I nodded. “I was. Then I realized, that isn’t fair of me. Those are my hang ups due to my own insecurities. Pyre really hasn’t given me any reason to suspect that he has any motivations other than getting to know me. Or that he doesn’t like me exactly how I am. And if I run away scared then I’ll never know if it could really work between us. Like you guys said, it’s better to try than never know.”
“We said something like that anyway,” she replied.
“Paraphrasing,” I told her. “Pyre isn’t any of the men from my past. He’s been nothing but kind, respectful, and sweet to me. So, I’m wiping my slate clean and going into this with an open mind and open heart. Maybe I’ve fixed whatever bad judgement I had in the past. I owe that to him.”
“And to yourself,” she added. “That’s so great, Rae. Seriously.” She smiled at me. “It takes people years of therapy to come to realizations like that.”
I snorted softly. “I’m not sure a therapist would want to work with me.”
“Not if you started talking about dead people,” she said with a shudder. “Actually… Yeah, they probably would. You likely have all kinds of messed up trauma responses from working with the dead.”
“I do not,” I countered. “And I don’t need therapy.”
“So…when are you going to jump him?”
“Ramona!” I said with a laugh.
“Just curious. I’m painfully single. With no suitable prospects on the horizon. I need to live vicariously through you.”
“I invited him for dinner tomorrow night.”
Her grin grew wider. “Good for you, Girl. Good. For. You.” She leaned forward and patted my knee. “You give that biker hell.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I replied with a laugh.
“You’ll figure it out.” She looked at the delicate gold watch on her wrist. “Oh, I have to go or I’ll be late. We’ll talk later? The others will want to hear about this.”
No way they wouldn’t be hearing about it as she drove to wherever she needed to be, but I nodded at her anyway.
“Bye,” she called, sailing out my door.
Standing, I went over to one of my shelves and frowned. I nudged the little opossum figurine back into its usual position. How had that happened?
My phone rang and I turned back to my desk and picked it up. “Serenity Hills Funeral Home, how can I help you?”
“You’re going to give Mom a heart attack. She called me at five o’clock this morning because you didn’t answer your phone and haven’t called her back.”
I sighed as my oldest brother’s voice berated me. “I got busy, Nick.”
“At five in the morning?” he countered. “What were you so busy with at-” He paused, considering his own question. “You know what? Donotanswer that. I don’t need to know. I don’twantto know. As far as I’m concerned, even after you’re married and have had kids you’ll be totally innocent.”
I rolled my eyes at his dramatic response. “I wasn’t having sex.”
“Whywould you say that? Who even said that? Never say it again. Ugh. Call Mom before she drives me insane and then I’m forced to do the same to you.”
The dial tone told me he’d hung up. I set the phone back down in the cradle and let the smile spread over my face. Despite what Mona had said, Iwashappy.
It was like making the decision to trust Pyre, and myself, had given me a whole new lease on life. And now I was taking stock of my situation. I had a job I loved. I was a respected member of my community. I had amazing friends, the best family, and awonderful pet. And now? Maybe a boyfriend. It certainly seemed to be heading that way.
I brushed my fingers over my lips, remembering Pyre’s kisses. A man I was completely attracted to, enjoyed spending time around, and seemed dead set on finding out everything he could about me was pursuing me. It was time to just enjoy the ride.
Letting out a happy sigh, I turned to my computer, logged in and began my morning admin work. I had about thirty minutes before my mother would not only call Nick back, but would then call the next brother. I’d get back to her before then, but for now, I was just going to enjoy this happy little buzz I had going on.
CHAPTER 19
Pyre
“Why doesn’t this surprise me?” I asked out loud, looking around.
