I give him a hug and get back to work while Cam catches up with Will. His early return has definitely given me a lot to think about.
Chapter Eighteen
Felix
The chilly autumn air nips at my cheeks as I make my way across the town square to meet Kit. I spot him sitting on a bench, bundled up in a coat and scarf. He’s scribbling in his ever-present notebook, the breeze lifting his hair. He absently pushes it back, then raises his head and looks my way, those startling blue eyes meeting mine. His face lights into a grin.
“Hey there.” I plant a quick kiss to his chilled lips and hand over a hot cup of coffee. “Thought you could use something to warm you up.”
“You are amazing, thanks.”
“I bet you say that to all the boys,” I say with a wink.
He chuckles as I take a seat beside him. “Only the amazing ones.”
“So, are you ready for tonight?” I ask.
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
I can’t help laughing at the look on Kit’s face. He’s come to meet me after work as we’re heading to Randy’s Rodeo Grill and Bar. I’m going to give him a real taste of local town life. He looks terrified at the prospect.
I place a hand on his thigh. “You’ll have a good time, I promise.”
“Hmm. That remains to be seen.”
“Trust me.”
He turns to look at me more fully and places a hand over mine where it rests on his leg. “I do.”
The words are said with such gravity, the moment heavy as something passes between us. I’m the first to look away because I want to say so much and I need to stop myself from blurting out my feelings.
Across the square, Geraldine is talking to the sheriff, JD Morgan. Her arms are flailing wildly as she gestures, her scrappy little dog barking as it pulls on its lead.
Kit takes a sip of his coffee, then gestures to them. “See that woman?” he says. “The one with the dog.”
I nod. “Barkasaurus Rex.”
“What?”
“The dog. Its name is Barkasaurus Rex. Geraldine is the owner.”
“Right. Anyway, I overhead her talking when she walked by with another woman earlier.”
“Oh God, who was she gossiping about this time?”
“Us. She was going about our age difference, and how unseemly it is.”
My brows shoot up, although I guess I shouldn’t be surprised given what I’d overheard when she was visiting Uncle Shawn. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it. She’s a notorious gossip and anything she says should be taken with a grain of salt.”
Kit scowls.
“Hey, you’re not taking it onboard, are you? This age gap thing?”
His jaw is tight. “It’s nearly fourteen years, Felix.”
“And? If we’re happy, that’s all the matters and what happens between us is no one else’s business but ours.”
Kit sighs. He squeezes my hand. “I know you’re right.”
