The feel of her soft body against his felt imprinted. She walked along beside him and all he could think of was to find a place to pull her back into his arms to kiss her.
Twilight was fading into darkness when Kirk drove into the driveway of Webb Francis’s home. Angelica held the bear with one arm, the other encircling him as the motorcycle rode through the quiet evening. Her hat had been squashed between them so it wouldn’t blow away.
“That was the best day ever,” she said when they stopped.
Slowly she withdrew her hand when he turned to help her off the bike. He scooped up her pink hat and pushed it back into shape while she removed the helmet.
He took it, the bike still rumbling.
“Thank you,” she said, leaning over to kiss him.
He pulled her closer, relishing the taste of her, the feel of her in his arms. The kiss was awkward with him still straddling the bike, but he wouldn’t have changed a second of it. When shestraightened, he released her. He tried to gauge her expression in the dim light but it was impossible. All he could see was wide eyes and a stunned expression.
“I’ll see you in,” he said.
“Not necessary. It’s only a few steps. Thanks again. I had a fabulous time.”
She seemed to run away. He watched until she was inside and the light went on in the kitchen. He was hot after that kiss. And she’d participated as much as he did. Yet she’d skittered away like a fawn startled beyond expectations.
He frowned, studying the dark door. Putting together all she’d said about her past, was it possible in this day and age she had never had a serious relationship with a guy? No, that’d be impossible. She was too pretty, too talented.
She lived in New York City, for heaven’s sake.
Slowly he backed the bike until he could turn around. Driving the short distance to his driveway, he tried to argue the situation, but the more he thought about it, the more he grew certain she was a novice in the dating scene.
“Oh, no,” he groaned when he shut down the bike and propped it on its stand. That would change everything.
Surprisingly, he’d had a fabulous day, too.
Which raised red flags all over the place.
He could not fall for the pretty violinist from New York. She was leaving, as all the women in his life had left. At least he knew ahead of time that this relationship had no future. He hoped he was wise enough to guard his heart or he’d be head over heels before he knew it.
His family had bad luck when it came to women. Did the men choose unwisely? Or were circumstances stacked against them?
He went to get a cold drink, then headed to the studio. Restless, too keyed up to sleep, he wanted to escape his thoughts. He needed to focus on the carving and not theunattainable woman next door. She’d be gone soon. He just had to wait her out.
Angelica was about to turn off the light and head upstairs to read before bed when the phone rang. It was Professor Simmons.
“Sorry to be calling so late. I’ve tried several times during the day. How are you doing there?” he asked.
“I’m having a great time. Sorry I wasn’t here when you called. Actually, I was at a county fair.” She smiled, remembering the many ways of entertainment she’d seen that day.
“Well, that sounds different.”
“It was so much fun. We rode carnival rides like kids. The man who took me won me a teddy bear, and we ate so much I might not eat again for a week. Did you know cotton candy just melts in your mouth?”
“Ah, don’t believe I’ve ever had cotton candy.”
She shook her head. This was one of her former professors. Serious, focused. She must sound like an idiot to him.
“Are you doing okay there on your own? I didn’t know Webb Francis was sick when I suggested you look him up,” Professor Simmons continued.
“I’m doing better than fine. He’s letting me stay here in his place. Well, you had to know that or you wouldn’t have called here. He has a fantastic collection of folk music. And I’m even teaching two young kids how to play the fiddle.”
“The fiddle?” he repeated.
She laughed.
