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“Bosco!” I whisper-hiss, realizing too late that I just blew my cover.
Arlo’s eyes flash up, landing on me poking my head out from behind the desk. I clear my throat, and his lips curve into a gorgeous smile as he tilts his head to the side, watching me. I frantically search the floor around me for anything that could explain why I’m down here.
Ah-ha! “Found it,” I call out, holding up a shiny silver paperclip like it’s a prized possession as I climb to my feet.
Arlo arches a brow, his gaze flitting from my face to the clip, then back again.
“It’s my lucky paperclip. Thought I lost it,” I declare, no doubt making myself look crazier than he probably already thinks I am. But I can’t seem to help it where he’s concerned.
He nods, accepting my strange behavior without so much as blinking. “Glad you found it then.”
“Umm, thanks. What are you doing here?”
Belle walks out from the backroom, a half-eaten croissant in her hand. “I thought I heard the door again,” she says, her gaze swinging from me to Arlo. “Good to know I’m not hearing things.”
He politely nods in her direction before returning his full attention to me. “I came to see you, Kida. I hope that’s alright. If you’re busy I can come back another time.”
My face scrunches as I eye him. “Why?”
A playful grin tugs at his lips, and my focus is drawn to that damn cupid’s bow. Why am I so fascinated with his mouth? I’m so intent on it that I completely miss what he just said. “What?” I ask, feeling like a complete weirdo.
“I said I was hoping you’d grab a coffee with me this afternoon…”
“Like a date?”
He can’t want to go on a date with me. I’ve only ever made a total dick out of myself when I’ve seen him. No one wants to date a dick.
Arlo shrugs. “You could call it that, I guess. Or just two people getting to know each other. Whatever you prefer.”
I blink at him. Maybe there’s something wrong with him that I’m just not seeing yet because this makes no sense whatsoever. In which case, I shouldn’t go out with him. Even though he is ridiculously hot and makes my lady bits tingle when he looks at me the way he is right now. Like he can’tnotlook at me.
It’s unnerving yet extremely pleasurable at the same time. I kinda like it.
“So, what do ya say? Have a coffee with me?” he asks again.
I swallow, my palms sweating, my heart racing. Bosco picks up on my nerves and scuttles over to me, then sits by my feet and leans against my leg. His weight grounds me, and I take a deep breath and shake my head at Arlo. “I don’t think so. But thank you… for asking.”
His shoulders slump a little as if I knocked the wind out of his sails, but he’s not completely off course. He runs a hand through his tussled hair, and it falls back into place, perfectly.
Of course, it does.
“Is there anything I can do to change your mind? It doesn’t have to be a date if you don’t want it to be. It can be a local girl taking pity on the new guy in town with no friends of his own yet,” he says, a tentative smile tugging at his pretty lips.
The hopeful look in his soulful brown eyes hits me hard. But I know if I go with him, I’ll just end up doing something else mortifying. Then I’ll have to leave town, and my family, and life as I know it just so I don’t have to face him ever again.
I shake my head, then I have a great idea. “I can’t, but Belle can. You’re free this afternoon, aren’t you, Belle?” I turn to peer at her with big just-do-it eyes.
Belle stares at me for a moment then slowly nods. “Yeah, umm… sure, I can do that. Can’t have the newbie feeling lonely.”
ChapterEight
Walking into Perky’s Books& Brews to meet up with Kida’s sister is not what I was hoping for. But I can work with it.
I briefly met Belle at Jack’s the other night. She seemed nice and easygoing, especially when compared to Snow. With any luck, that means she’ll be willing to help me when it comes to Kida.
A quick scan of the tables and lounge area tells me she hasn’t arrived yet, so I take a beat to browse a couple of bookshelves, where I’ll have a clear view of the entry. I’m not really a big reader; I never had much time for it when I lived in the city. Every free moment was spent with my family and a couple of friends I kept in touch with after high school.
Since moving here, I’ve watched more Netflix than ever before, and I’m getting restless, as if it’s wasted time, which is something I’ve never been okay with. Life is too short to spend watching crappy TV, alone. But reading is a more justifiable way of whiling away my nights.
