Page 23 of Falling Inn Love
“Please don’t tell anyone what I told you. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me or to ask me about it. It’s too hard.”
Just as she’s about to reply, the back door opens and Mellie and Kase come barreling in.
Kase darts straight to Margie and wraps his small arms around her. She hugs him back and sweetly asks, “How are you?”
“Mom’s taking me to the creek after her rooms are done. We’re going to jump rocks.”
“Skip rocks, buddy,” Mellie corrects.
“That sounds fun,” I tell him. Then ask, “Have you seen the puppies today?”
“Evan has them outside playing now. He said they needed to get their wiggles out. He also said we need to name them, but I already have the perfect names.”
“What are they?” I ask, laughing at his energy and enthusiasm.
Talking with Kase makes me miss being a teacher so much. I can’t teach anymore, though. I was and am still in so much pain. Who wants a withdrawn grief-filled woman for a teacher?
“Chip for the boy and Bossy for the girl.” He says this matter-of-factly, then lifts the glass of milk Sasha set in front of him with both of his hands.
I can’t help but laugh at his confidence in this. He’s four years old and I can already tell he’s so smart. I’ve missed having conversations like this with little kids who always have interesting and sometimes shocking opinions and who always come up with the funniest things. “And what did Evan say?”
“He said I had to check with the boss lady.”
“Who is the boss lady?”
“You,” he replies, now peeling the wrapper off a blueberry muffin.
Now we all laugh. Okay, so Evan considers me his boss lady. I love how he’s giving me a say in the puppies. I feel like I belong.
I glance out the window to find Evan decked out in a long-sleeve, white athletic shirt that molds to his musclesjust right. He picks up one of the puppies and scratches its ears. He kisses it before setting it down again to repeat this tenderness with its sibling. My heart swells just watching him interact with the puppies. He’s a big tough guy but soft on the inside. Somewhat like the cinnamon roll characters I write in my books. Meeting Evan is like meeting the book character of my dreams.
Margie clears her throat to recapture my attention, then asks Mellie and me, “What are you two doing tonight?”
Mellie and I exchange a glance and I reply, “Working on the marketing plan and watching Netflix, I guess.”
“Relaxing with my buddy,” Mellie says with a shrug.
Margie beams. “Why don’t you leave Kase with me for the night and you two head to the McGuinness Tavern. Evan’s playing with his old band again, and I think it would be good for you two young people to get out and have some fun.”
“Can we have a sleepover?” Kase asks, his glee evident. “And bring the puppies?” Margie nods. “I’m in!” he squeals as he dances in his chair with happiness.
Mellie raises an eyebrow at me. “What do you think?”
“I guess?” Excitement washes over me and I realize how long it has been since I made a new friend and had a night out. I’m already thinking of what I want to wear and as I glance back out to Evan who is… Oh my God, is he chopping wood? Yes, yes, he is.Holy shit.His back muscles tense before the ax comes down and wood splitters. He stops to stack the wood and glances over and waves.Busted.I don’t mind watching him chop wood, and I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing him play guitar and sing, too.
“Okay, it’s settled then,” Margie says. “Girls’ night for you two, Kase and Margie time for me.”
I don’t miss the gleam in her eyes as she winks at me.
I spend the rest of the morning and afternoon at the front desk while Evan works from his office. The puppies mostly sleep in a basket between our work areas, and we take turns taking them outside.
After a couple of instances of this, he bluntly asks, “So are we going to talk about that kiss?”
He moves closer to me, lifting my chin with the tip of his finger and leaning in close. He pulls me toward him and gently covers my lips with his. I lean in, he tastes so good. We kiss again, and this time it feels like time stops. He pulls out of the kiss but leans his cheek on mine. “I could do that forever,” he whispers.
I nod, my lips feeling swollen, and whisper back, “Yep.”
“I hear you’re coming to watch me and the band play later.” He kisses me across my cheek and down my neck. My body literally aching with desire, I lean in, wrapping my arms around him as Ipull him closer. He makes me feel beautiful and confident, and like maybe this really could work.
