“They have the best muffins I've ever tasted.”
“I do enjoy muffins,” she said quietly.
Darian smiled.“I bet.I don't know anyone who doesn't like muffins.Let's bring your stuff home and get the horse, and we can go.”
Celia wasn't sure she wanted to be around people, but sitting at home alone didn't sound entirely appealing, either.So she took his hand, and they began to walk home.
Spending the day with Darian sounded like a much better alternative than sitting at home missing her dragons.
She dried her tears as they walked.
At least she still had him.
Chapter fourteen
Darian
Darianlethisfingersbrush against Celia's as they walked through town.He didn't want to force her to hold his hand if she wasn't ready for that, but her fingers laced through his and he couldn't keep the smile off his face.
He noticed people noticing them, and knew that before long, he would be the talk of the town.It was only a matter of time before somebody told Eugenia, the town librarian, and she spread the news to everyone else that Darian Emberlin was no longer available.
While he’d never had as many girls chasing after him as Conrad, there had been more than a few girls he suspected of doing the shopping for their family in an attempt to catch his eye.
But he hadn't wanted any of them.
Of course, he hadn't known until recently that it was because he was looking for a grumpy woman with a house full of baby dragons, but now that he knew, there was no going back.
Celia had spoiled every other woman for him, and he couldn't be happier with the arrangement.
They approached the Cozy Cat Café, and Darian opened the door to let Celia go in first.The smell of cinnamon and baked goods filled the air, and you could feel the warmth and love in the room the moment you walked in.
It was a special place.
He walked in to find Conrad, the schoolteacher, sitting at a table and making eyes at Linnea, who was working behind the counter.The two of them were an item and had been since they'd apparently pretended to date to keep a few of the particularly effusive girls away from Conrad.
Darian admired them for thinking up such a plot, and for the fact that it had turned into something more.
He glanced down at Celia.She might be willing to hold his hand, but he wasn't sure if she would be willing for anything more than that yet.Perhaps he should tell her about all the girls chasing after him and see if she would volunteer like Linnea had.
“How are you?”Conrad said when he looked up from the papers he was grading and noticed Darian.
“I’m well,” Darian said, clasping his friend's hand.“And you?”
“Just waiting for Linnea to have her break,” he said, “so I can spend a few minutes with her before I have to get back to school.”
“Did you give everyone a long lunch break again?”Darian teased, enjoying how Conrad's face flushed.
“You know it,” he said.
Darian grinned.“I’m not at all surprised,” he said.“Conrad, may I introduce my friend, Celia?”
He chose the word carefully.Either Celia would contradict him and claim they were something more, or she wouldn't.Either way, it was up to her.
“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Celia said, reaching out to shake Conrad's hand.
Darian only smiled.She wasn't ready yet.That was fine.He had no reason to rush her.
“I hope you will try the cinnamon rolls,” Conrad said.“They’re amazing.”
