Eventually, he released his grip.“That looks...interesting.”He glanced at the papers on the table.
It was as though he’d hit a light switch.Excitement filled Tilly’s hazel eyes, the gold flecks almost glinting in the diner’s lighting.Her smile was wide and welcoming.A flash of warmth pooled in his belly.
Had he been missing out on the town’s friendliness because he’d been too worried about being recognized?
Highly possible.In fact, most definitely.For a while it hadn’t bothered him, but after the fire and the aftermath, he’d reevaluated his life as some things were more important—like living his life the way he wanted to live it.
Zach sighed.Now wasn’t the time for heavy thoughts, not with his mysterious hand kisser sitting across from him.
“Oh, it’s more than interesting, it’s exciting,” she gushed.Her enthusiasm seeped out toward him, encouraging him to grasp it.“It’s going to be amazing.The town is going to love it.”
“Sounds intriguing.”And he wasn’t just saying that for the sake of making conversation.His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know what had her so excited.
Conversation halted for a moment as Flo returned with a glass of water for him.“I know you’ve ordered, Tilly, but you don’t mind if I bring your food out when I bring Zachary’s?That way you’re both eating together.”
“That’s fi—”
“That’s not nec—”
They both spoke at the same time.The last thing Zach wanted to do was make Tilly wait even longer for her meal.
“I’ll be back in five to take your order, Zach.”Flo winked and headed back to the kitchen.
“I’m really sorry you have to wait on...”Zach started to say, but Tilly waved away his protest.
“It’s fine.I want to get these forms filled in anyway.Then I can go home and transfer all the information online.”
“Wait, you printed out an online form?”How was that even possible when most were the type where you couldn’t see the next page until you’d answered all the questions.Whatever the format, she’d been able to do it.
Tilly nodded.“I like to read through everything first and know what I’m doing, rather than having to click through each box on the computer and not know what’s coming up.My job is data entry, and the amount of time people fill out stuff incorrectly is amazing.Even on a printed form, they still manage to misread and mess things up.”
That made no sense to Zach, but who was he to argue?Everyone had their quirks or a particular way of doing things.He certainly had one when it came to his turnout gear.“Fair enough.Need any help?”
Why was he volunteering to help someone complete a form which, from looking at it, seemed pretty straightforward?
“Nope, I’m just about done.I need to work out a way to make what we’re going to do sound amazing.”She tapped her pen against her lips and his attention was drawn to their pink fullness.
Would they be soft under his?
Whoa, where did that thought come from?
Maybe he should go, because the things he was imagining he had no place thinking, especially with someone he’d just met.
He didn’t do this type of thing.
He didn’t believe in the whole instant attraction concept.He left that to the people, and the world, his mother lived in.He dealt in a world where life could be ended in a screech of brakes, an errant spark, or a gale-force wind.
Even after his internal lecture, he found he couldn’t slide along the vinyl bench seat and exit the diner.
What was it about lovely Tilly, a complete stranger, that tempted him to stay when it would be far safer for him to run?
Chapter Two
Attempting to fillout the paperwork for the contest while the hottest guy she’d seen in ages sat across from her was a challenge Tulip ‘Tilly’ Bloom was losing miserably.All she could remember was their encounter on the steps of the courthouse.At the time, she hadn’t been thinking about twirling under the arm of a total stranger.She’d just been over the moon after her meeting with Chelsea, Marietta’s mayor, and had acted impulsively.
The moment she got a good look at him, her heart had thumped loudly and warmth had stolen over her.She rationalized her reaction as a combination of embarrassment and excitement about the upcoming project.Now sitting across from him, she had to consider the possibility it could be something different.Something emotional.Which was totally ridiculous, because she didn’t even know him.
The only reasonable explanation for her reaction to Zach’s proximity was lingering excitement about the event she was going to organize.Nothing more.Nothing less.And it didn’t matter that he was the handsomest man she’d seen in a while.
