin

Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

Book preview

Winning Kasi’s Love

Mildred Colvin

Contemporary Christian Romance

Winning Kasi’s Love

Copyright ©2014 by Mildred Colvin

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Cover photo copyright © Darren Baker | Dreamstime.com

Scripture portions are taken from the King James version of the Bible.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

DEDICATION

Thank you, Jeanie, for starting this book and allowing me to finish it. Without your input and encouragement, so many of my books would not exist.

Chapter One

Kasandra Davis Ziliki straightened and rubbed the small of her back. She glanced at the large utility clock hanging on the wall and frowned. An hour before noon break. Would they ever finish scrubbing and straightening Pleasant Spring’s elementary school kitchen and storeroom? Kasi’s co-workers were probably just as exhausted. Seven in the morning made for a long day.

Kasi, would you run these to the office for me? Marlene Anderson, school cafeteria supervisor for as long as Kasi could remember, handed her some papers. Food shipments should start arriving in a couple of days. We keep up this pace, and we’ll be ready.

Kasi took the papers. Probably a list of Marlene’s yearly recommendations and request for needed extras for the coming school year. Sure, I’ll be right back.

Take your time. Marlene gave her a conspiratorial wink. Rest your back. You’ve worked here less time than anyone, and you’re one of my hardest workers. No sense in wearing yourself out.

Kasi would’ve smiled at the kind words, but she was too tired. Tired and dirty. She slipped out into the long empty hallway and looked both ways before heading toward the office. Her hand instinctively touched the ugly black net that held her long dark hair in place. Maybe she could slip into the office without running into anyone she knew.

Not one person appeared during her long walk through the hallway that echoed the squeak of her rubber-soled shoes. She relaxed her muscles, letting the time away from the cafeteria ease her fatigue. As she entered the office, the elementary principal’s secretary took the papers from Kasi with a quick smile. Thanks.

You’re welcome. She turned away. Did she only feel invisible to secretaries and teachers? Some were friendlier than others, but when had a teacher ever struck up a friendship with one of the cooks? Would a cook ever think of making a new friend from among the teachers?

She almost laughed at the idea. What difference did it make anyway? She’d given up the right to complain when she dropped out of high school her junior year. With no diploma and a small son to support, she thanked God every day for the job He’d provided. Hard work and all.

She rounded the door into the hallway and ran smack into a hard chest.

Umph.

Oh, I’m so sorry. Kasi jumped back and sucked in a lungful of air as her gaze fell on the realization of her dreams, both night and day. Eyes, blue as a summer sky, looked at her in surprise before crinkles fanned out on either side bringing the thousand-watt smile she remembered so well. Travis Wayne Harris. Had some hidden power of positive thinking brought him to stand before her now? She stifled a giggle. Not likely.

Kasi Davis. When he stepped back, she saw a blue short-sleeved polo shirt.

Eight years ago he’d been thin. He was still slender, but he’d filled out in the nicest possible way with broad shoulders and well-tanned muscular arms. Oh, my. She shouldn’t be looking. Or admiring. Yet how could she help it when his wavy dark hair and blue eyes still set her heart fluttering as it had so long ago?

Kasi? This time it was a question.

Warmth filled her cheeks. She’d been staring.

His brows drew together. I didn’t hurt you, did I?

She looked down. Oh, no, of course not. I wasn’t watching where I was going.

His chuckle was the same deep throaty sound she’d never forgotten. I’d guess that goes two ways.

She smiled up at him and froze. Her hair. She’d forgotten that stupid net plastering down her hair. Of course, sweating all day in the hot cafeteria probably made her look like she’d been mud-wrestling. She reached up to jerk it off. No, she couldn’t. Her hair would probably stick out like a porcupine’s quills if she did. Why couldn’t she disappear?

Oh, no. I just remembered, I’m supposed to be working. She spun on her heel and speed-walked down the hall.

Mom said you started working here. Travis’s voice floated beside her.

She risked a peek. Yep, his long strides kept pace.

