Chapter 5
Anthony couldn’t remember being soself-conscious. It felt like he was back in junior high, passing the girls’ tennis team on his way to wrestling. Overhearing giggles and whispers. Of course, all he could hear now was the occasional click of the camera when the music waned, but who knew what Kira was thinking on the other side of thatlens?
Shehaddone a fair amount of flirting, complimenting everything from the ink on his “buff biceps” to the “loose natural wave” of his “Banderas-like hair.” Kira Moretti knew how to reel a guy in, and Anthony couldn’t help but go along for the ride. Not that he wasn’t leery in love after his bad experiences, but he hadn’t sworn off it completely. Call it hope or youth or pure foolishness, but he was starting to wonder if Kira was the reason he’d been compelled to stick it out here in Cobble Creek. After all, Mr. Moretti had been disappointed when—after Kira finally made it out there to apprentice for him—Anthony had been off chasing Elsie. “If you would’ve just stuck around, she might not have left,” he’d said. And while his voice had carried a teasing tone, Anthony got the impression that Angelo had truly hoped the two might hit itoff.
“Wow, you are off in another land, aren’tyou?”
Anthony shook his head, then ran a hand over his face before setting his gaze on Kira. “Anotherland?”
She lowered the camera and grinned. “Yeah. What’s holding yourthoughts?”
“Just …” He shrugged. “Remembering the time you came out here to see about taking over for Angelo. How I was gone during thattime.”
Kira cradled the camera base in her palm as she lifted the strap up and off of her neck. She strode over to an open metal case. Black foam padding filled the bottom layer, save for a space the size of the camera carved out in the center. “Yeah.” She nestled the body of the camera into the protected spot and draped the strap over top. “Gramps was pretty upset that you weregone.”
“He was?” Anthony had lost track of how many times Angelo had talked about Kira, but he hadn’t known if the man ever talked to Kira abouthim.
She closed the case and hoisted it into a nearby cabinet. “Oh yeah. I always got the impression he was hoping to set usup.”
Anthony felt that one in his toes; turns out it wasn’t just in his head. He shot her a wink. “Smartman.”
“Very,” sheagreed.
Anthony couldn’t decide which he liked best—the way Kira agreed so quickly, or the smile she wore in theprocess.
“Well …” she said, padding over to the studio lights and clicking them off. A shallowpopbounced off the hardwood, one after the next. “I’m starving. Want to get a bite toeat?”
“Sure,” he said. “Sounds good to me. If you’re up for some pizza, I know of a nice place in Duckdale Hollow next to the bowling alley. We could play a few games too, if you’re up for it.” He gulped, hoping the offer wouldn’t scare heraway.
“Bowling? Man, I haven’t knocked pins since I was, like,sixteen.”
Anthony shot her a look. “Knockedpins?”
“I mainly hadguyfriends in school. That’s what we always called it.” She ran a hand along the back of her neck, nodding. “Well, if you don’t mind following me to the duplex, I can pull on a pair of jeans before wego.”
“Not at all,” he assured. “We can take my car from there, since Duckdale’s about thirty minutes from town.” He patted at his pockets before remembering the jacket he’d removed. “Want any help closing things down inhere?”
Kira spun slowly in place before setting her eyes back on him. “Nope. Think we’re ready torock.”
* * *
Yep,she still had it. Kira had gotten a gorgeous guy to ask her out on her second night in town. And not justanygorgeous guy. One who might possibly be the real Italian deal. She tugged on her favorite pair of knee-torn jeans before snatching her tan cowgirl boots off the floor. At the window, she pried the metal blinds to see Anthony’s shiny black truck waiting in the driveway, the sight visible thanks to a nearbystreetlamp.
A quick shirt change allowed for an extra layer of deodorant, just in case, and soon she was out the door and wondering why she hadn’t bothered to grab her jacket. Already the sun had set, and night had already proven to bring a layer of frost withit.
Anthony hopped down from the truck as she stepped along the narrow walk. “You look nice,” hesaid.
“Thanks.”
He reached to open the passenger door for her, and the wordsthat’s not necessary worked their way up Kira’s throat so quickly they’d almost snuck off her tongue. But she bit them back; Gramps would be furious if she stopped a guy from acting like a gentleman.Even if shecouldopen her own door justfine.
Climbing up was a different story. The tires were nearly as tall as she was. Kira accepted Anthony’s hand as she climbed onto the running board and grabbed the handle inside to steady herself. Once she was seated, Anthony closed her door and walked back to his side in the glow of the headlights. A longhaired James Dean with muscled arms and crosstattoos.
“So,” she said once he was settled behind the wheel. “Couldn’t find the T. rextires?”
He glanced over while shifting the gear into reverse. “What wasthat?”
“I mean they must have been out of the T. rex, since you got the rare giganotosauruswheels.”
