Page 15 of Built of Flames
Using the nickname Izzy had always hated broke the tension, and they laughed. They chatted for a few more minutes, then with promises to talk again the next day, they signed off.
Mitch put the phone on the stairs and without its light, the dark that had fallen surrounded them. He kept his arm around her and Isabella didn’t move away from where she rested against him.
They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes before she broke it with soft words. “Thank you.”
He squeezed her in a hug. “You’re welcome. I’m so glad Marcus suggested I come here to ask for help.”
She nodded. “Me too.”
They fit well together and Mitch would have been content to sit there all night, but someone made a production of opening the door to the deck loudly behind them.
Marcus’s voice broke the silence. “Hey Mitch, I need to head out for a call. You ready to go?”
Isabella stood, and he immediately missed her warmth. He grabbed his phone and passed it to her. “Can you put your number in?”
She didn’t hesitate, and he grinned at her acceptance. He could handle anything now. When she passed him back the phone, he pulled her in for a quick hug. “I’ll text you my number soon. Do you have time to see me tomorrow?”
She nodded, and he forced himself to step back instead of kissing her.
He couldn’t wait for tomorrow.
Taking Stock
Bella petted Jetson’s head where he lay on her lap and most of the couch. Beyond the picture window, the sun was lighting the sky, and the rays turned the treetops into a painting.
A creak behind her warned her of company even before Jetson turned his head fractionally toward the stairs.
Sam walked into the room and raised an eyebrow. “Early morning or late night?”
Bella smiled. “My head is whirling too much to sleep.”
Sam nodded and stoked up the stove and then placed the kettle on top to heat it for tea. She knew he preferred coffee, but Tansy had converted them all to tea drinkers as well.
Sam sat across from her. “You okay with everything that happened yesterday?”
She nodded, glad she’d accepted Tansy’s invitation to move to Midnight Lake where she was surrounded by such good people. “I’ve spent the last few years being hurt and angry. I think it’s time to let a lot of that go.”
Sam nodded. “I get that. Just be careful you’re not jumping too quickly.”
“Did you find something I should know?”
Sam tried to look innocent, and Bella rolled her eyes. “I know full well you’ve done some kind of background check on Mitch and maybe even me and Christo. What did you find?”
He grinned at her. “Nothing exciting. They’re both clean to the point of boring.”
Bella laughed. Nothing about Mitch was boring, but it was good to hear her judgment wasn’t off.
Mitch had texted her the previous night with his number and a thank you for allowing him back in her life. They were meeting later in the morning.
Sam grew serious. “You go slow, okay? I know how it is to want something so badly you don’t believe it’s real. Take your time and make sure it is. Don’t want you getting burned.”
“Pun intended?”
“Absolutely.”
An hour later, Bella sat on the floor in the middle of her fire room surrounded by sketches. The room wasn’t large, and she had so many plans. Not enough space, but so many plans.
She had to prioritize and be realistic. Making her dream room was within her reach, but the space was limited.