Page 42 of A New Chapter

Zack smiled and held up the tickets. “I happen to have two tickets to a country music concert at DTE Music Theater for this Friday night. Since you like country music, I figured you might want to go with me.”

Emma eyed him suspiciously. “How do you know that I like country music?”

“I might have snooped around in your entertainment cabinet when we had the sleepover,” Zack replied unapologetically.

Emma frowned, but she couldn’t stay mad, not when she saw the amusement in those twinkling gray orbs. “And what else did you discover besides my CD collection?”

“I found a lot of dirty movies. Now I know how you spend your free time,” he said with a grin.

Emma broke out into laughter, which erased the remaining tension between them. “I do not have a dirty movie collection. Well, maybe just one or two.”

“Anyway, what about the concert? Will you go with me?”

“I wish I could; however, I won’t be here. I’m going to Chicago for a bookseller’s trade show.”

Zack visibly deflated. “Oh. Did that just come up?”

“No. It’s an annual event that I’ve gone to since I opened the shop. I made the arrangements months ago.”

“Hmm.”

“Is there someone else you could take to the concert?” Say no, say no!

“I don’t know anyone else who likes country music except you.”

“Sorry, Zack.” He looked so forlorn that she wanted to hug him, but she resisted. “I hope that you didn’t pay a lot for the tickets.”

“Actually, I got them for free. Dan passed them out to a few of the guys and Brandy.”

Oh no, not the bimbo. “You could go with them,” she suggested weakly.

“Nah, I’ll just skip it. So, tell me more about your trip to Chicago.”

“There’s not a whole lot to tell. It’ll just be a bunch of book nerds like me walking around the convention center checking out what’s new in the world of books.”

“How long will you be gone?”

“I fly out on Thursday morning and fly back Sunday morning.”

“Chicago’s a great city. What else will you do there besides go to the book show?”

Emma was touched by his interest. “I’ll be at the show for most of the day. By the time it’s over, I’ll probably get some dinner and then go to bed. Nothing too exciting.”

“Who will you go to dinner with?”

Hmm… now it sounds like he’s fishing. “I know a few people who will be at the show, but I’ll probably end up eating on my own. Why?”

“Just curious. No hidden agenda, Em. Just asking as your friend.”

Back to that again. Maybe the kiss didn’t mean anything after all. “Well, I’ll be fine on my own. I’m getting used to it.” Liar!

“Well, if you get lonely or anything, you can always give me a call.”

She searched his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity there. Emma stepped forward and put her arms around him. “Thanks, Zack,” she whispered.

He was obviously caught off guard by her show of affection, but he quickly recovered and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. Emma reveled in the feeling of warmth and security while she leaned into his hard chest, her head tucked under his chin. She was no nurse, but she could have sworn his heartbeat was a little faster than normal. Of course, hers probably was too.

Zack ran his hands up and down her back as he held her close, and for once, he didn’t seem inclined to speak. A tap on the office door caused them to pull apart.

Kelly poked her head in. “Sorry to interrupt, Em, but there’s a local author here who would like to talk to you.”

“Be right there,” Emma said.

“So…” Zack began.

“So…” Emma repeated.

“Can I call you tonight?”

“Of course.”

“Good.” Zack gave her his full-out devilish grin and then turned and sauntered out the door.

After he left, Emma tried to give her undivided attention to the local author, who was there to pitch her latest children’s book, but her mind kept drifting, first to the kiss, then to the hug, then back to the kiss again. As the author showed her the illustrations in the book, Emma decided that being in Zack’s arms ranked right up there with reading and chocolate. It had been a long time since a man had made it on her top three list, and it was then that Emma realized that she was in big, big, trouble!