Page 29 of Sean
Sean watched the men walk away with slightly slumped shoulders.Their banter cast a shadow on his morning.He missed being part of a couple, chores, shopping, schlepping packages and all.
He pushed Jace inside.Bright colors and floral smells assaulted his senses as he walked down the first row of vendors.The gym had been transformed into a wonderland, looking nothing like it had last night.Shoppers were so packed in he had to move at the speed of the crowd.The tables overflowed with everything imaginable—candles, jewelry, home-stitched items for every conceivable use.One hawked plasticware, another sold makeup.The tables held all sorts of lotions, potions, notions, flowers...
He was halfway down the second row when he realized he hadn’t been looking for centerpieces.He’d been looking for a cap of bright red hair.
Whoa.What was he doing?
He was Monica’s friend, nothing else.He’d helped her organize.It was only natural that he wanted to see how the event was going.Besides, he was on a mission.He took the time to look around.He’d already passed two tables loaded with flowers, and he hadn’t even paused to browse.He backtracked to the nearest one and smiled when he recognized Ember Abbott, the owner of Crafted with Love.
“Hey there, who’s minding the store?”
“We closed so we could be here for the show.It’s a chance to support the community and we get to meet some customers who might not find their way into the shop.Can I help you with something in particular?”
“Actually...”Before he could continue, he caught a glimpse of red hair in another aisle, going in the opposite direction.He stood on his toes to keep track of Monica but lost her in the crowd.
“Sean?”
Something red flashed in Sean’s peripheral vision.He turned in that direction, quickly disappointed that it wasn’t Monica.He slumped in disappointment.
“Are you OK?”Ember asked.
Sean collected himself, not at all certain what was happening this morning.He was on a mission, a flower mission.That was his story, and he was sticking to it.
Even as he bent over Ember’s selection of centerpieces, a quiet voice whispered up from his heart.You keep telling yourself that.
***
MONICA SAT BACK INa folding metal chair, thankful for the opportunity to rest her feet after a crazy morning.There’d been a few hiccups—a couple of outlets that wouldn’t work, someone with a broken display, and a child who had accidentally tipped over a tableful of pot holders and tea towels.Considering all the breakables in the building, that could have been much worse.But as it inched closer to ten a.m.the fair seemed to have found its groove.
She tipped the chair back, rested her head against the wall, and allowed her eyes to drift closed.Her late night and early morning were catching up with her.
As it often did lately, the second her mind was at rest, the enigma of Sean Conklin surfaced front and center.He was the handsomest man she’d met in a long time.Tall and broad-shouldered.More importantly, he had an innate kindness that left her wanting to get to know him better.
But behind that smile lived a sadness that reached all the way to his heart.She felt sorry for him.No one should lose a spouse that early in life.
Then there was the way Sean interacted with Jace.He was gentle and funny and proud in seemingly equal measures.The way he’d reacted to Jace’s first steps last night had been...Well, she didn’t really have a word for it, but she’d wished she could share that moment on a deeper level than friendship.She’d wanted to hug the stuffing out of him.
And speaking of friendship...was that what they were edging into?Bobbie seemed to think he felt more for Monica than he’d let on.
What if her friend was right?Was there any room in Sean’s mourning for something new?Did she want there to be?
She’d never been so conflicted in her life.
Monica didn’t have any answers.She only knew that his smile left her breathless and his slightest touch gave her goose bumps.All she could think of was kissing him right on the mouth to see if he felt and tasted as good as he looked.
“Monica?”
She opened her eyes at the sound of her name.Sean’s face hovered a few inches above hers.
Had she conjured him?
She lifted a hand, intending to lay it on his cheek.Surely, that would dispel the dream.
***
MONICA’S EYES OPENEDslowly at Sean’s whispered word.He hadn’t wanted to surprise her.Her chair leaned precariously against the wall.If she jerked, she might fall.
Her unfocused gaze met his and held steady, her expression slightly confused.
