Page 13 of When You Are Mine

Kerris felt more than saw the speculative glance Jo flitted between her and the couple.

“A guy like Walsh has the world in the palm of his hand. He needs a woman who knows what to do with it. That’s Sofie. They aren’t people who can marry just anybody.”

Not just anybody, and certainly not a nobody. Remember that, little girl, Kerris told herself. He’s out of your league. He’s gorgeous. He’s been groomed to charm birds from trees. He flies all over the world, rescuing orphans just like you.

There were a million reasons she had responded to Walsh Bennett the way she had. And a million reasons she should avoid him. She would spend the whole summer making sure she didn’t forget that.

Chapter Six

Over the next month, Kerris and Meredith put their shoulders to the plow readying Déjà Vu for its end-of-summer grand opening. In the mornings, they cleaned houses for Maid 4 U. They needed a comfortable financial cushion as insurance for the thrift store’s potential slow start. Meredith had a nice little nest egg, and Kerris refused to touch the money she had won as Scholar of the Year.

They cleaned houses all morning, squeezed in a hurried lunch, and then resumed cleaning in the afternoons. From there, they would comb the city and surrounding areas for unique finds to stock the shop with the beautiful, unusual, affordable pieces they wanted to build their reputation on. They spent most evenings sanding floors, painting and wallpapering, staining, decorating—whatever it took to transform the space into what they dreamed it could be.

It was a bruising pace, but Kerris knew it was worth it, and in another month, they could have it all done. They didn’t deny themselves little breaks here and there. When one of them received an invitation to a party, or a picnic, or even a game of volleyball, they gave themselves permission to take guilt-free advantage of it. These slices of leisure kept Kerris sane. Most of those times were spent with Cam and his friends, who were determined to enjoy the gorgeous weather and one another’s company.

They were halcyon days filled with horseshoes, baseball games, outdoor concerts, and the river. That summer Kerris fell in love. In love with the water, sometimes placid and tranquil, other times rushing so violently that the banks alongside seemed barely able to contain it. In love with the lullaby of moving water whispering its promises to her as she drifted off to sleep under a canopy of trees. Cam’s cottage was just over the hill, so the river became the centerpiece of that summer, her oasis from the commitments she balanced to make this new chapter of her life unfold.

It was the first day of July, and she and Meredith were close to being done with the space. Their goal was to finish by the Fourth of July. Meredith, however, had a prospect she couldn’t ignore.

“His name is Sam Watanabe. He’s five eight.” Meredith grabbed her purse and prepared to leave for the date. “Finally, I found a first-generation, Japanese-American man who’s actually tall enough for me.Andhe’s a biochemist.Andhe’s cute. Even my parents should approve.”

“I would never ask you to pass up destiny.” Kerris laid out her sarcasm along with a tarp for painting.

“I’m actually excited. I think Sam and I could hit it off.”

“I can’t wait to hear about it.” Kerris adjusted the edges of the tarp, glancing at Meredith over her shoulder. “And you look really pretty, by the way.”

“I’m not sure I can return the compliment.” Meredith examined Kerris’s cutoff jeans, white wifebeater and work boots. Kerris’s hair was caught up in a messy ponytail atop her head, dark tendrils escaping around her face and neck. “Will you get to freshen up at all before Cam comes with dinner?”

“It’ll have to do.” Kerris grimaced, glancing down at her paint-spattered hands. “He’s been slammed, too, with this crazy deadline at the office, so maybe he won’t look much better.”

“He needs to be painting. His talent is wasted with graphic design.”

“I know. It’s in his plans.” Kerris blew at a tendril of hair drooping over her eyes. “In the meantime, he’s got bills to pay like the rest of us.”

“I’m sure Kristeene Bennett would help, right?”

“If Cam would let her, yeah.” Kerris glanced at her watch. “You better get outta here if you don’t want to be late for your date with destiny.”

“Thanks again for the pass tonight.” Meredith backed her way toward the door.

“Just name your firstborn Watanabe after me!” Kerris flung the request after her friend dashing down the front porch steps.

Still laughing, Kerris slipped in her earphones. Her pop playlist got her through half a wall before her stomach growled like a stray dog. Her phone screen lit up with an incoming call from Cam.

“Hey.” She sidestepped two buckets of paint. “You on your way?”

“About that.” He colored his sigh with frustration. “This project is kicking my ass. I don’t think I’ll make it over.”

Kerris swallowed disappointment, wishing it were a Big Mac. Her stomach growled more aggressively, echoing its displeasure.

“That’s okay. I’ll be fine. I think I have an apple left from lunch or something.”

“Actually, Walsh said he could drop something off here for me on his way home, and I asked him to pick something up for you, too.”

“No!” The word erupted from her mouth more violently than she had intended. “I mean, he doesn’t have to. Call him and tell him not to do that. I don’t want him going out of his way.”

“It’s not out of his way. It’sonhis way. Besides, he’s already on his way over.”

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