Page 25 of A Christmas Mystery

“If he’s really into me, then he wouldn’t be trying to hide his identity.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” He scoots the stool beside him away from the bar in a clear invitation for me to sit.

I do. “Why maybe not?”

“There might be reasons why he’s reluctant to make himself known.”

“Reasons like what? Other than the possibility that he’s married or ninety years old or something.”

He huffs with amusement. “He might be shy.”

“Shy?”

“Yes. Why not?”

“He wasn’t too shy to start writing to me.”

“There’s a difference between writing from behind a screen and coming face-to-face. Maybe he’s bad with women.”

I twist my mouth. “I guess. But he doesn’t seem bad with women. He’s really smart and funny and sensitive.”

“Online. That doesn’t mean he has any sort of game in person.”

“Maybe. But if that’s the case, what does he hope to accomplish by the whole thing? If he’s serious, then he’ll have to tell me who he is eventually.”

Theo stares down at the granite bar for several seconds. Then murmurs thickly, “Maybe he’s been into you for a really long time and he’s afraid this is his one shot with you. Maybe he’s terrified of blowing it.”

For some reason, my heart does a dramatic leap in my chest. I dart a couple of quick glances at him, uncertain what’s causing the thick tension in the air between us.

I wait for him to say something else, partly because I have no idea what to say and partly because I’m not sure my voice is actually going to work.

Until he clears his throat. “I’m just saying, we don’t know what this guy is thinking. And there’s no reason to assume his motivation is dubious.”

My heart returns to its normal place in my chest. “I know what you’re saying, but I think your interpretation is overly romanticized.”

His shoulders shake briefly, and he turns his head to slant me an amused look. “Since when has anyone accused me of being overly romantic?”

“I’d imagine no one ever has.”

“They haven’t. But I still stand behind my words. You don’t really know what’s going on with this guy, so don’t assume the worst.”

“Okay.” I sigh and slump forward, resting my arm on the countertop and using it to support my head. “So we’re right back where we started, trying to figure out which guy on my list we’re dealing with.”

“But we’ve crossed three off.”

“True.”

“And we’ve got plenty of time to track down the others. You’re here for three weeks, right?”

“Right.”

“So there.”

I can’t help but giggle. “So there.”

He pushes back his stool. “You might as well stay for dinner since we have to wait for your laundry anyway.”

It’s only four thirty. I wouldn’t say dinner was an inevitable next item on an agenda for the day. But I’m having a better time with Theo than I ever dreamed I would. Not just because it’s kind of fun being on a mission with him but also because he’s making me think, making me feel things, making me feel alive in a way I haven’t in a really long time.

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