“Always,” I answered. “Mainly popular science, but I like biographies a lot, too. How about you?”
“I love a good biography,” he agreed. “And spy novels.”
“Spy novels?” I trailed my finger along a shelf of poetry books, feeling the spines. “I wouldn’t have guessed that one. I have a friend who likes them, though.” I frowned, realizing that the friend was actually OK. “I’ve heard about the genre.”
“I’m a sucker for the wholedon’t get caughtthing. It makes them very binge-able.”
“Secret identities,” I nodded. “Probably some good tips there for your celebrity clients, too.”
“We stick with the classics. Someone needs to avoid the press, it’s sunglasses and a wig. Works every time.”
I lifted a large cookbook and opened it, obscuring my face. “Nothing to see here folks.”
The sound of a phone snapping a picture surprised me, and I quickly lowered the book.
“Sorry,” Kai laughed, holding his phone in the air. “I can delete it, if you want.”
I glanced at the picture and saw just the top of my hair, sticking out above101 Microwave Dinner Recipes. “Just don’t let your moms think I cook with a microwave. It will totally wreck my reputation.”
Kai pretended to type into his phone. “Picking a recipe for our next date night,” he muttered. “Hashtag is this home cooking?”
I laughed and shoved the book back on the shelf. As we made our way through the store, we kept joking and teasing. I felt self-conscious about how much our laughter filled the small space, but then Kai would deadpan something, and I’d forget myself and start giggling again.
This was what a date was supposed to feel like. Not the awkward, stiff dinners I was used to. Meeting up with strangers had always just resulted in anxious evenings. Even when a friend like Jo tried to set me up with someone fitting, I worried the other guy was disappointed in my lanky arms or my dorky giggle and stopped myself from having fun.
But not Kai. Kai seemed to honestly, sincerely like me. It was hard to believe I could attract a guy like him, but after he bought me a copy ofThe Orchid Thiefand introduced me to the little terrier under the counter, I practically floated out the door.
Things felt easy, and I was going to ride that high as long as I could.
Chapter Fourteen
Kai
Walking back from the restaurant,I slipped my hand into Izzy’s. Night had fallen, but the streets were still busy, and the evening held the day’s warmth.
His fingers laced with mine. Everything felt right, easy and fun, with full bellies and quick smiles on both of our faces. When I stood there during the wedding ceremony, realizing that I wanted a relationship like my friends had, this was what I imagined.
Someone I could touch. A voice I could hear. Something real, after years of gratifying myself with the door shut.
“What does your week look like?” I asked, Izzy’s touch tingling my palm. “Are you out of the office?”
“It’s white camas week,” he answered, swaying his hand. “You know, mountain death camas?”
I laughed. “Wow, flower conservation is way, way more dangerous than I realized. Mountain death camas?”
“So long as I don’t eat the flowers, I should be fine.”
I squeezed his hand. “Promise me you’ll bring a lunch.”
“Trust me, my lunch pail is essential equipment,” he laughed. “The camas are rare everywhere, but there’s only one population left in Pennsylvania, on some limestone cliffs a couple hours east of Pittsburgh. I’ll spend Tuesday out surveying them.”
“Hmmm,” I hummed appreciatively. “A day counting flowers and then paperwork? Sounds like a dream.”
“That’s what everyone says,” he teased.
“What does a death flower look like?’
Izzy’s deep voice rose into a softer giggle. “Like a tall blade of grass with little white flowers and green glands. Most people probably wouldn’t even notice it.”
