‘Bye, Kira.’ Logan grabbed Jeanie’s hand and the two wandered back to his truck, leaving Kira alone with Bennett.
‘They’re my ride,’ he said when she dared to look up at him, that new … something … was still in his eyes. ‘So, I should probably go.’
‘Probably.’
Panic spiked through her. Was this it? Was she never going to see this man again? And why did that matter? Her mind was racing, grappling for reasons to make him come back, for reasons to see him again. Anything! A leaky roof, a creaky floor, a drafty window … technically she had all of those. Would he come if she asked him to?
At some point, he’d stepped closer and she fought the insane urge to lean into him. Get a grip, Kira.
‘I’m staying above The Pumpkin Spice Café,’ he said. ‘If you take Jeanie up on her offer, maybe we’ll run into each other.’ He was so close now that his words brushed against her cheek.
‘Yes,’ her voice was a breathy whisper. What the hell was wrong with her? But it had been so long since she had company, since she had … naked company, and he was so warm and sweet and…
Jesus, was she describing a man or cinnamon bun?
She cleared her throat and stepped back before he could lure her in further. And there was that smile again. She didn’t know if she wanted to smack it off his face or kiss it.
‘Yeah, sure, maybe we will run into each other. At the café.’
The smile grew like he knew every single filthy thought going through her mind. ‘See you around, Kira.’
‘See you.’ And despite herself, she was hoping they would.
Bennett Ellis was a complication she didn’t need in her life right now. But Kira was not known for doing anything the easy way.
Chapter Eleven
It had been two days since Bennett had seen Kira. Two days of working on his laptop in the middle of The Pumpkin Spice Café, claiming to his sister that he needed a change of scenery. Two days of getting absolutely nothing done. Two days of being questioned by every town resident about what he was working on, how long he was staying, his dating history, and his star sign.
But today he had officially given up. He was taking the dogs on their morning walk and then he was taking his work back up to Jeanie’s apartment, where he should have been all along.
Kira wasn’t coming.
And he wasn’t going up to the farm again. He’d intruded on her life enough already. Whatever spark he thought he’d felt between them, he’d clearly imagined it. Whatever fantasy he’d cooked up about a Christmas fling, was obviously nothing more than a fantasy.
It was for the best. He only had a few more weeks in Dream Harbor, and anyway, he was supposed to be breaking his bad dating habits.
At least that’s what he told himself as he walked through the brisk morning. Main Street was decked out for the holidays. Each shop had a wreath or a wintery display in the window. Even the pet store had gold tinsel strung up on each fishtank and gerbil cage.
The sun was barely up and the snowflake lights on each lamppost were still lit. He had plenty of time to admire them since the dogs needed to sniff each and every one.
‘Come on, guys. Heel,’ he said, tugging on the leashes, though he didn’t know why he bothered. They didn’t follow commands, anyway, only treats, and he’d forgotten to bring some. He’d be out here sniffing lampposts all day at this rate.
By the time he got to the bakery, his fingers were numb and he was ready to get back to the café and grab a hot coffee from Jeanie before getting to work.
‘Let’s get some breakfast,’ he said, and Elizabeth’s ears perked up at one of the few words she knew. Breakfast.
But her attention was quickly distracted by Pudgy’s whining and Odie yanking on the leash. Once Elizabeth spotted what the other dogs did, there was no hope for Bennett to maintain any kind of control. His loyal companions, man’s alleged best friends, dragged him directly in front of the woman he’d just decided to give up on.
‘Hello, sweet babies!’ Kira’s hands were immediately scratching heads and patting wiggling dog bodies and Bennett couldn’t help but feel a little jealous of the affection she so easily poured on his dogs. Were there humans she treated with so much excitement and care? And how exactly did he get to be one of them?
‘Morning,’ he said, and Kira lifted her gaze from the dogs. When her eyes met his, every lie he’d been telling himself about not wanting her disintegrated completely. And the way she looked at him, he knew he wasn’t the only one feeling it.
Even though she was clearly still fighting it.
She glanced away, fidgeting with her mittens. ‘Good morning.’
‘Are you headed to the café?’ he asked.
‘Uh … yeah. After I meet with Annie about her Christmas cookie idea.’
‘They’re amazing. I’ve already eaten way too many.’
Her lips quirked up just enough that Bennett felt a flare of heat in his gut. ‘Me, too,’ she said. ‘Annie’s like some kind of wizard or something.’
He huffed a laugh and a puff of breath floated in the air between them. Kira was bundled up, tucked deep inside her hood, and he resisted every urge in his body to ask about the heat in her house, to ask if it was working, if she’d figured out how to use the fireplace; if she was warm enough. He would not tell her about the videos he’d watched about old, steam heating systems or about the book he’d ordered from Hazel about radiator maintenance. She hadn’t asked for any of it.
He cleared his throat. For whatever reason, Kira didn’t want his help. Which he was just now realizing left him with no moves, whatsoever. God, maybe he really did have a problem with women. If he couldn’t fix anything for her, then what did he have to offer?
That was a grim thought for so early on a Wednesday.
‘They’d be a real draw for the farm,’ he said.
‘Yeah, I hope so. We had a really good turnout last weekend so I’m just trying to keep the momentum going.’ She shrugged a little inside her bulky coat. The sun was starting to stretch its rays down Main Street and it gilded the fluff around her hood.
‘Well, cookies never hurt.’ He was running out of things to say, running out of reasons to keep talking to her. Maybe the women he usually dated ditched him after a few dates not because they were using him, but maybe just because he was boring.
‘Look, I really am appreciative of all the help your friends gave me on Sunday. I know I haven’t been particularly … friendly to you.’
