Page 40 of Love Unforgettable
“Well.” He looks down at his feet as he shuffles them. “I want to make sure that Sasha really is okay.” He looks back up at me, his gaze concerned.
“She’s fine. I brought her home today. It’s just going to take a while for her to recover because of her age. I spent the afternoon with her. She’s good. Really. She seemed to be doing really well when I left for the evening. Thank you for your concern.”
“Well, then I also want to make sure you are okay,” he says, reaching out and touching my upper arm. Heat sings through my body. “I know it’s not easy to cope when your pet is hurt. Especially when it could have been prevented. By me. So . . . I’m sorry. I’m going to keep Bette Davis barned until I can train her to not vault the fences.”
“Bette Davis?”
“That’s her name. On account she’s got real pretty eyes.”
I laugh. “I like that name.”
“Much obliged.” He drops his hand and shuffles his feet again.
Do I make him nervous?
The thought makes me giddy. I don’t make anyone nervous.
Ever.
I’m about as intimidating as a Q-tip.
“Also, I really don’t want things to be sour between us, what with us being neighbors and all. So, I’m wonderin’ if we can call it a truce.” His eyes are hopeful. “’Specially since I’m not lookin’ toshtupMiss Mavis and all. That’s the right word, idn’t it?” He says it like there’s a “d” in the word isn’t and not an “s.”
I laugh. “It is the right word. And, okay, a truce it is.” I reach my hand out to him and we shake. A tingle zings through my body at the contact, just like when he touched my back at the restaurant with Mavis. Just like when he touched my arm a moment ago. I pull my hand back, stunned. Not sure what else to do, I quickly climb into my Jeep and start it.
“So, uh, great,” I say. “I’ll see you around, then.” I drive toward the parking lot exit and sneak a glance in my rearview mirror once I get there, surprised to see him still standing there, watching as I drive away. Maybe I do make him nervous, but I’m pretty sure he affects me more.
