Kor shrugged.
"I kind of like it," he said.“Makesyou look wild and free and even more beautiful—if that’s possible.”
I felt my cheeks warm with a blush.
"Well thank you but you're not the one who has to walk around looking like a scarecrow."
"I think you look beautiful,” he repeated softly and the look in his chocolate-brown eyes made me feel likeIwas melting inside.
“Kor, you can’t say things like that while we’re in town,”Ireminded him.“Wehave to be proper—we can’t look like…like…”
“Like two people who are crazy about each other?”he suggested.
I felt my stomach flutter.Didhe really feel that way about me?ThewayIfelt about him?Howcould all this happen so quickly?Whydid it feel like we were meant to be together?
None of it made any sense and yetIcouldn’t deny whatIwas feeling.
“Exactly,”Isaid.Iwished thatIcould kiss him, but even though we were parked in the back parking area behind the post office, someone might still be watching.SoIgave up trying to tame my hair and climbed out of the car.
To my surprise,Ididn't really care if my hair was still a little wild.Foronce in my life,Ifelt confident.Happy.Almostinvincible.
I walked into the post office with my head held high…and the feeling lasted exactly three seconds.
Behind the counter stoodBarbaraFinchandEllenCooper.Barbarawas the woman who had spent the better part of twenty years convinced thatCartershould have married her instead of me andEllenwas her closest friend and enthusiastic supporter.Also, the last time we’d been here,Korhad put them both in their places.
This wasn’t going to be fun.
The moment they saw me, both women froze…then their eyes narrowed.
Wonderful.Theyhated me more than ever.
"Good morning,"Isaid politely, determined not to care what they thought of me.
"LadyJamison,"Barbarareplied in a syrupy tone.Hersmile was sweet enough to rot teeth andEllen'sexpression wasn't much better.Clearlythey were treating me better becauseKorwas with me and they didn’t want to be called out again.
I kept my face calm and my expression cool.
"Hello, we're here to pick up some packages.AlphaKorwynhas ordered some things and so haveI."
Barbara shuffled through several slips before finally producing a stack of boxes.
"The packages addressed toAlphaKorwynhave arrived," she said."Yourshaven't come in yet."
"Oh."Itried not to sound disappointed."That'sall right.I’llcome back for them later."
The two women exchanged a meaningful look thatIchose to ignore.
Kor stepped forward and accepted the boxes.Neitherwoman said a word to him.Infact, they suddenly became remarkably polite.
Funny how that worked.
"Thank you," he said as he took his packages.
Ellen smiled wider.
"You're very welcome,AlphaKorwyn,” she said sweetly.
Kor andIwere almost to the door whenIheardBarbara’svoice.
