He shook his head.
“A knight who touched a sacred stone and time-traveled forward to this year?”
“I’m nothing fancy. I’m just a guy who likes teaching and baseball.”
“Do you know that guys like you are as rare as wholesome food choices at a five-year-old’s birthday party?”
“Guys like me aren’t that rare—”
“Yes. You are.”
“Your perspective is skewed because you’ve been unlucky lately in the boyfriend department.”
“Lately? I’ve been nothingbutunlucky in the boyfriend department. I’d forsaken my tendency to fall for guys at first sight. And then I saw you. And every single time I’ve seen your face since that first day, I’ve been tryingnotto fall.” She resettled the angle of her smart watch. “Without success.”
The bakers must have brought out the cake because the sound of the kids’ excitement reached them.
“Did you actually just say that you’re romantically interested in me?” she asked. “And you weren’t joking?”
Anticipation flowed between them.
“I actually said that. And I wasn’t joking.”
Luke returned to his desk as usual on Monday. Despite Trish telling him that Finley would be out of the office all morningfor back-to-back meetings with donors, he kept glancing toward the workroom door. He was so busy listening for her, he couldn’t concentrate.
It was almost two. Where was she?
He hadn’t contacted her yesterday because he didn’t want to seem overbearing. He wasn’t sure why she hadn’t contacted him. Nor was he sure what their new dynamic was supposed to look like. Everything had changed. Right? But how? He couldn’t guess her mindset. He didn’t know how to act with her or how to get rid of this underlying anxiety.
“Today’s social media captions aren’t upbeat enough,” Kat complained. “Your Instagram caption just says, ‘Good day to you,’ and on Facebook you wrote, ‘Best wishes.’”
“You know, Luke,” Trish interjected, “there are some lovely and inspiring Christmas poems out there that are so old they’re copyright free. You could quote lines from those in your captions.”
“If this job requires me to read and quote old Christmas poetry, I’ll have to quit.”
“Quitting might be for the best,” Kat said.
“No!” Trish laughed nervously. “She’s joking. We wouldn’t want that. Finley and the rest of us love having you here.”
Kat tsked. “I think even Finley can tell he’s not cut out for a career in animal rescue.”
“People I’venever metcan tell that I’m not cut out for a career in animal rescue,” Luke said.
“That’s not true,” Trish insisted. “You’re wonderful at this. So gifted.”
“He’s strong with technology, but his animal care skills are lacking, which is no surprise since he spent the last several years...” Kat appeared to think better of continuing.
“In prison,” he finished.
“Even Jesus Christ,” Trish said desperately, “was arrested—”
Finley glided into the room. “Hello, everyone.”
Immediately, every detail of his surroundings—other than her—dropped away. She wore the blue patterned robe-thing over a white shirt, leggings, and clogs. Her hair was very straight today, her eyes ocean bright as they met his.
A charge filled the air.
Trish was too clueless to notice, and Kat had the social awareness of a turtle.
