Page 38 of A Heart to Find
“Ahhh, it all makes sense now. I wondered if you had developed an adventurous streak.”
“Nope. Same old Keira.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” He playfully bumped into her shoulder, knocking more than her stride off balance.
“Sometimes I think I need to incorporate more adventures into my life. Don’t get me wrong—I love the stability of having roots in my hometown. But would it kill me to get out into the world a little? Probably not.”
“You’re here, aren’t you? This is quite adventurous for anyone, never mind the Keira I knew.”
She sighed, inhaling the crisp night air. “This whole thing takes me waaaayyyy out of my comfort zone. And look what’s happened. Disaster after disaster.”
Jared stopped walking and grabbed her arm, turning her toward him. Under the glow of the street lanterns, he looked ethereal. Angelic.
She knew better.
“I’ve never been a big believer in fate, but you have to admit this whole thing seems predestined. I don’t think either of us would have guessed this would have happened.”
She nodded, unable to think of a response that wouldn’t be unintentionally cruel. Watching his lips move proved too distracting.
“I’m starving. You feel like eating?” She struggled to break the spell he had her under.
“I was thinking pizza. I may be overdressed for the occasion, but if you won’t complain, I won’t.”
“Pizza suits my sweatpants perfectly. Including the ability to stretch at the waist.”
“Well then, once again, destiny.”
They walked in harmony down the quiet Main Street. Random couples here and there ducked in and out of shops, restaurants, and alcoves, but their numbers were small as most people seemed to want to get to the formal early in the evening for the doorbuster prizes. Promises of exclusive romantic dates had the island talking for days.
“The romance is thick in the air tonight.” The words were delivered in a thick Greek accented singsong voice as Keira and Jared entered the pizzeria. The outside of Jared’s hand brushed against Keira’s, sending chills and fear through Keira’s nerves. She stepped away and reached for a menu.
“Come. Sit. A table with a view for the lovers.”
Blushing like a thirteen-year-old on her first date, Keira spent more time than necessary settling her purse and jacket onto the chair next to her, only looking up briefly to thank Demetri the waiter for pouring her water.
“Are you okay?” Jared leaned forward, his forearms resting on the table.
“Yeah, fine. It’s just hot in here.”
She fanned herself to support her comment.
“So tell me what kind of things you like to do for fun back home in Healing Springs. Anything new there?”
“You know how Healing Springs is. Same old stuff, but with new businesses added all the time. There’s been quite a lot of drama, but nothing that would interest a world traveler.”
“Anything that interests you would interest me. I want to see inside that mind of yours.”
She giggled to mask her discomfort. It was not, under any circumstances, because of the giddy way he made her feel with his intense perusal and interest in her.
Yes, she had a bit of a giggling habit to begin with–don’t come for her, she’s a kindergarten teacher! But he amplified this habit more than she cared to acknowledge.
“Come on, tell me how you spend your Saturday nights.”
There was no way she would confess that most Saturday nights included an early dinner with her perfectly-adequate-now-ex-boyfriend, followed by a cuddle session with her spoiled cat while watching romantic movies and dreaming that she could walk on set and live the life of those spirited characters.
She had sacrificed so much for the family who had ultimately betrayed her. She had never learned how to live on her own. For herself.
His kind eyes softened, and that’s how she realized she had spoken all of that out loud.
