Page 46 of Rumors in Bayberry
The cat put his head down, as though he didn’t agree with her.Reed got the feeling there was something going on here that he didn’t know about.He told himself he shouldn’t care.
And yet when he opened his mouth, he said, “Binx doesn’t seem like a runner.How did he get out?”
Sadie’s face crumpled into a look of misery.“I took him to Kate’s house.”
“Why would you do that?”The words came out too fast.He paused and tried again.“I mean, he doesn’t seem like the type that likes to go visiting.”
She let out a weary sigh.“I gave him to Kate.”
Something was wrong.He knew how much Sadie loved Binx.And then a thought dawned on him, and his chest tightened.“You got the call?”
She shook her head.“No.But I want to be prepared.I want to know that Binx is happy in his new home so that when I leave, I don’t feel like a complete and utter jerk for abandoning him.”Her voice cracked with emotion.She was quiet for a moment, as though she were gathering her composure.“I know how ridiculous I am for worrying so much over a stray cat.I… I, uh…” She turned her back to him.
He could see how much this was hurting her.He stepped closer to her.With her back still to him, he moved around her until they were face to face.Then without thinking whether he should or shouldn’t, he wrapped his arms around her.
For a second, she resisted, but then she followed his lead until her head was resting on his shoulder.He hated seeing her in such turmoil.He wanted to tell her that if her decision made her this miserable, then she’d made the wrong decision.But he knew she had to figure that out for herself.
His arms tightened around her.“It’s going to be okay.”
She pulled back and looked into his eyes.“Do you believe that?”
His heart thump-thumped when she stared into his eyes.“I believe that everything is going to work just the way it’s meant to.”
His gaze dipped to her rosy lips.And just like he’d done earlier, he didn’t give himself time to debate the right or wrong of it.He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers.He wanted to take her pain from her.
When she kissed him back, his heart pounded against his ribs.He wondered if she could feel it.He’d never experienced such a moving kiss before.
He wanted to remember this moment.He wanted to remember every touch—every heartbeat.This kiss was what he would compare all future kisses to.Because soon they would be going in opposite directions.
He didn’t want to think about tomorrow.He didn’t want to think about how this was their last moments together.He didn’t want to think about how soon there would be half a world between them.
Instead, he let himself get lost in her kiss.He noticed the sweetness on her lips, as though she’d just had dessert.When he inhaled, he breathed in a light jasmine scent.He’d noticed it before.In the future when he smelled it, he would think of her.
Buzz.
Sadie groaned as she pulled away from him.“I’m sorry.It’s my phone.”
When she stepped away, he felt as though something major had just changed between them.He wondered if she felt the same way.
He noticed that she’d moved to the bedroom to take the call.It made him wonder who was on the other end of the line.Could it be another guy?
He got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach.He knew he didn’t have any right to be jealous.After all, he was the one leaving the next day.
He moved to the couch and sat down.The next thing he knew, Binx was on his lap.He ran his hand over the cat’s back.
A few minutes passed before Sadie returned.Her gaze didn’t meet his.It appeared she didn’t want to discuss the call.And yet he was worried.What if it was her father?What if it was his health?
“Is everything okay?”Reed asked.
She nodded as she sat down next to him.“Yeah.I guess I should be excited.It was my editor.I leave on Friday for Brussels.”She was quiet for a moment.“I don’t know.I think… I think I’m losing my edge.I’m just not as excited as I thought I’d be.”
He felt bad for her.Maybe she would feel better if she had all of the facts.“Can I tell you something?”
She turned to look directly at him.“Sure.What is it?”
Suddenly, he had second thoughts about getting into this with her.Was it his place to say anything?Would it even make a difference?
“Reed, whatever you have to say, I want to hear it.”
