“So, six months?”
I nodded. “And judging by the look of the house, I’ll be busy.”
“Well, we’ll have to make the most of it while you’re here, right? We have so much to catch up on, and you can come to the weekly events here, and I’ll introduce you to the regulars…”
She kept going, and my heartbeat kicked into high gear. This was too much, too soon. I lurched to a stand and grabbed my coffee.
Jodi stood with me, not seeing my distress. “Oh, you have to go. Lots to do at Gigi’s of course!” she gushed. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, right?”
I nodded distractedly as she followed me to the door.
“Come earlier tomorrow, it’s Sunday and you can have those scones Gigi used to have.” She pulled me into another long embrace.
Finally, I pushed the door open and yanked myself out of her hug while still walking.
“Oh, wait!” Her eyes widened.
“I’m good, I gotta go!” I walked like a woman on a mission. Because I was. And the mission was to leave with all of my limbs and emotions intact.
“Samson!” she yelled as she reached for me.
Who was Samson? It didn’t matter. I darted out of her reach like a ninja. “Okay, bye!”
I turned, and my foot promptly knocked into a tiny, grungy, four-legged terror.
Oh no.
I flailed and shrieked, losing my balance and hitting the pavement with my knees, then palms, then chin. “Owww,” I moaned. In front of me, the coffee gurgled out of the to-go cup’s lid as it rolled away.
It was really good coffee, too. Like, really good. Damn.
The demon dog—Samson, I gathered—woofed and licked my cheek, then scampered off.
And to think I’d liked him on the way here.
“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” Jodi asked.
I moaned and lay there another moment, trying to decide if I was hurt or simply mortified, when for the second time that morning a set of shoes appeared in my line of sight. Black work boots stopped the coffee cup from rolling any farther and a deep voice said, “Samson strike again?”
I propped myself up on my elbows and followed the boots up a pair of navy uniform pants, to a navy fire department t-shirt tucked into a trim waist, then on up to a blinding-white smile and cheerful blue eyes that crinkled at the corners.
“Something like that,” I muttered, pain blooming in my jaw.
He held his hand out, his grip warm and certain as he helped me scramble to my feet. I tried, and failed, to keep the pain from showing on my face as I straightened.
“You okay?” he asked as he released me.
“Um, yeah, I think I am,” I mumbled. Mortified. That was the winner.
“Wait a second. Devon?”
I finally took a closer look at him, and realization hit me like a punch. I knew him. Boy, did I ever. I winced, whether from the pain in my face or the memory of the man in front of me. His dark blond hair was cut close on the sides and back but a little long on top. Full lips were tipped into a gorgeous smile, and his eyes still seemed to see right into me, stripping away my defenses the same way they did before. I breathed out. “Aaron Joseph.”
He smiled, and it was like being warmed by the sun. “Yeah. Can’t believe you remember me.”
There was no forgetting you. The man had always affected me. I’d done nothing about it, of course, but there was no denying the pull he’d had on me. I remembered him at Jason’s funeral, the way his eyes had burned into me. As though he could unlock my secrets. I wanted no part of it. I had enough guilt over Jason as it was.
“Good to see you.” I was shocked at how normal my voice sounded.
“You, too.” He tucked his hands into his pockets and kept studying me.
Jodi appeared from my left and shoved a fresh coffee in my hand. “Here.”
I grabbed it, grateful for the distraction, and took a deep sip. Immediately I had regrets, because of course it was as hot as the man standing in front of me and I could not, would not, let my face show it. I swallowed, taking the burn down the throat, and tipped the cup at Aaron. “Well, um, I should go. Nice seeing you.”
“You sure you’re okay? That was a heck of a tumble you had.” Concern knitted his brow and he reached for my face.
Instinctively I jerked back. No touching. Not by him. Absolutely not. He would incinerate me. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
He pulled his hand back, one hundred percent professional. “Of course. But your chin….”
“I’m sure it’s okay,” I interrupted. I needed to get out of here. Immediately, if not sooner.
He nodded, his eyes searching mine.
Fuck. I turned to Jodi. “Thanks for the coffee. I’ll, um, I’ll see you soon.”
She smiled brightly. “Don’t let Samson scare you off!”
