| |
Carly closed her eyes. This can’t be happening. This shouldn’t be happening, she thought to herself. But she kissed him back. Shy—at first, and then with more confidence.
“I’ve been wanting to do that since I first saw you at the cafe.” Mick brushed her hair back with his fingers.
Carly bit her lip and smiled. It was as if that kiss had knocked her off her feet. All she wanted next was to be in his arms.
“Are you okay?”
Carly nodded. As much as she enjoyed the kiss, and even wanted more, troubled thoughts overcame her. As much as she wanted to fall happily ever-after with Mick, she didn’t have that luxury and knew that it would be unfair to them both. “Mick?”
“Mmm?” He ran his fingers up and down her arms.
“Is this okay?” Carly let herself be taken into an embrace. She leaned against Mick’s chest and held on to his arm that wrapped itself around her.
“Is what okay?”
Carly felt Mick kiss her head. “Us—this. Is this okay?”
“We’ll take it slow.” Mick caressed her arm.
Slow, Carly thought. Slow is good, isn’t it?
“We don’t have to tell anyone anything.”
“I guess,” Carly tucked her hair behind her ear, “it would be best for everyone that way.” She looked out on to the water. The sky was dark, and a chill had crept in with the night air. The moon provided the only light they needed, casting its glow around them.
* * *
MICK SAID WHAT HE THOUGHT Carly wanted to hear. The fact was, he wanted to shout out from the hilltops—across the lake and through the streets—that he’s found her. He’s finally found the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. To hold, to caress, to please, and to love. But Mick said what he thought was right. They would take it slow. He’d waited this long to find her. Waiting a little while longer wouldn’t do anyone any harm. He had time.
Mick took her hand and brought it to his lips.
Mick felt a vibration in his pocket. “Whoops!” he said as he sat up straight.
Carly shifted. “Everything okay?”
“It’s just my phone.” Mick stood up and pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was Jenna. Of course it was. He knew the town gossip line would have been set in motion the moment he drove his rental through and past the town boundary. “It’s Jenna,” he said to Carly. “Hello?”
“Are you in town and didn’t tell me?” Jenna’s voice blasted through the speakers of his phone.
Mick held the phone back from his ear. “You’re yelling into my ear, Jenna,” Mick said.
“What?” Jenna asked.
“I said, you’re yelling into my ear,” Mick said slightly louder that time and gritted his teeth.
“I’m just driving back home and I’ve got you on speaker. Can you hear me?”
“Loud and clear,” Mick said. He watched as Carly walked a few feet away from where they had been sitting. He wondered what she was thinking.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were in town?” Jenna sounded slightly annoyed.
“Who’d you hear it from?”
“I just finished doing my grocery shopping. The cashier—you might know her—Eloise. She said that her daughter Alana saw Margaret—the old lady on Red Maple Drive, she’s married to Gordon. Anyway, she said that Margaret saw you at the Strawberry Fare cafe.” Jenna paused to catch her breath. “So are you or are you not in town?”
“I am. I just arrived today. I thought Charlotte or Amy would have told you.”
“You’re staying at the White Willow? Why didn’t you just come stay with us?”
Mick pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “I didn’t think about it. None of this was planned.”
* * *
CARLY TRIED TO KEEP from overhearing Mick’s conversation, but it was difficult not to. You’re as bad as the whole town, she scolded herself as she tried to keep from eavesdropping.
“I’m just here for business,” she heard Mick say.
So that was it. He’d carry on with his business and then go on back to wherever he’d come from. Just like everybody else that came to Willow Oaks.
“I’m not sure—a few days. Maybe a week,” Mick said.
Carly wondered if that’s how long he was planning on staying. A few days to a week. What am I even doing here? She thought. He’s leaving in a few days. The only way this is going to end is with me wallowing in hurt... again.
“I’m at the lakeside,” Mick said. “It’s just me—I needed to go and get some air.”
“Just him,” Carly mumbled under her breath. “Couldn’t even tell his own sister that he was with her.” She walked further away from where Mick sat. She didn’t need to hear how she was nothing to him. In fact, she just needed to go. She turned around and saw Mick watching her. Carly raised a hand to wave goodbye and then hurried away as quickly as she could.
“I gotta go,” she heard Mick say.
Carly picked up the pace.
“Jenna—I have to go. What? Yes, fine. Tomorrow night, dinner at yours.”
She didn’t turn around to see what Mick was doing.
“Carly!” he called out after her.
“I’ve got to go,” Carly called out without looking back. She was like Cinderella running away from the prince after she’d realized the clock had struck midnight. Only, she knew that her fairy tale wouldn’t end so happily and she didn’t have a fairy godmother to make things better.