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“I’m twenty-seven.”

“Ah, an older, more experienced woman.”

“Ha! Good luck with that. I’m ashamed to say I’ve never had a serious boyfriend. I’ve had boyfriends, but no one who loved me.”

“Wow, what a bunch of losers the guys in Michigan are,” he whispered. “Either that or you were waiting for me.”

She looked up at his face, searching to see if he was serious.

“I knew I was falling for you, but I couldn’t do anything about it because I was still involved with,you know.”

“You’re an honorable guy, Mr. Saint. I admire that. It was good that we had to take our time because now we’re getting to know each other slowly. I see so much of the good that you are.”

“And I see what you are, too,” he replied. “You’re so kind. You didn’t get bent out of shape when Joanne was being mean.”

“She was just threatened by me. And I hate to say it, she was right to be. I was out to get her boyfriend.”

“I’m glad.”

“Come sit with me while I pack.”

“I have food for Sadie, by the way. We never got rid of it.”

“Oh, good. Have a seat.”

She pointed to an armchair by the window in her bedroom. It was a comfortable-looking space with pale walls and framed art, a bed piled high with pillows, a woman’s room that was designed for her comfort. Feeling like an ox there, he wondered if his feet would hang over the end of the bed.

“What size bed is that?”

“Queen. Perfect for me and Sadie. She starts out sleeping at the end, but by morning she’s in my face.” She looked critically at the bed. “I think the idea that I chose a smaller bed and have so much pink in here might have been a deterrent to finding a partner.”

“Do people really set out hoping to attract someone? I must be a lost cause, because you see the effort I’ve put into making my place welcoming.”

“You already had someone,” she said. “You only had to make yourself comfortable. You can see why I’m alone.”

“I’m comfortable here. I’m afraid I’d break something, like a bull in a china shop, but this is nice.”

“It’s all thrift-store finds, nothing that would be missed if it got broken.”

“Well, that makes me feel even more comfortable,” he said, laughing.

“I’m all ready, if you want to head back.”

Handing him her bag, in the kitchen she took coffee creamer and yogurt out of the fridge and stuffed them in a grocery bag. She added fruit that was ripening on the counter and a loaf of bread.

“If I’m going to be with you for a couple of days, this stuff will go bad. And I need my creamer.”

They left the apartment for the return trip. Sadie paused to take care of some personal business, and they waited, side by side.

It seemed impossible that Wendy didn’t have baggage. Touching her for the first time, he took her hand and pulled her body over to him. For being a small woman, she was round and soft. He couldn’t help comparing her to Joanne, who was hard and angular in his arms.

Tipping her chin up, he leaned down to reach her mouth. They kissed long and soft. It was a tender kiss, a first kiss, and she hadn’t been kissed like that in a long time. Unable to fully embrace because of the bags they carried, they stood in the snowy twilight and kissed until a car passed and beeped.

They separated, giggling. Sadie watched patiently. “Come on, good girl,” Oliver said.

They walked in silence, content, contemplative. What was in store for Oliver Saint and Wendy Adams?

Chapter 5

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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