Page 25 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

I didn’t even realize we had a chance until he showed up in person.

Our chemistry.

As much as that thrills me, it makes me nervous as well.Because having his attention in that way is scary.I could just as easily screw it up.Maybe I already did.He shut me out.He didn’t even respond to my goodnight texts.

I take the trail through the woods toward the main area, intending to camp out in the gazebo and read.Even before Seth came back, I spent several late nights out here.I don’t know why it feels like the only spot I can read, but it’s so easy to get lost in the romance of the place.

I’m halfway down the path when I hear footsteps pounding toward me.I fumble with my flashlight, and suddenly, something collides with me, knocking me to the ground.Two very wet tongues lick my face.

I shove at the dogs.

“Bisbee, Gilbert!Where did you go?”a voice calls out in the distance.

“I’ve got them, Terry.”

Lights bob down the path, and the dogs run back for Terry.

She and Todd come into view.“I’m so sorry.We…uh…got distracted, and they took off when they heard you.”

I stand and dust off my shorts.“It’s okay.”

She and Todd look flushed, and Terry’s clothes are a little messed up.I cringe.These guys are like my parents.I don’t want to think about them making out in the woods like teenagers.I suppose little Ollie living with them makes things hard in their own house.

I think about my parents for a moment.I don’t remember them ever holding hands, let alone kissing.I drop my eyes and search for my phone and flashlight.They’re a few feet from me on the ground.

I hold up the phone.“I couldn’t sleep, so I was going to read for a bit.”

“The gazebo is a good place for that.Have a good night, Mae.”

“I will.”

They and the dogs head in the opposite direction of me, for which I’m grateful.I’m not up for chatting tonight.Though Terry is a great conversationalist after midnight.Abi and I get the best advice from her then.

The gazebo sits on the edge of the parklike lawn.On one side is the big red pole barn and a path down to the river.On the other side is the main house and big outbuilding that they turned into office space.Across from that is the lodge and food truck area, with the animal barn beyond them.At night, the stars go on for miles.I love sitting on the bench and staring off into space.Even though I know I’m wrong, I like to imagine every satellite is a ship from another planet, and I wonder what they’ll think when they arrive.

I exit the woods and glance up at the lit windows in the farmhouse and at the office building.Well, one window—Seth’s office.He hasn’t spent much time in there since we’ve started working together.The space is too small, but tonight the light is on.I check my phone.It’s midnight.

I go inside and approach quietly, not wanting to scare him.The door is open, and his back is to me.Deka lies next to his feet.She lifts her head when I approach but doesn’t stand.

He’s still wearing his starched white shirt, but the sleeves are rolled up, and his jacket is slung over the back of the chair.

I knock on the door frame.He turns.His tie is loosened, and the top button of his shirt is undone.My fingers itch to reach out and undo it all the way.But first, we’d have to lock the door and pull the blinds on that window.

He smiles briefly, and then it turns into a frown.

“Can’t sleep in your boob sheets?”I ask.

“No.I can’t.I ordered new ones from Amazon today.I don’t know what they did with mine.”

“You order from Amazon like us mere mortals?”

“Amazon has Mulberry Park sheets, so yeah, in a pinch, I can order from Amazon.”

I give him a small grin, but he turns back to his brand-new Apple laptop.

“You okay?”I’m not leaving until I get some answers from him.

He nods but doesn’t say anything.I’m not letting him get away with this.

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