Page 36 of Bear In A Bookstore
“Hey, come in.”
He hesitated on the threshold.
“We should try and beat the rain.”
His eyes swept over her. He blinked and gave her another once-over. “Wow. That’s a red-carpet dress. You look amazing.”
“Thank you. Not so bad, yourself Mr. Mitchell.”
She’d tried not to openly stare, but hell, somebody had style. He wore slim fitting dark navy-blue pants that showed his muscular thighs, a light gray button down with a subtle checkered pattern, brown belt, and matching Italian leather shoes. His hair was perfectly swept back, and he’d shaved, his jaw baby soft and daring her to touch.
He smiled and held out a hand for her as she exited the house.
“Did you remember to input the security code?”
“I did!”
The door clicked, then whirred behind them as the new lock system engaged. He’d set up her phone so she could lock and unlock any door or window in the house from the app, as well as monitor the four new cameras he’d put in. Just knowing she had the power of security in her hands eased her mind some.
Desi was unusually quiet as he opened the truck door for her, then went around and slid into the driver’s seat and pulled out of her driveway. Huh. Something was off with him. She sensed it, even felt it on her skin as the hairs stood up on her forearms. Hoping to lighten the mood, she turned the topic to the gala.
“So, what should I expect tonight at the famous Stanley Hotel?”
He didn’t respond, just stared out the windshield. Then seemed to notice she’d spoken and gave her a glance.
“Well, let’s see.” He drew in a breath. “It’s been a few years since I’ve attended, but the mayor is usually the first one to get drunk. The president of First Federal Bank always bids high on the women who enter the ‘lunch with a local’ auction, much to his wife’s displeasure. This usually results in a public fight that’s always good for gossip at the café the next morning. There’s never enough food, so eat early if you’re hungry. And someone always claims to see a ghost at some point of the evening.”
“Wow, that’s a lot to take in.”
“That’s just what I can remember. I’m sure the event has acquired more drama since I last attended.”
She smoothed her skirt and drank him in. He looked so good, and it was terribly hard not to stare.
“Did a lot of things change while you were away?”
He seemed to ponder this for a second. “Yes, and no. The town’s changed some. Getting bigger as more tourists come in, of course. My family’s changed. My brothers have gotten married and started families. Most of my friends have either moved away or become spouses and parents.”
There was a twinge of longing to his voice that pulled at her heart. She recalled how he’d held his nephew so tenderly.
“Is that something you want, too? A family?”
Why the hell had she just asked him that? It was none of her business. One kiss didn’t make them privy to each other’s lives.
He glanced at her, his eyes intensely blue. “It is. Absolutely. I’m excited about that possibility. I had a lot of time to think about it while I was away. Saw a lot of things that drove home how important it is to go after what you want. Time doesn’t wait for us, you know?”
There was a pause, and the question she knew was coming pulsed in the air between them. He took a breath, then,
“What about you?”
Ah, well, Kora, you ask personal questions, and you open yourself up to the same.
“Marriage and kids are a big commitment. I went from high school to college and right into my working life with no real opportunity to think about anything else.”
Landing a significant book deal had thrown her into an absolute whirlwind. And then the movie deal, and the deadlines for subsequent books, and the book release parties, movie premiers, all of it. All of it had consumed her. And then everything crashed, and she’d not thought about anything except righting the ship of her life. She didn’t feel like good partner material. It wasn’t fair to a potential lover to have to put up with her unpredictable anxiety disorder. What man or child wanted to claim a crazy lady as their own?
Kora knew she wasn’t crazy, but it felt like it sometimes. When the anxiety got bad and she withdrew from everyone, or had to leave in the middle of dinner, or couldn’t go to a birthday party because she was too anxious to leave the house. How was that fair to another person?
“Having a family is something you either want or you don’t. It’s not for everyone.”
