Page 89 of When You Were Mine

“You got it.” The man wrote out a ticket and handed it over.

“Thanks, man.”

“Oh, wait. Just one second.” She dug into one of her bags and pulled out a blue beanie with a puffin emblem. “Here.” She handed it to him.

“Thanks.” For the last twelve hours, he’d forgotten all about kilts and selfie sticks. Forgot about the last thirty years of his life in motion pictures. But he was glad for the disguise. He didn’t want anyone to interrupt his time with her.

As he headed into the revolving door, she held back, as if waiting for the second enclosure, but he grabbed her hand and hauled her into his. “I don’t like that you ran from me,” he said quietly in their private, glassed space. “But if you really want me to back off, I will. You call the shots. But just so there’s no doubt, I want this. Us.” Before she could answer, they spilled out onto the frosty pavement. “Damn, it’s cold.”

“That’s because the storm’s moving in faster than they expected.” She glanced up at the cloud cover. “Which is why I’ve changed my plans.”

“Changed them how?”

“I can’t miss my niece’s wedding tomorrow, so I moved up my flight. I’ll spend an hour or so with Piers and then head right back to the city.”

She could keep trying to convince herself they were nothing buthigh school flames getting high on the fumes of first love, but the tremble in her hands and heat in her eyes said otherwise.

That’s why she’s running.Because last night proved the passion, the love, still burned bright. Until she told him to fuck off, he was not giving up.

“It’s hard to get used to this kind of darkness at seven in the morning.”

“Right?” She laughed.

They joined a crowd gathered at the crosswalk. “So, what about the wine tasting? Are you skipping it?”

She cut him a look. “Since there’s no wedding, Chris can choose his own sommelier. I’m not needed for that.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry for misleading you.” Not a good start to earning her trust.

“Misleading, huh? Is that what we’re calling it?”

They headed across the street. “The moment I told you the truth, you would’ve sent me packing. I wouldn’t have had any reason to go to the tastings, and I couldn’t risk it. I couldn’t miss out on this time with you. And, if you noticed, I didn’t pretend to be engaged. I wasn’t playing a role. I just didn’t announce that we’d called it off.”

“Whatever.”

Now was not the time to defend bad behavior. He brought their joined hands to his mouth and kissed the back of hers. “Nothing’s ‘whatever’ with us. I deceived you, and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

He had one day left with her. One day to convince her to give him a second chance. He couldn’t afford any missteps.

“That’s it right there.” She pointed to a restaurant with glowing yellow windows. The wreath hanging on the restaurant door was made of books and lit by four electric candles. “The concierge recommended it. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“Are you serious?” he asked. “I barely had time to shower.”

“Good. I’m starving.” She stopped to read the menu. “This looks great. What do you think?” When she looked up at him, she seemed surprised to find him standing so close.

Get used to it.“Why did you run?”

“I didn’trun.” The light from the restaurant illuminated the cloud of vapor coming out of her mouth when she spoke. “I think you forget I’m here to work. Chris isn’t paying me to lounge around in bed with my ex-boyfriend.”

He held her gaze because there was nothing to say. They both knew she was lying.

She let out a frustrated breath. “Fine. I ran.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re not on the same page and now is not the time to have that conversation.”

He sure as hell had his work cut out for him. But they had to get on the road, and the aroma of coffee was so strong, his stomach grumbled. “Let’s grab a table.” He held the door open, his hand pressing lightly against her lower back as he followed her into the bright, festive café. “Wait. This is a bookstore.”

---