12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Adam

My heart is racing. I should’ve listened to that tiny whisper telling me that coming over and talking to Susie Owens was a horrible idea. But where she’s concerned, all rational thought flees, and I find myself acting purely on emotion.

I wonder if this is what Amelia Adams means when her characters talk about a magnetic pull. Every time I see Susie I’m fighting against an almost animal instinct. The urge to be close to her, talk to her is overpowering.

Following a week of keeping my distance, along with a constant reminder that Susie is just a friend and Josh’s sister, yesterday, after the game, I gave in. Now, all parts of me crave being near her.

“Do I have something on my nose?” Susie’s voice snaps through my thoughts as she frantically wipes at her face. I can’t stop the smile that lifts my lips.

Yeah, I’m in trouble.

“Wait.” I reach across the table and gently brush her nose with my finger, removing an imaginary object just so I can touch her. I let my finger linger for a brief second, enjoying the skin-to-skin contact, before pulling away. “Got it.”

“Thank you.” Susie’s green eyes shine and I struggle to drag my gaze from hers. “So, how are you settling in?”

I lift my tea to my lips, hoping the peppermint will calm my racing heart. “I’m happy to report I’m settling in pretty easily. The farmhouse outside of town my agent found for me to lease is perfect.”

“Is the farmhouse on Chestnut Street?” Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms a small O. “The one with the red maple trees lining the driveway?”

“That’s the one. The tree-lined driveway was the first thing I fell in love with, especially this time of year. The red as the sun hits the leaves in the morning is breathtaking. Driving to and from the house is my favorite part of the day. However, raking all those leaves is not.”

“You rake the leaves?” Surprise lifts her voice, and a softness fills her eyes. “My grandfather used to rake those leaves into piles, then let me, Josh, and Brie dive into them.”

“That was your grandparents' house?” My eyebrows shoot up, my pulse quickens knowing that I am living in the house where Susie probably spent a good amount of her childhood. I chuckle as she nods in confirmation.

Of course the house I’m living in would be where her grandparents lived. I think that’s what my favorite author would call fate.

Okay, Daniels, it’s time to start reading mystery suspense or thriller novels. You sound like a besotted dog living in a romance novel.

But I feel a bit like a besotted dog when it comes to Susie.

“You and Josh will have to come over for a visit sometime.” Even as the words fall from my mouth, I know it’s a mistake, but I can’t stop myself. The desire to have Susie in my house is suddenly overwhelming. “That is, of course, if you want to. It could be fun to see if the house is the same as you remember.”

My heart starts to pound as I watch surprise cover her face. I get ready to backpedal when my phone buzzes.

Grateful for the disruption, I slide it from my pocket and see my sister’s name.

Liv: You’re coming tonight right?

Heat creeps up my face with Liv’s question about our book club meeting. Amelia’s book is the topic. I glance up at Susie, hoping she can’t read my mind.

“It’s my sister Olivia. I’m getting together with her and my sister-in-law, Nicole, for a Zoom call later.”

Me: Yes and yes. Me: Can’t talk, right now.

Liv: Yay! Liv: Wait! Liv: Why can’t you talk? Are you with a girl?

My heart hammers against my ribcage as Olivia questions me. I’m usually not so short.

“Sorry,” I mumble to Susie as I type. “Sometimes my sister can be a bit chatty.”

“Chatty?” Susie presses her lips together, and I suddenly want to pull the collar of my shirt from my neck. Is it hot in here? “Yeah, sometimes Josh can be chatty too.”

A nervous chuckle escapes me.

Me: No. Why would you ask that?

Liv: You are with a girl! Liv: I have questions…

Me: Bye!

“Okay. All done. Sorry about that.” I groan internally for apologizing again.

“No worries. I understand,” I meet Susie’s eyes to see a gleam of humor, but also understanding. “Meeting up with your sister and sister-in-law sounds like fun. Do you do that often?”

I put my phone away and give her a timid grin.

“About once a month or so. We have a book club.” Susie’s mouth falls open and I laugh. I rub the back of my neck to relieve the tension I feel building there. I don’t usually talk to anyone about this. “It’s a way for us to spend time together. Liv and Nicole started it.”

“A book club, huh?” Susie has a cheeky grin and a gleam in her eyes. I feel like she knows exactly what author I’m reading. I rub my hands up and down my pants. “Which book are you reading?”

