CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Where did you disappear to last night?” Lizzy asked as she placed a warm carrot muffin along with a mug of coffee in front of me. I’d decided to spend the day with Kenzie at the shop. She, of course, wanted to stop at the diner first.

Pulling the muffin closer, I gave Lizzy the same answer I’d given Kenzie earlier. “Headache. I normally simply sleep them away.” Without making eye contact with either woman, I went about buttering my baked breakfast before stuffing a good chunk of it into my mouth.

Lizzy lingered a while, I was sure she was going to call me out on my lie. Lucky for me the couple at the other end of the counter needed more coffee. I watched her grab the carafe and hustle over.

I demolished half of my muffin, then picked up the mug to take a generous sip of my caffeine fix. However, just as I wrapped my lips around the smooth porcelain, a nudge from my left caused the coffee to splash over the rim and my fingers.

“Oh shoot,” Kenzie grabbed the napkins, dabbing furiously. I didn’t know why my mind went there, but I wondered if this was how I looked when I’d spilled coffee all over Eli. “What are you smiling about?” Kenzie looked as annoyed as she sounded.

“Nothing.” I pulled fresh napkins from the holder and cleaned up the rest of the mess, my mind still with Eli, or more specifically, Eli’s daughter. To be completely honest, I’d spent most of the night with them stuck in my thoughts.

Where Eli’s hair was a rich, chocolatey color, Molly’s was as black as the night. Eli’s dark eyes were intense to the point where one could believe he could see right into the very bottom of your soul. In contrast, Molly’s were big, bright and as blue as a cloudless sky. Aside from those two differences, it was easy to see they were father and daughter.

I’d wondered about her mom; whether she was still in the picture or if maybe she was the reason why Eli looked as if he was permanently pissed off. I’d wondered all sorts of things I had no business wondering.

“Earth to Zoe.” I aimed my frown at Kenzie, to which she replied, “Okay, something is up with you. You spaced out with this silly look on your face.”

I chewed on my lip. “Silly look?”

My friend narrowed her eyes. “You want a cracker?” She always asked that when I repeated her words like a parrot. “Where did you really disappear to last night? And before you make up another story, know this: I saw Eli watching you. Did that knucklehead say something to upset you?”

“No, he didn’t,” I told her about Molly and how we’d colored together, ending with the question she’d asked me just as Eli showed up. The more I spoke, the more her face lit up.

“Why didn’t I think of this?” Kenzie exclaimed.

“What?”

She suddenly seemed very excited which, kinda freaked me out. “You should totally teach Molly. You could even open up an art school instead of a gallery.”

“You’re still trying to get me to move here, aren’t you?” Couldn’t say that I hadn’t been thinking the exact same thing.

“Of course I am! You’re my best friend and I miss you like crazy.” She scooted closer, playfully shoulder-bumping me.

As much as I wanted to pack up and leave my old life behind, I couldn’t do it just yet. And I definitely couldn’t take Eli’s daughter on as a student. When I told Kenzie that, she very dramatically inquired, “Why the hell not?”

As far as I knew, no one had any knowledge about the kiss I’d shared with Eli. I was fairly certain if they had, I’d have known by now. I also knew my friend was going to be pretty upset with me for keeping this from her for six months. Still, I had to give her a solid reason why I couldn’t help Molly.

“So,” I began. “I sorta kissed Eli at your wedding.”

“What?” She was so loud everyone sitting at the counter lifted their heads and looked our way. In the past I used to make plenty of passes on men, it had been who I was. A good-time girl. So, I knew her shock was more over the ‘who’ than the ‘what’. I made a face while pressing my index finger against my lips. Kenzie held up her hands mouthing the word ‘sorry’.

Lizzy suddenly appeared, I wondered if she’d heard what I’d said when her gaze suspiciously flitted between me and Kenzie. “What are you gossiping about?” She flicked her auburn braid over her shoulder, leaning one arm on the counter, she planted a hand on her hip.

Kenzie gave me a look then she turned her gaze to Lizzy, “Zoe and I were discussing her neighbor who is getting married…again.” She rolled her eyes. “He is onto wife number seven.”

I wanted to leap out of my seat and hug my friend close. I’d never admit it out loud, but I’d been afraid that Lizzy and Harper would replace me in Kenzie’s life. I should have known better; the bond we had was unbreakable.

“Uggggh, some men are pigs.” Lizzy shook her head and pushed off the counter. “Anything else for you?”

“Another one of those delectable muffins, please.” Kenzie pushed her empty plate forward.

“Make that two.”

Kenzie and I watched as Lizzy disappeared into the kitchen. The moment she was out of sight my friend turned to me, gripped my wrists and said, “Okay, we don’t have much time, but I need details.”

I told her how I’d caught him staring at me on more than one occasion and since he was soft on the eyes — massive understatement. Eli Jackson was one fine male specimen — I took my chance and followed him out to the creek.

What I couldn’t tell her was how that kiss had worked its way under my skin and embedded itself in my soul. Or how it had crushed me a little when he’d walked away without even looking back once. I wasn’t conceited enough to think I was some irresistible seductress, but deep down I’d hoped that I hadn’t been the only one who’d felt the earth move the moment our lips had touched.

“Sooo,” Kenzie’s voice broke through my thoughts. “You kissed. I still don’t understand why you can’t teach Molly.”

“Because since I arrived, he has been nothing but rude to me.” I shook my head. “His tone last night had me thinking he didn’t want me near his daughter.”

My friend’s shoulder lifted into a shrug. “He is very protective, but I can’t see why he wouldn’t want you near Molly. It was just a kiss…Unless—” Her blue eyes widened to their max. “Oh my goodness, what if?” Her gaze darted left then right, I could practically see the wheels in her head turn.

“What if what, Kenz?”

Before she could answer me, the bell above the door chimed. I had no idea who entered the diner as my back was turned to the door, whoever it was had Kenzie lighting up like a freaking Christmas tree. Her arm shot to the sky as she waved frantically. With her excitement bursting at the seams, I figured it was most likely Brett who’d come in.

A moment later, a shadow fell over the counter. I was about to turn and say hi to Brett when I heard, “Morning, ladies.”

I froze. There was only one man’s voice that had the ability to glide over my skin in the very same way a lover’s touch would.

And that man definitely was not Brett.