Page 16 of Romantic

“I feel so glamorous,” she says admiring her reflection in the mirror on the inside of the wardrobe’s door. “This closet is amazing.” Annie’s teasing Pepper a little. She knows there’s more to the closet than costumes.

“Wait till you see the rest!” An impatient Pepper pulls a cherry wood footstool up to the wardrobe “Climb in.”

Annie disappears into the armoire with Pepper following right behind.

“This is incredible!” Annie exclaims from inside the closet. I’m still standing in Pepper’s spotless room. “Brandon! You really made this?” Annie calls out. “It’s marvelous. You’re a genius.” Okay, so Pepper was right. I’m glad I tagged along. I rather enjoy hearing Annie lavish such praise on my passion project.

I follow them inside the wardrobe and enter a magical world—also known as the attic crawlspace I transformed into a reading nook for Pepper. I built and installed the shelves, lining them with books and toys, and painted a mural of white aspen trees on one wall and a stormy sea on another. I loved creating this space for Pepper.

“This is utterly enchanting.” Annie gazes up at the ceiling filled with twinkle lights. I could say the same for the expression on her face. Utterly enchanting.

“And you painted the mural?” she asks. I nod. “I had no idea you were such an artist.” She’s looking at me with pure admiration. There’s not much space in this secret room built in the eaves, and she’s standing inches from me. My head is bent down so I don’t hit my head on the low beam, forcing our faces so close it feels like the moment before a kiss. I edge away to get some space and bump into the closed door of the wardrobe. That’s when I realize Pepper is no longer in the room. I’ve been too busy watching Annie. I have no idea when my daughter left. I twist the knob. It’s locked. I try again. Nothing. I pound on the door.

“Pepper, this is not funny. Let us out!”

Silence. I knock again.

I collapse on one of the large velvet beanbags. “It would appear that my daughter has parent-trapped us.”

Here he stopt suddenly; appeared to think that he had said too much . . . —Sense and Sensibility

4

Annie

“I suggest you make yourself comfortable.” Brandon takes out a book and starts reading.

“You’re reading at a time like this! Can’t you do something? At least call for help.”

“I left my cell phone in the kitchen. How about you?”

“It’s in my purse . . . in the kitchen”

He shrugs. He seems to be enjoying himself.

“Did you plan this?”

He snaps his book closed. “Excuse me?”

“You did! That’s why you opened the door without a shirt!”

“Why would I do that on purpose?”

“Because you look really . . .” And then I realize my mistake.

“Really what, Annie?” He’s grinning. Brandon James is grinning. I’ve seen him laugh and smile, especially with Pepper. But I don’t think I’ve seen him with a full grin, and it looks . . . really good on him.

Except I shouldn’t think of Brandon like that. Not anymore. I try to picture Jack’s flawless face, and instead my traitorous mind brings up Brandon answering the door in nothing but a leather apron like an immortal blacksmith.

“You know how you look with all those muscles . . .”

“I don’t know. Please tell me.”

“Good, okay? You look really good.” The teasing glint in Brandon’s eyes flickers to something more. “And now we’re locked in this tiny space, and at any moment I’m expecting a ransom note demanding that I kiss you.”

“She learned from the best,” Brandon says, returning to his book, which is Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang. I don’t think he’s really reading it. I pull it out of his hands. He looks at me a little annoyed, then takes the book back and starts reading again.

“Why are you reading at a time like this?”