Your mom? Kasi walked through a fog. She must know his mom. Travis. Her brother’s best friend. The guy she’d had a crush on forever, until she’d messed everything up and gotten married. Travis Harris. Travis’s mom. Her befuddled mind pulled a blank.

Yeah, Mom. She told me just this morning, in fact. Said you’d moved back to town and were living with your parents for a while.

Oh really? Um, your mom, Mrs. Harris. Kasi snapped her fingers as a delayed image came to mind. The school nurse. Right? She cringed. Now didn’t that sound intelligent? No wonder she worked in the cafeteria while her old friends taught in the classrooms.

His chuckle wasn’t encouraging. Yep, she’s still the school nurse.

Kasi resisted the urge to cover her face again. Could a woman in her twenties have a stroke if enough blood rushed to color her face as bright a red as she imagined hers was? Oh, that’s nice. So, where are you teaching now?

He chuckled again. Was he laughing at her? She glanced up to find those beautiful, cobalt blue eyes focused on her. I’m the new basketball coach and history teacher at Pleasant Spring High.

Pleasant Spring High? Her voice came out in a squeak as her feet skidded to a stop. She turned to stare at him. Travis didn’t live here. Hadn’t since he went away to college. You aren’t here visiting your folks?

He laughed a rich, happy sound. No, I’m not. I’m here to stay. Don’t think you can get rid of me so easily. You’ll be seeing more of me than you want.

Oh, no, she wouldn’t. If she saw him every day, it wouldn’t be too often. She sighed and started walking again. I’m sure your mother is glad to have you back home.

Yes, she is. Dad too. I’m still trying to decide about my feelings on the subject. They stopped outside the kitchen door and Travis touched her arm, sending sparks straight to her heart.

Nothing had changed. His touch had always done that to her. She shivered and stepped back.

I know it’s been awhile, but I wanted to extend my condolences. Travis’s voice brought her back to reality. I’m sorry about Jake, Kasi.

For the past year and a half, Kasi had tried to avoid thinking about her dead husband. But the mention of his name brought a mental image. His unruly brown hair. His wicked grin. His big hands. Especially those big hands raised in anger. She nodded. Yeah. Thanks. Me, too.

Well, Travis stepped back. I’d better get to work. I’m sure glad I got to see you. Tell Bryan I’ll be giving him a call as soon as I get settled.

Yeah, I will. Her brother would be glad to know his old friend had come home to stay.

Travis’s grin as he turned to walk away opened the old wound in Kasi’s heart that had never healed. She watched him leave and let her gaze drop to the bare third finger of his left hand.

If I was forty years younger and sixty pounds lighter I’d go after him myself.

Kasi swung toward the door, guilt slamming against her conscience. The supervisor watched Travis turn the corner and disappear from sight. She shook her head with a teasing grin. Mmm, mmm, that boy sure did turn out nice.

Marlene. If only she could cover her face. Her burning red face. He is nice, but that’s all he is. Travis Harris and my brother were best friends in high school. She turned on her heel and headed back into the kitchen with her boss following.

You sure there wasn’t a spark of interest in those pretty brown eyes of his?

His eyes are blue. Kasi turned as Marlene burst out laughing. Oh, you already knew that, didn’t you?

Marlene laughed. Probably wasn’t as sure as you are. I think he likes you, too, Kasi.

Kasi shook her head. She hadn’t been good enough for Travis when she was sixteen, and now at twenty-five she wasn’t fit to inhabit the same planet he did. Why, in all the places he could have gotten a job, did he have to teach in Pleasant Spring? Their school had only one cafeteria used by all grades from kindergarten through high school. She would do well to remove Travis Harris from her thoughts and dreams, but how could she if he came through her line each day? She almost welcomed the hard work waiting to ground her mind in reality.

~*~

At three o’clock that afternoon, Kasi scooted under the steering wheel of her fifteen-year-old car, buckled her seat belt, and cranked down the window. The car started right off. The compact didn’t look like much with its faded red paint, but the engine purred like a contented kitten. Jake had been a master mechanic. After he bought the little car, he overhauled the motor. Most likely so she’d have reliable transportation to the restaurant where she waited tables.

