Page 60 of Five Alarm Love
“Well, that wasbrutal,” Tuli said as he and Lou walked across her yard.
Her tennis shoes scuffed on the dry gravel and grass in front of the house.Stars lit up the dark portion of the sky, fading to orange and pink light over the opposite mountainous horizon.She breathed in the cool air like doing so could clear her head of the tension from dinner.“Sorry about this evening.Dad can be like an underripe blackberry bush, all thorns and no sweetness.”
“He’s looking out for you.I get it.”
She crossed her arms over her sweater.“That back there was excessive.I am a fully grown adult.”
“He also takes his job as village elder seriously.”
“What does that mean?”
Tuli shoved his hands into his lightweight jacket.“Means that your life choices reflect on his standing.”
“Are you saying I am an embarrassment to him?”
“No, but I might be.”
“No.”
“That was a hell of a kick to the ego back there.I know that my family’s history and my work are things he takes into consideration.”
“That’s not right.You’re not your parents.You are successful at your work.”
“Thankfully.”Tuli’s big breath raised his shoulders, making the canvas jacket fabricshushagainst itself.“So, after the inquisition tonight, are we still doing this?Us?”
She studied his proud profile in the low light, with his sturdy frame and the determined set of his jaw.“Are you giving me an out?”
His gaze briefly met hers.A muscle ticked in his jaw.“If you want one.”
Rubbing her arms to ward off the chill, she said, “No.I don’t want an out.Not like that, anyway.”
He stared at her.“What do you mean?”
“A relationship should succeed or fail based on the two people involved.Not because of judgments of those outside the relationship.”
“That’s deep, Lou.”
A giggle popped out.“Well, it’s true.”She brushed his forearm with her hand, and he grasped her fingers, his warmth seeping into her.Glancing around, she said, “So?”
Tuli grinned.“Here we are, standing here in broad nighttime, where anyone with a flashlight can see us.Are you okay with that?”
“Um, yes?”
“Not a resounding vote of confidence.”
Lou resisted the urge to check over her shoulder at what would surely be an opening in the curtains with a face pressed to the glass.“I’m still licking my wounds from Ryan.”
“Fair.”He squeezed her hand.“Let me be clear.I’m not that guy.I’ll never be that guy.I wouldn’t spill the tea about a relationship to everyone in town.I’ll stay low-key.”
“How?With The Real Alaska site and all, you’re recognizable.”
“Recognizable for my handsomeness, you mean?”He lifted her hand and brushed a kiss over her knuckles.“If you don’t want exposure, I will not expose you.”His voice dropped low.“At least not on the channel.”
Her face heated.“Oh.Well.”
“Lou…”
“I think maybe… can we keep things casual between us for now?”
