Page 94 of Pity Parade

“I’ve never been an adrenaline junkie,” I tell him. “I like things quiet and easy.”

“Like dating Daniel?”

Defending my ex, I say, “Daniel had more going on than you’d think. He’s a very interesting man.”

Heath sounds grumpy as he asks, “Then why didn’t you keep dating him?”

I let myself fall into his gaze before answering. “Because I didn’t want to kiss him and that’s one of the parts I like best about being in a couple.”

Heath leans over to me and then dips his head down so his mouth is nearly on mine. “I love that part, too.”

He kisses me like a man possessed. His lips are soft and warm and full of promise. I want to stay like this forever. But then an image pops into my head that causes me to laugh. He pulls back. “What?”

“I was just thinking that I wanted to keep kissing you forever. But then I wondered how we’d do things like grocery shop, or pump gas, if we were stuck to each other’s faces all the time.”

With a wicked glint in his eye, Heath says, “We’ll hire people to do everything for us, so we never have to stop kissing.”

“I suppose it’s a good thing you have so much money then,” I tease.

“Yes, it is. But you should know I pulled out of the skyscraper deal when I was in Chicago,” he tells me. “I’m done going after giant projects. Right now, all I want to do is build our lodge and try to make a difference.”

“Our lodge?” I like the way that sounds.

“Only if you’re interested in going into business with me. You said you wanted to make a difference in the world, and that’s what I want. I think we can do that together, starting with a lodge.”

I enumerate our goals. “We’ll host singles’ weekends and help people fall in love, and then we’ll give vacations to families who desperately need a break. What else?”

“That’s not enough?” he asks.

“No,” I tell him.

“Well then, I may have offered to have some of Chicago’s unhoused come up and learn the ropes to help them get back into the workforce.”

I’ve never heard Heath talk about the houseless before. “Really? How do you think that’ll go over in Elk Lake?” I’m not sure everyone will be a fan of bringing displaced people into the community.

Heath takes my hand in his and gives it a squeeze. “They’re not coming here fresh off the streets. They’re going to live in a halfway community first and get whatever help they need. They wouldn’t come here until they were ready to transition back into society.”

“Then I think that’s amazing,” I tell him. “People don’t look out for each other like they should.”

Heath lets go of my hand and slides his arm around me. “I want to start walking the walk, you know?” I nod my head, so he continues, “I don’t want to just say I believe in something; I want to show the world I believe in it. Actions always speak louder than words.”

“I wish politicians felt that way,” I tell him.

“I think by the time you’re able to run for any big office, you’ve already sold your soul a dozen times over,” Heath says.

“No matter which side you’re on.”

“Agreed. Our world has been divided in such a way that we’re always fighting with each other and not watching what’s really happening. If people practiced what they preached, we wouldn’t need the government to solve our problems.”

“And you don’t need money to do that either,” I tell him. “You can mow a neighbor’s lawn or visit a nursing home. Can you imagine if everyone put themselves out just a little bit? The whole world would change.”

“I say we get started,” he tells me. “What should we do first?”

I love how much we’re on the same page about the big things. If that doesn’t speak to our compatibility, I don’t know what does. “The first thing I’m going to do is host a singles’ mixer tonight,” I tell him. “You want to come with me?”

Heath’s eyes sparkle with mischief. “Do ducks swim? Do dogs bark?”

“So, yes?” I ask, even though I know the answer.

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