Page 39 of Old Flames

A poisoned arrow landed in her heart. “And I’m not?”

“You’re hot, but not warm or fuzzy.”

That was exactly how she wanted to be perceived, and yet it upset her. As perceptive as he was, couldn’t he see through her facade? What was he thinking? That she was difficult to love? Incapable of it? That having received it, she wouldn’t know what to do with it? That she would hand it back?

He glanced up at the house and took in the Spanish colonial design carved of native limestone. “What’s your take on Hemingway?” he asked.

Jules took a breath. “I don’t know why I was such a hater. He had it all figured out. His books will endure, whereas mine will end up lining his cats’ litter boxes.”

“Would you want all this?” he asked. “Minus the cats.”

“Who wouldn’t?”

“I’m asking you.”

“I just bought an apartment.”

“I’m asking you to dream, July.”

She forgot her mother and her mortgage. She ignored the cats. Instead, she focused on his voice and let it guide her out of her cluttered mind so that she could find space to dream.

“I would,” she admitted. “It’s perfect. What more could you ask for?”

“Agreed,” he said. “I didn’t expect to like Key West as much as I do.”

How lucky for him! To enjoy the adult playground as it was intended to be enjoyed, as opposed to whatever it was that she was doing.

He took her hand and swiped his thumb over the fresh scratch. “How did you get this?”

“I told you. The cats hate me.”

“A cat did this to you?” he asked, alarmed.

“Never mind. I’m fine.”

He inspected the cut closely before moving on. “Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

Jules didn’t want to think about the future, even the very near future. She wanted to stand here, next to the shooting bamboo trees, and dream with him.

“Our lectures,” he said. “It’s just you and me tomorrow evening. I couldn’t have planned it any better.”

He framed it as if it were a date, and not a live presentation with about eighty individuals in attendance. Jules thought of Ayesha urging them to bring their A game and the hasty revisions she’d made to her talk on the plane. “Not really,” she said. “I should work on mine. I can’t coast on charm like you do.”

“Stick with me,” he said with a wink. “I’ll teach you things.”

“Ten minutes everyone!” Daphne cried in her best teacher-on-a-field-trip tone of voice. “Then time for lunch!”

While Vicky, Ayesha, and the others cleaned out the gift shop, buying special Key West editions of Hemingway’s titles, souvenir mugs, postcards, and refrigerator magnets, Jules and Leo stood rooted in place. It was noon. The sun was high. Jules was thirsty, and weary of fighting her true nature.

Every cat needs a toy.

She met his eyes. “What can you teach me? I’m curious.”

A hint of a mischievous smile. He took her hand and brushed his lips over the barely visible scratch. “Sorry,” he said. “There are children present.”

“Are there?”