Starfire (Peaches Monroe #3)(26)
Author: Mimi Strong

Grinning, he passed me some condiments. “Yes, let’s put everything on your plate and see what happens.”

The construction noises continuing outside seemed louder now.

“What exactly are you doing to that poor, little innocent cabin? Don’t tell me you’re putting those ridiculous airplane parts in as fans.”

“No, but good idea.” He took a bite and chewed slowly. “I’m just doing a full seismic upgrade and bringing the cabin into this century.”

“Why buy a cabin here in Beaverdale?”

“It’s a great cabin. And after the careful removal of just a few trees, it’ll be waterfront.”

“How many trees? Did you get permission?”

He insisted he did, and that he had permits, but I didn’t know whether to believe him or call bullshit and walk out the door.

I stayed, though, and we talked about his renovation plans as we ate dinner. He asked about the bookstore, and I brought him up to speed on the move and expansion. I paused at one point, teetering on the edge of telling him about Adrian, but the right words wouldn’t get in order and march out of my mouth. That always happens when I think about what I’m going to say. (In other words, infrequently.)

After dinner, we had strawberry cheesecake for dessert, and Earl Grey tea.

I stole a few glances across the small trailer toward the sleeping loft. The last time I’d been there, I’d given him something enjoyable, then snuck off when he fell asleep. Would that ploy work a second time? My inner thighs tingled at the imagined scenario.

We’d been quiet for a few minutes, sipping our tea with a gap of air between us on the banquette seat.

He cleared his throat and looked over at me, almost shyly. “When can I expect an answer to my proposal?”

CHAPTER 12

“I’m dating someone.”

That was my response to Dalton’s sudden proposal.

“But he’s in Italy,” Dalton said.

I grimaced, which was not my most dainty expression. “Not Keith. Someone else. Don’t look at me like that. He’s someone I’ve known for a long time. We had a thing back in high school.” I grimaced again, embarrassed at the lie.

Dalton cracked the tiniest smile, and I wanted to kiss him so bad, to smother that smile under my lips and eat him up.

“What’s his name?”

“Adrian.”

“Do you think Adrian would mind if you married me?”

“Yes.”

“Not if he’s… disappeared.”

I stood and grabbed my purse. “Is it late? It feels late. I don’t hear any more construction going on out there. Should we go out and check?”

“Peaches, sit down. I’m just joking. I’ve made a few major purchases lately, and I wouldn’t even have the funds available to make someone disappear.”

“Not funny.”

“You don’t have to give me an answer right away, but I’ve tentatively scheduled an appearance together for this coming weekend. If things go well, and the tide of my PR problem turns, it could be the end of your obligation to me.”

“Then what?”

“I don’t know what happens next. Just because I have a plan doesn’t mean I can see the future. All I know is how I feel.” He held his hand over his heart. “I can feel you in my future.”

“As more than an old friend?”

“Yes.”

I stood with my back to the door, my fingertips grazing the cool, metal surface.

“Dalton do you know what I feel in my heart? Blood squishing back and forth, taking oxygen from my lungs and bringing it to my legs, which are going to walk out of here. Blood is still servicing my brain, which is in agreement.”

“Don’t get yourself lost in the forest.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and made a call to Vern, telling him to come pick me up.

“I am sorry about blabbing your secret,” I said. “Which is why I’ll make an appearance with you this weekend. If you think it will help, it’s the least I could do.”

“What about the other thing?”

“Other thing? You mean the pr—” My throat closed off. I couldn’t even say the word.

The proposal.

The ring.

A wedding.

Commitment.

Love.

Love?

It hit me in wave after dizzying wave, so I yanked open the door and took off down the steps. The sun had disappeared, and the woods were tall and foreboding in the dark. I started walking quickly in the direction of the lake.

A few minutes in the cool night air was exactly what I needed to clear my head.

I got to the lake’s edge and thought about walking further, turning right or left, but that would mean making a decision, and my brain wasn’t in a decision-making mood.

An owl hooted, breaking the static of anxiety playing on repeat in my head. The sound of the lake at night rose up around me in the moonlight.

I sat down on the gravel shore, unconcerned about getting my dress dirty.

The owl called to me, a three-hoot call. Another owl, closer to me, answered. Who-who-who.

PLUNK.

Something dropped in the water—something bigger than the first raindrop of a shower. The air was dewy, but the sky was dark and cloudless.

PLUNK.

I squinted at the shimmering surface of the lake. Was that sound made by frogs jumping into the water? Or by ducks submerging?

The owls were answered by other owls, further off in the distance, just barely audible to my human ears.

RIBBIT.

“Holy f**k!” I held my hand over my heart, then laughed at myself for being scared by a frog.

Footfalls sounded behind me, and I took a deep breath of the lakeside air, trying to become one with the serenity.

Dalton sat down a few feet off to the side of me, where he began digging around, clinking pebbles. I knew even before he tossed the first one that he was searching for flat stones, perfect for skipping.

I felt around next to me, located a flat rock, and whipped it out onto the water. My rock made a satisfying smack as it hit the water with torque and then smacked a second time as it sunk.

Dalton tossed his rock, which smacked the water four times before disappearing.

I peeked over to see his teeth glinting in the moonlight, and him looking proud of his stone-skipping.

Searching more carefully this time, I found a bigger, flatter stone, and tossed it out. The stone skipped at least eight times before falling in, its final splashes soft and rapid, blending with the sound of the whatever else was out there, breaking the surface of the water just enough to make me curious.