Page 19 of Stay With Me

“I’m pretty sure this is a setup.” Kicking my shoes off, I sit down. Looking up at him, my laughter falters at the intensity of his gaze. Clearing my throat, I gesture. “Might as well enjoy their hard work. This town does love to meddle, but at least we get a good laugh and meal out of it.”

I feel the heat of Young Jae’s gaze as he removes his shoes, but I focus on eating a strawberry. My crush is making me see things that aren’t there, like attraction.

It’s nice. The setting couldn’t be better. And I love spending time with Young Jae.

“This does look good.” His gaze still on me, he pops a strawberry into his mouth. “If I’m being honest, I’m happy it’s just us. I love our town, but you’re right, they do love to meddle.”

Looking up, I smile at him. “Exactly. The best company and great food.”

We really dig in, conversation flowing easily as we eat. Whoever was in on this with Hank outdid themselves. There are little sandwiches and even slices of strawberry rhubarb pie.

It’s not until we’ve polished everything off and Young Jae is carrying the trash to the garbage can that I find the note. It’s addressed to me.

It’s time to take the leap and trust in the feelings you’ve been hiding. You never know what might happen.

My heart beats loudly in my ears. If it’s so obvious to everyone else, maybe Young Jae knows about my crush too.

Wracking my brain, I try to think of any change in behavior from him, but I can’t think of anything that can’t be explained away. Tucking it in my pocket as Young Jae comes back to the gazebo, I lean back on my hands and peer out at the lake.

He settles in beside me but faces toward me. The distance between us small, intimate.

“I like seeing you like this. Relaxed and happy.” His voice is low, the timbre seductive in a way I don’t think he’s aware of. When he speaks like that, his accent is more noticeable. “I like having you in my house and seeing you every day.”

Sighing in contentment, I murmur, “Back at you.”

A breeze blows some loose strands of hair from my braid into my face. Before I can move them away, his hand reaches out and tucks the errant hair behind my ear. The smooth tips of his fingers leave a tingling trail and I shiver in response.

My heart beats faster as he sits up, bringing his face closer to mine. I must be imagining his eyes looking at my lips, but then his fingers stroke along my jaw.

Holding my breath, I can’t look away as he leans in, his eyes locked on mine. Heart racing, I pinch my leg. He pauses, his lips mere inches away from mine. Young Jae starts to say something, but his phone rings with Ari’s ringtone.

We freeze, but then he backs away and reaches for his cell. Looking away, I take a few deep breaths.

“What, Ari?” His tone is sharp, worried. She only calls if it’s something important.

Her voice is loud, but all I can make out is she’s talking fast and then he hangs up.

“Ari popped by the house to grab a form for my parents, and Kimchi got out. Ari couldn’t catch her and lost sight of her.”

Chapter Eight

Young Jae

Icanseethepanic I’m feeling reflected on Elise’s face. We’re on our feet and I’m running down the path calling for Kimchi. Elise is on my heels, her voice panicked as she echoes my calls.

Stopping where the path forks to go behind my house or to the front, I try to breathe and think.

Where would Kimchi go?

Elise stops next to me, her hands on her knees as she pants. Her brows are pinched together and I can see the strain around her eyes.

Reaching out, I cup her cheek and try to remain calm. It hasn’t been that long since Kimchi got out. “We will find her.”

She nods. “You go that way and I will check the front.”

Before I can respond, she’s hurrying away, calling Kimchi, her voice thick and frantic. I slow down a bit, trying to search with more thought, whistling and calling the dog just like I do when she’s in the yard. I reach where my house backs to the trail and peek over the fence just to make sure.

Turning, I call Kimchi again when a white blur emerges from the bushes opposite the trail from my house. My knees buckle as she jumps into my arms, her tongue draped out of the side of her mouth as she wiggles happily.

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