“Arlo…are you saying you’re Emeric Remington?”
It’s my turn to gasp as he carries on, “I mean, you have the same surname and you’re from New York, but I would have never—” He shakes his head.
“Sage, I traveled the world to leave Emeric behind and find myself. I’ve made a home in Stillwater. I don’t want Emeric to destroy what I’m building here. I only showed you the paintings so you can see for yourself that I can paint. I have a degree in fine art, and this is from my graduation exhibition.”
He gives me back the phone. “I wouldn’t betray your trust. Here, you’re Arlo. Is Arlo even your real name?”
I laugh. “It’s my middle name. I was named after both my grandfathers. I’ve always hated my first name, but my parents insisted I should use it for my art.”
“Okay, so it’s settled. I’m going to work on a class timetable and spread the word on our social media pages.”
Sage goes over to the checkout desk where his laptop is charging. I’m still holding a few of the items he was adding to the window. I put them in place and start picking up the extra stuff.
On the other side of the street, I see Levi and Ava walking toward the bakery. They’re both wearing their wings, and Ava is hopping along while holding her dad’s hand.
There’s something so sexy about a man who is so comfortable in his own skin that he’s not just wearing something to please his daughter, he’s owning it.
I can’t stop staring at them. Him. Remembering how his lips felt against mine, how despite not deepening the kiss, I still feel it. I hold my hands up to my lips.
Was it only hours ago?
As if he senses I’m thinking about him, Levi turns his gaze in my direction. I can’t move as I feel my skin burns with embarrassment.
He says something to Ava, who goes inside Liv’s bakery, and then he crosses the road toward Birchcraft.
Fuck. Fuck.
I’m not ready to talk to him about my breakdown, how I told him all about my past, and I’m especially not ready to talk about the kiss.
What will I do if he doesn’t want more? What will I do if he does?
Part of me wants to run, but his determined steps as he narrows the distance between us make it impossible.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hi.”
“I was hoping to catch you to talk about last night. Can you take a break?”
“Sure, follow me.”
I signal Sage for a short break, and he gives me a thumbs-up, so we go to the barn where we can talk privately.
“Look, Levi, I’m—” I start, but he interrupts me by placing his hand over my mouth.
“If you’re going to apologize for anything that happened yesterday, don’t. Don’t apologize for being upset about the letter. Don’t apologize for sharing your past, and certainly don’t apologize for that kiss.”
I let out a breath through my nose, look down, and nod. He removes his hand slowly, but only to cradle my cheek so I can meet his eyes.
“Arlo.” His hoarse voice makes me want to kiss him so badly I'm afraid my body might do it before my brain is engaged. I swallow. He's so close I can feel the heat from his body.
The noise of the barn door slamming open makes us jump apart. I look at Levi to see if he minds that we were nearly caught in a position that could read as if we were about to kiss, but he has nothing but a smile for Sage as he comes over.
“Nice wings,” he says.
Levi laughs. “Thanks. I think they make my eyes pop.”
“Arlo, you won’t believe it. We already have so much interest in the classes. Everyone is asking when we can start, how many kids per class, if we will do adult classes too…my mind is blown.”
