Page 71 of A Fall to Remember

“You’re totally into her.” Elise tipped her head and pursed her lips like she was reading his mind.

“Huh?” Pete knew he wasn’t fooling her. He could feel sweat beading on his brow. His fingers fumbled with the string, trying to tie it around the sandwich.

“You should tell her,” Elise repeated. “You don’t have to marry her, you know. But you should shoot your shot. You should at least tell her how you feel. What do you have to lose?”

“But she’s probably about to leave for San Francisco.”

“Yeah, so run. Go!” Elise pushed him toward the door.

Pete didn’t hesitate. He sprinted out of the Green Grocer, still wearing his apron, and ran all the way to the hotel. Inside the lobby, he bent over to catch his breath before asking a staff member if Shelby was still there.

“I’m afraid she’s already checked out,” they responded.

Pete kicked himself. Why hadn’t he said something? Why hadn’t he at least given it a shot?

He was about to walk back to the Green Grocer when he spotted her. She was wrestling to lift her heavy roller bag into the trunk of her rental car. Pete hurried over and picked up the bag. “Can I offer you a hand, miss?”

Shelby turned around, her eyes growing wide, like she couldn’t believe it was him. “Pete. What are you doing here?”

“I couldn’t let you leave without a proper goodbye.” Without thinking, he leaned down and kissed her. Her lips were soft and plump. She tasted like coffee, vanilla, and the sea. Why had he waited so long? He’d wasted too much time with the charade of dating Lacy when he could have been kissing Shelby.

She finally pulled away after a minute, running her tongue over her lips and staring up at him with dewy eyes. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Pete felt a twinge of fear. Had he misread her feelings? “I hope I didn’t⁠—”

He couldn’t finish the thought because she pressed a finger to his lips, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed him again.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he whispered into her hair, wanting to stay here forever, holding her, kissing her, in the middle of the hotel parking lot. Well, maybe not the parking lot.

“I’ve been dreaming about this since the minute I met you.”

“Me too.”

Shelby sighed and pointed to the trunk. “But I have a plane to catch, and I have to get back to Seattle.”

“I know.” Pete was resigned. She reciprocated his feelings, but they lived miles and miles apart. “I wish you didn’t have to go.”

“Me neither, but as you know I have some things to figure out with my family.”

“Right.”

“But.” She hesitated.

But what?

All of his future hopes and dreams were riding on that word. But.

But might be his new favorite word if Shelby was going to say what he hoped.

“I have a lot of frequent flier miles. There’s a Great Pumpkin Beer Fest in Seattle next weekend I need someone to cover. You’re a beer guy. What do you say? You want to come meet me in Seattle?”

“I’d love to, as long as it’s you and me. No fake dates. Only the real thing.”

“Deal.” She extended her hand again.

Pete shook it and then gently yanked her toward his body. They kissed, this time with more passion. “See you in Seattle, Shelby. I’ll be sleepless until then.”

EPILOGUE