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“Can I ask you something?” He dared to nudge into dangerous, black-diamond-level conversation. “What is it about the guy back in Atlanta that won your heart? Why does he deserve Scarlet Cherish?”
“Deserve?” She set her mug down and lifted her chin. “Maybe I’m the one that has to work to deserve him.”
“I doubt that,” he said in his firmest tone.
“It’s not a matter of deserving someone. It’s about compatibility. Wanting the same things. Making a lasting bond over what each of you wants and needs.”
“You mean he’s a big city guy, and you have no desire to return to Cherry Creek.” Thoughts of giving up his land, his business, his life to run off to the big city pinched him.
“That’s not it. I mean, there isn’t any work for me here. I need to be in Atlanta so in that sense, yes, that is a contributing factor.”
His heart ached to have a purpose and a place in her world. “What about love and romance like the books we used to read?”
“Stories. That isn’t real life.”
He scooted his mug away, his stomach churning with uncertainty but he had to be bold to break up a soon-to-be bad marriage. “What about the legend ofOnce Upon a Kiss?”
Scarlet waved off the notion. “It’s just that, a legend.”
“Laura says the book’s real. I doubt it. I don’t believe in miracles, but I do believe in work and dedication and love. Doing things for people to show how much you care. Love isn’t a transaction, it’s a feeling.”
“That sounds like my aunt.” Her gaze narrowed. “Wait a minute. The library box.” She stood, scooting the chair out with a loud squeal against the hardwood floors. “That was her idea, wasn’t it?”
Warning alarms blared. “I only wanted to show you what kind of life exists here. The one you left behind where friends and family care about you.”
“So she told you to make that.” Scarlet stabbed a finger at the window.
He stood. “No.”
“Duke Trenton, don’t you lie to me.” For the first time since they spoke, she dropped her big city pretense and used her country twang on him. A warning if he’d ever heard one.
“She might have hinted that I should show you how much I care. As a friend, you know.”
“I’m such a fool. I thought—”
Hope swelled. “Thought what?” He cupped her elbow, willing her to talk to him, but she jerked away and swung open the front door. Aa blast of chill rushed into the room and dropped the temperature almost as fast as her cold stare. “I think it’s late and you should leave.”
Her dismissal stirred his anger and pride. “Right. I won’t bother you again.” He swung his coat over his shoulder and walked out the door.
“Wait.”
He stopped at the curb and about-faced, finding her leaning against the door jamb, her gaze on the stars in the sky. “We’re friends, and friends help each other. Be here at 5:30 AM. I’ll look at your stuff while I do prep.”
“Friends? I guess I should’ve checked the zoning permissions on our relationship. I won’t overstep again. I’ll be here. Thanks.”
“Don’t be late.” Her voice softened to a teasing tone.
“No, ma’am.” He saluted and winked.
He’d be here, first thing, along with a plan to figure out how to prove to her that she deserved better than that boyfriend in Atlanta. And he knew just the way to show her how he felt. It might not be the legendary book promising love at Christmas but a book that would prove how much he cherished her. A book he’d clung to for a decade. A book that would show her small-town living was much better than big-city life. Especially with him. A man who always had and always would love her.
ChapterFour
Scarlet tiptoedfrom her room and down the hall. No need to wake up Aunt Laura this morning to twist her thoughts. After a night of tossing and turning with intermittent dreams of silly love legends and kissing under the stars, exhaustion threatened to take her back to bed at this ungodly hour.
TheAin’t Too Proud to Begsoundtrack echoed down the hall from the kitchen. “Aunt Laura?”
No answer, so she peered through the swinging kitchen door to spot her dancing with hips swaying and gyrating. “What the?”
