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“Yeah, I think it was Nora. I was going to reach out to her once I had my teaching business plan all worked out.”
His eyes bugged out a bit. “That was very generous of her.”
“Yeah, it was. Kind of reminded me of me,” I said, quickly adding, “When I had money.”
“You aren’t poor, Camille.” He lowered his brow and gave me a sarcastic smirk.
“No, my family isn’t poor. I don’t have any money left. But I did decide to work at the Foundation pro bono for a while. At least until I feel like I’ve paid off Nora’s donation.”
“I have faith in you, Camille.”
An imaginary string looped around me, anchoring me to the moment. I smiled at him and said, “Thank you.”
He raised his glass. “To new beginnings.”
After dinner, we walked around the town square. He took his jacket off and put it over my shoulders. He held my hand and kissed me sweetly under the antler arches.
The clear starry night shone above us, a blanket of diamonds highlighting our romantic moment.
He drove me home and walked me to my door. I gave him his jacket back and shivered.
We were eye to eye with him standing on the step below the landing. I crossed my arms over my chest and rubbed them to ward off the chilly night.
“I’ll call you in a few days.” He whispered as he leaned toward me.
“I’ll answer.” I whispered back.
His eyes were shadowed in the darkness but they bored into mine. Slowly, he leaned forward and kissed me firmly, yet soft. I pressed forward. He nipped at my bottom lip and cradled my head in his palm as he planted soft, sweet kisses along my jaw to my ear.
When he pulled back, I let my hand trail down his arm.
He stepped down another step. “Good night.”
I touched my fingers to my lips and smiled. “Good night.”
He jerked his head toward the door. “Get inside.”
I went inside and watched from the window until his taillights disappeared at the end of the drive.
I floated through the next two days.
Wednesday night dinners had become a routine with John and Mia. Tonight, she had me set the table while she finished with the marinara sauce.
“John’s mom gave me this amazing recipe.” She tasted the sauce from the tip of the wooden spoon. “Mmmm, it’s so good. Do you want to try it?”
She held her hand under the spoon and extended it to me. She glanced over my shoulder at the table and said, “Oh, add another place. Jacob is coming to dinner.”
My heart rate accelerated. “Oh?” I took a taste. “Yum.”
She went back to stirring the sauce. “Yeah, he wants to talk to John about helping with the football camp.”
I set another place. “He’s interested?” I tried to hide my surprise.
She shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
I sat at the table, trying not to be obvious that I was watching the driveway for Jacob’s arrival.
John came out of his office down the hall, stood behind Mia, hands on her hips, and leaned over her shoulder for a taste of the sauce. “Is it ready?”