She backed carefully onto the street. If Jake had cared as much for her as he did her car, things might have been different. Thinking about Jake brought a familiar tightness to her chest.

A hot breeze from the open window teased a strand of hair across her face as she headed down the street. She brushed the errant curls aside along with her regrets about Jake Ziliki and let her thoughts drift to her son.

He’d be ready to come home by now. He always was when he stayed with a babysitter, even one as nice as her sister-in-law. Keeping him home with her during the two summer months she’d had off hadn’t helped matters. She’d expected him to cry when she left him this morning, but she’d been the one to shed tears. Each separation from her five-year-old son was hard. He was the only good thing that had come out of her marriage.

Father, thank you for my precious baby. Thank you for my job and the women I work with. Their friendship has meant so much to me this past year. Thank you for Mom and Daddy, who took me and Zachary in when we had nowhere else to go. Thank you for Bryan and Sue, and Megan. I don’t know what I would have done without all of my family.

As soon as Kasi stepped up onto the porch of her brother’s modest two-bedroom ranch style house, the front door flew open and Zachary flung himself against her.

Hey, little man! Kasi rested a gentle hand on the dark hair so like his father’s. Did you miss me?

Aunt Sue can’t play cars. His small hand grasped hers as he urged her inside. She’s too fat to sit on the floor.

Kasi chuckled as she pushed the door closed behind them. Don’t call Aunt Sue fat. She’s pregnant—there’s a difference.

She stood for a moment letting the air conditioning cool her overheated body before stepping on into the room.

Sue sat in a recliner with her swollen feet and legs propped up, a frosty glass of ice tea at her elbow.

She smiled a greeting. Tea’s in the fridge. Help yourself.

Thanks, but we have to get on home.

Mommy’s takin’ me to the liberry. Zachary swung on her hand.

Oh, honey! Not tonight. Mommy needs to take a shower and get into clean clothes.

But you promised. Zachary’s dark eyes pleaded.

She had promised. More than anything she wanted her son to learn to honor his commitments. All right, she sighed. But only for a few minutes.

Rough day? Sue asked.

The heat is the worst thing.

I forgot. Sue took a sip of tea before returning the glass to the coaster. The school’s not air conditioned.

Little cars were scattered over the cream-colored carpet. Sweetie, pick your toys up and put them away, then we’ll go to the library.

Help me! Please, Mommy.

Sorry, son. Kasi released the small hand. You got them out. You put them away. That’s the rule.

I don’t like rules. Zachary scowled, but he dropped to his knees and gathered the toys, returning them to their box.

Kasi sat down on the dark blue couch near her sister-in-law. How are you feeling, Sue?

Like a beached whale. I bet I’m retaining twenty pounds of water. Sue clasped her hands over her stomach. I’ll be glad when this baby is born.

Poor Sue! Nine months pregnant, and round as a barrel. Kasi had hardly shown at all when she carried Zachary. Well, it won’t be long now.

Any day, the doctor says. She shifted a bit in the chair. Between Bryan calling three or four times a day to see how I’m doing and my back hurting constantly, I’m about to go crazy. Men are so funny. He hovers over me like I’m breakable. Did Jake do that?

Not really.

How different two pregnancies could be. Bryan was caring and concerned while Jake had been aloof and even angry. He hadn’t wanted to be bothered. She’d worked up until the day Zachary was born.

We didn’t have a phone at home. He carried the cell phone with him.

I’m done. Zachary leaned against her knee looking up at her with dark eyes far too much like Jake’s.

She smiled. All right, then, let’s go to the library.

He raced for the door, and Kasi stood. She looked down at Sue. I’ll see you in the morning if not sooner in the hospital.

Let’s make that the hospital. Sue laughed. I’m ready to call it quits.

Kasi laughed with her and opened the door for Zachary. I understand.

She stepped out into the oven blast of August air and quickly closed the door. Zachary had already crawled into the car by the time she caught up with him. Buckle your seatbelt, and we’ll be on our way.

