“Rose makes and bottles it herself.” She twirled the dainty blob of glass and pressed it against her cheek. “Isn’t this the dearest little jar?”
“Little” being the key word. I’d demolish every last drop in one bite. My eyes lingered too long on the freckles dotted along Lola’s collarbone that disappeared under the strap of her dress. I’d demolishherin one bite.
“I actually came here hunting for eggs.” Lola huffed enough to blow one of the loose tendrils off her cheek. “Did you know the village store can run out? Ashley said there might be some eggs here, but they sold out, too.Hoursago, apparently.”
“You need eggs?” Maybe I’d finally have an excuse to drop by her place…
“Ialwaysneed eggs. It’s the hazard of being an amateur baker and gluing my eyeballs to too many inspirational videos when Ishouldbe doing my laundry.” She laughed. “It’s so easy for me to get sidetracked these days.”
I wasn’t blinking. My mouth had fallen open. I was staring at her. IknewI was, but I couldn’t stop myself even when her hand fluttered to her throat and the corners of her lips tugged up in a nervous smile.
This woman.
When she wasn’t so guarded… When she was just…her…
She was…so…so…
Beautiful.
If I were a normal man, that would have been the moment I got all nervous, stuffed my hands in my pockets, and bumbled my way through asking Lola on a date.
I’d never been on a date. Well, maybe as a teenager, but certainly not by the time I was in the police force. Duty, small towns, and relationships didn’t mix. I’d had enough female company to get by. Relationships had never mattered as much as my career in those days.
Where would I take Lola? The bar?
My skin prickled in a cold sweat when I imagined sitting across from her in a claustrophobic corner with no escape. Too noisy. Too many variables I couldn’t control. Nope.
Maybe I could ask her over to my place…
The back deck still needed a coat of paint, but it had views over the Coal River Valley and no tourists or interfering church ladies to distract me from my girl. I’d cook Lola dinner, pour her a glass of wine, and fuss over her. The fireplace would crackle in the background. I could risk some music and ask her for a waltz under the stars. Before it got too late, I’d walk her to the door and lay one of those TV kisses on her that looked all sweet and innocent, even though the thoughts running through my head would be anything but.
Maybe Lola thought it was the moment I was going to ask her out, too.
A blush crept up her neck, and she only darted her eyes up every so often to peek at me. She had the prettiest smile on her lips—pink like the roses I’d hand her if she came over for dinner. I’d bet those lips were softer than a petal. I wanted to run my thumb along the crease and feel all that sweetness before I kissed her.
The question waited to tumble out of my mouth.Join me for dinner?I just needed to spit it out.
“I’d better…” I lifted the box. “Yeah…”
“Oh, of course.” Even I could see the smile Lola plastered on her face took some effort. “I didn’t mean to keep you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And because…”
She couldn’t leave me hanging there. “Because?”
“I like talking to you.”
I like talking to you too.
No.
I lovetalking to you. I can’t get enough of looking at you. I’d give anything to call you mine. Come over. Now. Tonight. Tomorrow. Every night. Please.
Instead of saying any of the thoughts desperate to spill out of my mouth, I nodded goodbye like it didn’t tear at my guts to walk away from her.
No question. No date. No goodnight kiss.
Impossible dreams weren’t meant for men like me.
“Ruth?”
