Page 55 of Rim Job

I nod at Father and return to pacing.

Poor Diana.

She’s a fabulous secretary, and she’s earned her wages the last few weeks. She’s basically kept me and my business afloat, seeing I make my meetings and at least have all my papers in order when I get there. She deserves a raise. She’s a good one, that Diana.

I bet Christina would love her.

I sigh. I miss her. I miss her so much, it hurts. I tried to abide by her terms, her wishes, but this stopped being an arrangement for me, pretty much as soon as it started. I have to do something. Something bold to win her back.

My life hasn’t been the same since the day she left. I didn’t realize how empty my life was before she came along. When she left, she took a piece of me with her. My chest, it feels hollow. I reach up, rubbing at the ache there.

“Son, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes, anything.”

Father and Mother have been wonderful the last few weeks. They’ve been worried and looked after me. I can only imagine the mess I’d be without their daily check-ins.

“Do you love Christina?”

“Yes.” I say it without hesitation. It’s the honest truth.

My God, does it feel good to say it loud.

“I know it was fast. I know it is entirely strange and doesn’t make any sense from the outside looking in but yes, I love her.”

Father nods in agreement as he perches on the arm of the chair in front of my desk. “Maybe I’m just an old man, set in my ways. Maybe, I don’t know what it is like to find love in this day and age, but I do know love. If you love her, go get her. Nothing should stand in your way. Then, once you’ve done everything you can do and should you still end up without her, at least you tried. So, go to the States and proclaim your intentions to the woman you love.”

The sun chooses that moment to break through the gray skies.

Why the hell didn’t I think of this sooner?

I don’t have to wait for her to come to me. I’m going to her. I need to tell her I’m in love with her.

Bloody fool I’ve been.

Maybe it won’t change anything but I have to try. I rush to my desk and gather my things.

“Father, you’re bloody brilliant! I’m going to get my wife.”

29

CHRISTINA

Iwalk toward the door of the bookstore and fumble with the keys in my pocket. Glory called me last night and asked if I'd mind coming in a bit early to stock a new shipment of Ace Gray's latest release,Pretty Young Thingsand Christine Besze's newest,Revenge,before we open.

After everything she and Kelly have done so I could finish out the rest of my time off wallowing at my pity party, it's the least I can do.

Besides, I miss my store and the smell of books.

The dim light of early dawn makes it difficult to see the lock. Through the window on the door, the glow of a candle burning on the checkout counter draws my attention.

Well, that's not good.

Kelly must have forgot and left one of those Bookish Aromas candles our friend Jenny makes burning after she closed last night.

Unattended fire. Bookstore. Not a good match.

I turn the lock, push the door open, and stop dead in my tracks.

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