When she heard the click, she started the engine and pulled out into the street. Her muscles cried for a soaking bath, but Zachary always came first. Being both mother and father to her little boy wasn’t easy. She fell short way too often.

She angle-parked in front of the library and went inside to the children’s section with Zachary. A small table and chairs sat against one wall with several low shelves crammed full of books standing out from the opposite wall. Above the shelves, various animals and characters taken from the classics decorated the walls.

Since they’d spent many happy hours here over the summer, Zachary knew right where to go. He headed straight for the lower shelf that housed books for pre-readers. Kasi pulled out a small chair and lowered herself into it while her son crouched on the floor.

He pulled out a book and flipped through it. I want a fish book, Mommy.

A fish book? Kasi sighed.

Her son stuffed the book back.

If she didn’t help, they’d be there all night. Well then, let’s see what we can find on fish.

Yeah, ’cause Grandpa and me like to fish.

That’s right. You do, don’t you? Kasi reached for a book.

How about that? I like fishing, too.

At the intruding male voice, her book landed with a plop on the floor. She almost upset the tiny chair as she craned her neck to look up at the six-foot-tall man grinning down at her. Oh no! Not again. Couldn’t she have at least changed clothes, maybe washed her face and applied a little makeup? Combed her hair? Something?

Her heart jumped and took off running. She wanted to run away too.

Travis shrugged and flashed a grin as if reading her thoughts. Small towns will do that to you. Seems you can’t hide anywhere. Not even in the kids section at the library.

Who’s that man, Mommy? Zachary leaned against Kasi. His small face held a frown as fierce as the darkest thunderhead.

Travis dropped to one knee and held out his hand to Zachary. Hey, fella, how’re ya doing?

Zachary ignored the outstretched hand and snuggled closer to Kasi.

Travis dropped his hand, but his smile never faded. My name’s Travis Harris. Let’s see, I believe I heard that you’re Zachary Ziliki. Yes, that’s the little man my mom told me about. Is that right?

Zachary tugged on Kasi’s arm. Mommy, help me find a book.

Zac. Kasi’s voice held a touch of warning. Mr. Harris is talking to you.

I ain’t s’posta talk to strangers. Zachary mumbled against her arm.

Her son was no dummy. She suppressed the laughter that threatened to bubble out at his obvious manipulation, instead shuddering at his use of a word Jake had overused. First of all, don’t say ain’t. Second, I’m sorry, Zachary. Of course, you shouldn’t talk to strangers. But this man is an old friend of your Uncle Bryan. I’ve known him for years, even longer than I’ve known you. It’s okay to talk to Mr. Harris.

Oh, I think we can dispense with the mister, can’t we? Travis flashed his dimple at her. After all, I am an old friend of the family. You know, Kasi, it sure is good to see you back in town. Imagine, the two of us decided to come home at the same time.

Kasi’s heart hadn’t slowed since Travis’s first appearance behind her. Knowing he could appear anywhere in Pleasant Spring at any time did nothing good to her blood pressure. But she couldn’t let him know that. She forced a smile. Yes, isn’t it strange? Of course, I’ve been here about a year now.

Is that so? Travis drew his eyebrows together. Wonder why no one told me.

He looked like he cared, but that couldn’t be. Travis was only being nice. He’d never felt the same for her that she had for him.

Chapter Two

Kasi stepped into the shower and tried not to think how soothing a long bubble bath would feel. She’d have to settle for a quick one tonight. Ah! A sigh eased from her lungs as the warm water massaged her tired muscles. She grabbed the shampoo and poured some in her hand. She’d better hurry. She had to start supper.

A few minutes later, while she dried her hair, she studied her face in the steamed mirror. Was that the beginning of crow’s feet? Mama always said frowning created unattractive wrinkles, while smiles made beautiful laugh lines. That was probably true, but as far as she was concerned wrinkles were wrinkles, and she wasn’t ready for either kind. She ran a tentative fingertip over the smooth skin at the corners of her large gray eyes and around her wide full mouth, before breathing a sigh of relief. Not yet.

She turned