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I didn’t think this was possible when she first showed up in my cottage, but now … now she was all that I could think of, and it’s like she’s ingrained into my very being.
I’m in love with her.
I know this like I know myself, and it’s exciting, insane, and scary. I haven’t been in love in over fifteen years. The last woman who had my heart hurt me and I had vowed to never again let anyone in.
It happened with Leah without me even realizing it.
“Dad, did you hear a word I just said?” Danielle asked and drew my attention to her again. Her question made me realize I had been watching Leah and my pulse was racing.
“All right, I’ll see if I can talk her out of this,” I said. “I just need you to get her to talk to me. She seems to be making a point of avoiding me.”
“Yeah, that’s because you two have the hots for each other,” Danielle said to me. I nearly choked on the coffee I was about to sip, and she scoffed. “What, do you think I don’t see the way you look at her? The way you were looking at her just now. Come on Dad, I’m not blind.”
Heat rushed to the back of my neck and the sensation burned a path through me.
“But Leah’s my friend, and she’s young. What happens if it doesn’t work out? I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
Danielle’s words made sense, but they did not take away my feelings. “Well, I’ll talk to her. Now finish your sandwich and let me finish mine.”
I was halfway through my club sandwich when Leah joined us, and she smiled at me before focusing her attention on Danielle.
“You were great out there,” Danielle said to her, and I turned to give her a shocked look before she pinched my side.
“Thanks,” Leah said. “Cherry is excited about the outdoor arrangement, and it looks good for her place. We have three times the usual size of the morning crowd. She’s making so much more than she used to, and Cherry was already popular amongst the folks.”
“And people love good music,” I added.
“Leah, they do.”
Leah looked happy. I loved the glow on her cheeks, and how her eyes danced as she looked around us again, and again. “I’m just glad I can make a difference here. It’s not like Nashville, but the people here actually appreciate music too, and what’s best is that I get gifts from them.”
She reached into her pocket and took out a granola bar. “A kid gifted me this before you both arrived.”
Danielle smiled, then she turned to me and tilted her head to one side to give me the signal. “You know what? I have this thing that I need to do, so I’m gonna leave you two here to chat while I run along.”
She was already getting on her feet, and Leah rose with her. “I can come with you, I don’t need to sing until evening anyway,” she said.
“No, no,” Danielle replied in a rush, and Leah arched a brow. “I mean … It’s personal and I can tell you all about it when I get back. Just stay here so Cherry doesn’t look for you.”
“Okay, love you.” I watched them both exchange pecks on the cheek and Danielle hurried away before Leah sat again and laced her fingers together. She rested her chin on her hands and her elbow on the table before lowering her gaze.
I could still hear the sweet melody of her voice from the song she was singing earlier, but sitting alone with her like this made my heart skip a beat.
“You’re avoiding me,” I finally said when I could find my voice. I pushed my plate aside and waited till she looked at me.
“I’m not,” she answered. “I’ve just been busy trying to figure out stuff.”
“I’ve missed you, Leah.”
“I should go,” she said, then rose to her feet and turned to walk away from me. I reached out to hold her hand. I loved the feeling of her skin against mine. Her hands were warm and delicate. I recall the softness of her feathery touch when we made love, and even now the sensations that rocked through me then were spiraling to the surface.
“Leah—”
“Tommy, please, we shouldn’t,” she tried to break free from my hold, but I didn’t let her at first. I realized people were watching us now, and even Cherry stood at the doorway with a tray.
“Tommy, not now,” Leah insisted then pulled out of my reach and rushed away from the crowd seated out front. I sighed as she ran away from me, then I combed my fingers through my hair and ran it over my face.
Cherry walked over to me just then, and she placed the tray on the table.
