Page 43 of The Rebound Play
“Hi, Kiki,” he replies, looking nervous.
Dan Roberts is standing on my doorstep, looking nervous.
I feel like I’m in some kind of weird parallel universe.
“You fixed the step.”
His lips quirk into a soft smile. “I didn’t want you to fall and hurt yourself.”
Oh, my.
“That’s so kind of you. Thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me,” he says quietly. “I did it because I wanted to.”
My breath is coming out ragged, and I’m resisting the urge to throw myself into his arms and tell him I love him right here and now. But I resist. When it comes to Dan, I’ve guarded my heart for so very long, it’s become a habit.
No matter how much I want to be with him.
“I’m going to thank you all the same,” I reply.
“In that case, you’re welcome. I was hoping to take you out tonight, if you’re free?”
I smile as a mélange of nerves, excitement, and anticipation swirl around me. “I’d like that.”
Footsteps thunder down the hallway, and an excited Benny almost bowls me over as he comes to a crashing halt, wrapping his arms around my waist.
He peers up at Dan. “Are you here to give me a lesson?” he asks hopefully.
Dan smiles down at him. “Sorry, buddy. Not tonight. Tonight, I’m taking your aunt out.”
Benny looks from Dan to me and back again. “Is that because of the matchmaking? And I don’t mean the ones above the fireplace. I mean the love matches.”
I stifle an embarrassed giggle as Dan gives me a questioning look. “There was talk of matchmaking at the dinner table tonight,” I explain.
“Got it,” Dan replies. “Is it okay if I hang out with your aunt tonight and we have our lesson after the first game?”
“Okay, I guess,” Benny replies, clearly expecting that when Dan is around, a lesson is on offer.
“I’ll go get my coat,” I tell him. “Why don’t you come in?”
“I’ll check in on that step while I wait.”
I grin. “You do that.” I rush down the hall and give Clara a hug, my eyes filling with tears. “You’re the best,” I tell her.
“You know it. Now go. Have a great night.”
I beam at her, the thought of being out on a date with Dan filling my body with spikes of electricity, my heart beating right out of my chest.
I throw on my jacket and check my appearance in the hallway mirror. Not exactly dressed for a date, but I get the feeling Dan won’t care about something like that.
A short and nervous drive later and he pulls into a parking space outside Falling for Books. All the stores on Main Street are dark with “closed” signs hanging in their windows, and I wonder why he’s brought me here.
“Are we meeting Emmy?” I ask as Dan unhooks his seatbelt.
“Not exactly,” is his elusive reply. He climbs out of the car, and I follow suit, standing on the sidewalk of the deserted Main Street.
To my surprise he pulls out a key and unlocks the front door of his sister’s bookstore. “After you,” he says, holding the door open, and confused, I step inside the darkened store.