Page 39 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
After watching how bonded the brothers were, she couldn’t even imagine how hard it must have been on them to lose a brother—for Gage to lose a twin. “I’m so sorry. That must have been hard. Especially on you.”
He stopped, looking surprised. “Why me?”
She watched the emotions play in his deep blue eyes and knew she was right. Knew that everyone likely gave Gage the wide berth and support he needed to grieve. But Josh had been the one giving the support, being strong for everyone else, burying his own pain to be there for his family.
“You love your family, and you take your role as eldest seriously. I saw you at the party, watched the way you kept your eye on your siblings, making sure they were okay.” She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Then there was the way you are with your mom. Gentle but stern when she crossed a line. It was clear that you love each other very much.”
“She likes to cross lines, and at the party she crossed a few too many with you.”
“Mothers of the groom can sometimes be more difficult than mothers of the bride. After a few weddings, I kind of expect it.” And before he could make some grand gesture about protecting her from his big, bad mother, she said, “The way your family loves is pretty special.”
“Sometimes it feels as if were all in each other’s business, but I know how lucky I am.” They had been quiet for a long moment, just walking through the park when he asked. “Do you play chess?”
She looked around and realized they were in the part of the park where the stone chess tables sat. A few homeless men were tucked tightly in sleeping bags or their overcoats, sleeping on the park benches.
“God, no. Do you?”
“Not really.” He tightened his grip, then tucked their hands in his sports coat pocket and that was how they walked, holding hands, hers cocooned in his warm embrace.
“Herman, he’s the one in the photo, is a legend. He was a chess grand master. I mean heis. I don’t think such an accomplishment can be taken back. Do you?”
He glanced down at her. “Do you?”
“I hope not,” she finally said. “It would be cruel to take something away after working so hard to earn it. And he must have worked really hard. He once showed me a copy of Chess Review, and he was on the cover.”
“Do you know what happened? How he ended up on the streets?”
“There’s a lot of reasons people end up here, but Herman never shared that with me. I’m pretty sure he’s bipolar and the meds take the edge off. It’s kind of sad, when you think about it. Choosing between living a regular existence or engaging in an extraordinary love.” She looked up at him. “What would you choose?”
“Don’t you think you can have both?” he asked, his gaze full of consideration.
Reason enough to call it a night. Their worlds were so far apart, she could drive a Greyhound bus through the distance. Yet, she found herself answering. “Depends on the person, I guess.”
He slowed to a stop. “Why did you come looking for me tonight?”
“You mentioned expensive whiskey and a sea of loafers. I saw your car was in the lot and thought,Self, where would Loafers go?I looked across the street, and there you were.”
“Now that you’ve seen a real loafer, you have to take that back.”
“I’ll think about it,” she teased. “And I could lie and say it was because of the permit, but I think it was because I wanted to see you. I didn’t mean to pull you away from a dinner. With the mayor, of all people. I really am sorry.”
“Don’t be. I have dinner with him once a week. I’ll catch up with him on Monday,” he said, but she got the feeling he was sugar coating the situation. “In fact, you’re kind of saving me. I haven’t gotten out of my tie before midnight in weeks.”
She stopped and turned to him until they were facing each other, then slowly loosened his tie. She watched him watching her, the heat in his gaze so explosive one carefully planned touch and they’d ignite in a giant ball of pent-up sexual tension.
Tie loosened, her fingers began to tingle, and she dropped her hands. “I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful for all your help. It’s just there are a lot of people counting on me, and I don’t want to let them down.”
“Monday, I promise.”
That word gave her heart burn. “Didn’t your mama tell you that you shouldn’t make promises you don’t know if you can keep?”
“Mama?” He lifted a brow. “Do I detect an accent? Piper Campagna, are you a southern bell under those ladybug boots?”
“I learned early on that when it rained it poured, and the only way to tackle life’s mud puddles was with the right pair of boots.” Or at least that’s how she justified her obsession. “Some women love handbags. I take it your mom collects jewelry.” His eye roll said she’d nailed it. “For me, it’s all about the boots. Ankle high, knee-high, thigh-high. Leather, suede or steel-toed. Doesn’t matter. If they were made for walking, I have to have them.”
“Forget the heels and tell me, in great detail, about these thigh-high boots.”
She laughed. “Thigh-high is definitely fifth date material.”
