Page 53 of Call It Serendipity

“That good news you mentioned?” I ask.

“It should be good to me…”

My shoulders tighten. “Did you get the property?”

“Not yet. But we did get through one of the biggest barriers today.”

I pick my feet up to perch on the edge of my seat, bringing my knees in toward my chest. “This is what you want, right?”

“This isn’t what I want.” He motions to the way my body’s withdrawn into itself—away from him. “This is the last thing I want, Lucy.”

“That hotel is the reason you’re here,” I point out.

“I know, I know it is. But…” He drags his fingers through his hair.

“Jake—”

“What if…” He holds his hands out to me, palms up. I hesitate, then accept them, allowing him to lift me from my seat. He stands as well, his arms coming around my waist as he continues. “What if we take the hotel off the table? Set it to the side for a while.”

“You mean pretend you’re not the representative for something threatening to hurt my loving community?”

“Well, yeah.” He peers down at me, worry creasing the corners of his eyes. “Will you try just being Jake and Lucy with me?”

I lift a hand to fiddle with the hem of his sleeve. “It sounds a little too convenient—forgetting like that.”

“Not forgetting, but rather letting the rest of the town be pissed about this news. And instead, we’ll simply… be.” After a beat, he adds, “Fate did work pretty hard to bring us together in the first place. It would be a shame to ignore that.”

I give a little laugh, shaking my head. “You mean pretend you’re really here to write a travel article?”

“I can’t take it, being tied to this thing I’m not even sure about anymore. I need to know if we can… I need us to⁠—”

“What about us?” I practically plead.

“I’m not waiting for the sign from the universe. I’ve got it. I really think I’ve got it when I’m with you.”

“Why do you believe in fate?”

“It’s a nice idea, don’t you think? That forces are out there conspiring to help you find what’s truly meant for you.”

“It is,” I admit. And I allow myself a minute to imagine that he’s right. That maybe we are meant to be.

I want to agree. I want to forget the reasons I should avoid this man and instead lean further into him. But what happens when it’s time to address the problem we’ve pushed to the side? I wonder how much more it will hurt to come back to it.

Concerns with his plan sit on the tip of my tongue. But then his hand is lifting to my jaw, cupping my face, and his thumb is tenderly sweeping along my cheek. I look into his eyes. Those eyes that remind me of my morning coffee—rich and inviting.

“I know what I’m asking for is completely selfish,” he says softly. “Tell me no. Tell me I’m out of line and I’ll understand. But, Lucy, since I met you, all I do is think about things I had long since given up on. Things I want to do, and who I want to be. And at the top of that list, I want to be with you.”

His confession sends warmth radiating through me. And my lips part as I suck in a breath.

Never have I felt this desired.

Never have I desired someone so thoroughly in return.

He tilts forward, resting his forehead against mine and says, “I know I showed up unannounced and am asking you for this big thing. I don’t expect an answer tonight.”

His breath is warm, and it tickles the tip of my nose.

“So instead, I’ll say goodnight, Lucy.”