Page 5 of A Novel Love Story

“Don’t tell Frank you said that,” she warned.

“Noted.”

I didn’t know who this Frank guy was, but he was suddenly my sworn enemy. In the back of my head, I could hear Pru laughing at my luck. She’d say that I must’ve picked up a penny on tails or crossed a black cat; I better throw salt over my shoulder and spin counterclockwise three times. She never looked like a fool anywhere she went—she knew what to order at bars, and she could pick out the best appetizer on any menu. She was the kind of person who the world just unfolded for, and I missed her glow.

I hoped she was enjoying her flight to Iceland. I hoped she got seated next to a crying baby. I hoped she got to see lots of boring glaciers and ate a lot of tender reindeer and … and had a good time.

I was really bad at staying mad. And Iwasstill mad.

The group of townsfolk in the back of the bar cheered as their soccer team scored a goal, and clapped each other on the shoulders. Someone had just won some money—and maybe ended a friendship.

“Damn, there goes my fifty,” Gail muttered, shaking her head.

I took another sip of my wine. One bite from the burger was enough for me, so I started picking at the fries. There had to beonethat wasn’t soggy …

Gail turned back to me and asked, “So, did the rain bring you in?”

“Yeah, I got caught in it, so I decided to pull off and wait it out.”Oh, and I almost killed a guy.

“You’ll probably be waiting until morning, then,” she replied, taking up a few glasses from the sink, and putting them on the drying rack.

I almost choked on a soggy fry.“Morning?”

She gave a shrug. “It is what it is.”

Easy forherto say. I had a cabin to get to and a vacation to start. Alone. It wasn’t like anyone was expecting me this year. “Is there a hotel you recommend?”

“Therewas,” she replied, “but it’s under renovation. Bad luck you came tonight.”

That seemed like the theme of this trip so far, and it didn’t look to be turning around anytime soon. Hotel Car it was. I’d slept in worse places. Mainly, the floor under my desk in the cramped windowless room the university called anoffice. Also, allegedly I’d slept on a park bench in the middle of the college green my junior year of undergrad, but I didn’t remember that even though Prusworeshe spent all night looking for me.

The front door opened, and a blast of loud rain and wind swept through the bar. Gail flicked her eyes to the newcomer, and her concern turned into a revelation. “You know,” she added, scheming, “hang on real tight, I think I might have an idea.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—”

“Gimme a sec,” she said, holding up a finger as someone crossed behind me and sat down three barstools away. He shrugged out of his sage-colored raincoat, tall and angular, like a chiseled statue come to life. He was her plan?

I glanced over at him—and my hope dropped like a stone into my gut.

Ohno, nothim.

“Anderson, honey,” Gail greeted, producing a glass and pouring him a water. “You’re just the person we need.”

The man I had almost run over shifted his gaze from Gail to me, and then back to Gail again. His hair was still damp honey turning white-blond, and he’d changed into a dry T-shirt and jeans. He folded his raincoat in half and placed it neatly on the stool beside him, cautious, like he was a rabbit caught in the cross-hairs of a rifle. “I … am?”

Gail put on a smile. “You certainly are. You’ve still got that loft of yours, don’t you?”

He hesitated. “Yes?”

“And it’s vacant, right?”

“At the moment.” Though he sounded like he didn’t want to admit it.

“Excellent! This young lady here needs a room for the night”—she motioned with her thumb at me—“and I was just thinking about you. She’s new in town. Just swept in with the rain.”

He finally slid his gaze to me. In the light of the bar, his eyes turned out to be a lovely bright green—almost minty. I felt that shiver again—starting in my scalp and going all the way to my toes.There was fresh stubble across his cheeks, and as he pursed his lips, it made the scar that cut down the left side of them turn into a thin white thread. “Did she now,” he said wryly, giving me a long look. He narrowed his eyes. “How fortunate.”

Embarrassment flooded my cheeks.You were the one standing in the middle of the road, I wanted to point out.It wasn’ttotallymy fault.

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