Page 22 of Feels Like Home

A million butterflies flutter around in mystomach.

I smile, not trusting myvoice.

We’re staffed well… a few of the college kids who worked for me this past summer are home for holiday break, wanting hours. And, I know Emma is here to handle things in my absence. She’s more than capable. And now that I’ve seen him, I don’t want to wait to get our shopping excursiongoing.

“Give me fiveminutes?”

“Of course,” hemurmurs.

I reach down and grab him a slice of pumpkin bread out of the front case and fill a to-go cup of coffee for him, then slide them both across thecounter.

“The way to a man’s heart.” He winks. And the butterfly farm might as well haveexploded.

“Staying out here or coming back?” I ask him, nodding toward theoffice.

He looks that direction and back tome.

Rather than answer, he picks up his bread and coffee and moves in the direction of thebackroom.

When I meet him at the end of the counter, he moves closer to me, reaches out and places a hand at my lowerback.

I look at him from under my lashes and he grins, a small side grin that’s adorable and endearing and all thingsAndy.

We’re moving forward into a territory neither of us are sure of. Well, I know I’m not. Shaky ground to say theleast.

I don’t know if he’s feeling the things Iam.

Buthavingfeelings andactingon them are two entirely differentthings.

I remove my apron, hanging it on the hook on the back of my office door and sit at my desk, bringing my laptop tolife.

Andy takes a seat, bites into the pumpkin bread and groans, deep and throaty, his head fallingback.

My fingers stay suspended above my keyboard while I sit transfixed, not being able to pull my eyes away fromhim.

“Good God,woman.”

“Youlike?”

“Love,” he correctsme.

I flush at his words, happiness and pride filling mychest.

I bite my lip and finish what I’m working on, closing out the programs on my computer before shutting it down for thenight.

I stand up and make my way to the door, Andy’s hand catches mine on the way, sending tingles through me when he rubs his thumb on the palm of myhand.

It only takes a single touch for my body toreact.

“Where’re you goin’?” His dark brown eyes boring intomine.

“Need to tell Emma I’m leaving,” Iexplain.

“Oh.Hurry?”

I nod, and when he bites his lip I feel a quiver roll through my entirebody.

He releases my hand, and I move into the kitchen where I know I’ll findher.

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