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Grant walked into Mrs. G’s office on Saturday evening with a grin.
“I like to see you looking so happy,” she said, rising from her desk chair. It was one of those old oak ones with wheels, which made a friendly squeak as she moved. “It’s not just a look but a feeling?”
“Yes, Jena’s meeting me for a walk in a few.” They’d had a good time last night, sitting close, watching the movie, sharing sugary snacks. He’d walked her to her car at the end of their time and gotten another cheek kiss, and giving one in return. It was a sweet ending to a night that could’ve gone sideways, but had moved them forward instead.
“I approve. I also invite you to stay longer, as long as you like. It’d be good for you to be here, overseeing your project. And I like having someone in the house. Not getting any younger.” She motioned to her short silver hair.
Now he knew she was up to something. She was as independent as they came. But he didn’t object to what was behind her invitation, which was to get him and Jena together more. “I see through this, you know.”
She leaned against her desk. “No, I don’t know. If you’re seeing through the air, you know we all can.” She waved her hand between them, a grin punctuating her small rounded face.
“Okay, you win.”
“Now you’re talking.” She walked to him and wound her arm under his, escorting him to the kitchen, which was even busier than the dining area. “Now, we’ve got those appetizers ready to go. Thanks for walking them to Dolly’s.”
“Anything for you.” Apparently, that even included letting her meddle in his love life. He’d known something was up when she’d invited him to town, praised Jena, and arranged for him meet her instead of Luke or Tim. He wasn’t one to turn away a possibility, especially as Mrs. G seemed to have successfully meddled in his brother’s love lives.
He took the large case by its handles and bent to kiss Mrs. G’s cheek. “Be there or be square.” He’d see her soon at Dolly’s bookshop opening.
“Never. I’m a round peg in this square hole.”
He smiled and wove his way to the back door.
Once he’d dropped off the appetizers at Dolly’s new bookshop, Two Doors Down, he walked to Careys’, a general store that also served ice cream. But he didn’t go in. Instead, he looked around, but not seeing Jena, he crossed the street to the river boardwalk, where the setting sun illuminated the bare trees along the bank and full evergreens in the distance. He shoved his hands in his pockets. The temperature was dropping fast.
“Good evening.” Jena. She had a low, almost serious tone most of the time that he already recognized.
He turned to her. His lips quirked. It seemed like they both had the same uniform of sorts: boots, jeans, and a sweater. He was making some big leaps, having only known her a week. Still, a connection was there.
“Hey, did you get your to-dos checked off?” he asked.
“Yeah. How was your unplanned day?”
“Good. Got a lot done. Want to walk? My brother Dean said there’s a great sunset view from the hill by his cottage.”
She nodded and they ambled down the boardwalk along the river. The water rushed, as if it knew it needed to make the most of its time before winter covered it in ice. Another reminder to seize the day.
Jena glanced at him when they reached the street. Her gaze seemed to hold a question. “A sunset walk...this is feeling pretty romantic.” Her directness made him smile.
“It doesn’t have to feel that way. How do you want it to feel?”
They continued across the street then turned up a narrow trail toward his brother’s cottage.
“I don’t know.”
“How about we just walk together and see how it feels?”
“You might’ve guessed that isn’t in my comfort zone.” She reached out and grasped his fingers. “But tonight, I’m going to challenge myself. It felt good to last night, and since you’ve been here.”
He twined his fingers in hers. “This feels pretty right to me.” Their hands fit together as if they’d been holding hands for years. Warmth spread from his digits to his heart.
They crested the hill and turned together to the shadowed landscape in the distance. Being with Jena was fun, different, and somehow comfortable.
“So, maybe you could make the challenge ongoing, like part of your to-do list?” he asked.
She grinned. He breathed out. He hadn’t said the wrong thing, but maybe something right.
“I like that.” She turned to him. “I like you, Grant. I like how you make me feel safe and liked, I like the way you speak kindly, I like that you’re willing to take chances. I like that you’re willing to look silly, and sing Kenny and Dolly songs with me. I like that you wanted to make me breakfast, and that you didn’t give up because I’ve been busy and unsure.”
He grasped both her hands in his, and waited to make sure there was nothing else she wanted to say.
She squeezed his hands. “And I’m sorry for getting scared and wanting to only stay in my comfort zone. After a lot of thought, and a long talk with my brother last night, I’m ready to try stepping out, with you. If you want that too.”
He kissed her hand. “Yes, I want that with you. I like you, in your comfort zone or out of it. You’re pretty and smart and fun. I like that you have goals and work toward them, and I like your to-do lists. Does this mean I get to be on them?”
She laughed, and the sound made his chest expand. “Yeah, it does.”
“Maybe you’d put ‘first kiss with Grant’ on today’s list?”
Her smile turned sly and he leaned closer. “I can add it later.”
Their lips met, first caressing, then pressing, trapping his breath before it turned heavy. He held onto her, and she placed her hands on his chest. The cold seemed distant with her warmth so close. Her fine hair was soft on his hand as he cupped her cheek. She returned his kiss with a firmness and pleasure that made his heart skitter like an excited colt in a wide meadow. Expansive. That was what being near Jena was. Full of possibility.
She pulled back. “I like the way you kiss.”
He grinned. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
“Let’s try it again. It takes a lot of practice to get something just right.” She eased her fingers over his.
His hand tingled along with his lips. Nodding, he leaned closer again and they embraced. Practice was perfect.