“The new J Anthony,” I spit out and watch Susie press her lips together.

“It was good,” she says with a smirk.

“You like to read horror?” I ask, surprised. Which is silly. I mean, who doesn’t like to read?

She nods her head and I see her shoulders shake. Is she trying not to laugh at me?

“Pleasant Hollow has a nice library,” I say because my mind is blank. I immediately regret how silly that sounds. “I stopped by to pick up the book we’re discussing tonight.”

“I saw you.” Her smile lights up, and she looks at me like she knows all my secrets. “I like to work here and at the library.”

I grab hold of that last statement in an attempt to change the subject. “You work here and in the library? What is it that you do?”

“Oh no you don’t.” She points a finger at me and lets out the laugh she’s been holding in. “We are talking about you Mr. Daniels.”

“What’s the big deal?” I raise my hands and try to play it cool. “I like to read and have a book club with my sister and sister-in-law.”

“You’re right. It’s not a big deal at all.” But she’s laughing as she says it. “Especially if you read James Patterson.”

“Exactly.” I smile, heat spreading up my neck. I push back the chair and get up. “I’m gonna head out. I need to stop at the library and then grab dinner.”

Her eyes twinkle, and my hand raises to my collar, pulling it away from my body. “Tell Mrs. Baker I said hello.”

“I will.” giving her a shaky smile, and sticking my hands in my pockets. I turn to walk away, but stop. “I meant what I said about you and Josh coming to the house. You’re welcome any time.”

There’s a shift in her gaze, and my stomach flips.

“Thanks. I’ll talk to Josh about it.”

“It was good to see you.” I nod standing there for a moment, unable to pull my gaze away. My chest tightens with the thought that I may not be here long enough for that visit to happen. The corner of my lips dip a tiny bit. I shake it off, and move toward the exit but throw over my shoulder. “Oh! I’ll let you know about the list of ‘possible suspects’ when I know something.”

Her laughter rings out behind me as I walk out the exit, and I can’t stop the enormous smile that skates across my face.

“Adam,” Elizabeth Baker beams at me, her eyes wrinkling at the corner. “You had a great game on Sunday. Keep it up.”

“That’s my intention,” forcing a smile, I do my best to act like I don’t have an expired visa and will definitely be playing with the Mavs till the end of the season. Placing my book upside down on the circulation desk, I keep my hand there as if to cover what book it is. Elizabeth looks at it before lifting her twinkling gaze to mine.

“You do realize Maggie and I know every book anyone borrows, right?” She gives me a mischievous grin and winks before whispering. “Mum’s the word. We love Amelia’s books too.”

“I appreciate that,” I lift my hand from the book and smile back at her. “My brother would be mortified.”

“Just your brother?” She asks as she scans the book and puts it in the return cart.

I feel my face heat. “Okay, maybe not just him.”

She gives me a knowing grin and chuckles. I laugh with her and turn toward the exit.

I stop halfway out the door and look back over my shoulder before waving. “Oh, Susie Owens said to say ‘hello’.” I watch her eyebrows lift in surprise before a playful grin crosses her face. Leaving me raising a brow.

The door closes behind me, leaving the smell of books behind me. I grab my keys from my pocket just as my phone buzzes. I slide it out and see Finn's name.

“Please tell me you have some good news.” I open the Jeep door and hop in, before sticking the key in the ignition.

“Yeah, about that.” I freeze at the seriousness in his voice. “It’s not looking good.”

My stomach rolls, and I scrub my face with my hand.

“What does that mean, exactly?” I push through a tight throat.

“Nothing too crazy. Just that you’ll most likely be deported,” he says with a slight laugh. “Unless you know someone who’d be willing to marry you.”

“Are we really bringing up getting married again?” I scoff, and shake my head.

“Well maybe you’re dating someone I don’t know about?” I almost laugh at the hope I hear in his voice, but don’t because I can barely breathe.

I run a hand through my hair, clenching my jaw.

“My assistant did find another option that’s a possibility. Steve could submit a petition for you to get your green card.” My hand freezes and the tightness in my chests loosens, only to have it come back full force at his next words. “But that could take up to a year or longer.”

“Well that’s not really an option is it,” I growl. Luckily Finn ignores my frustration. “Sorry. I know this isn’t your fault.”

He doesn’t say anything, but I’m pretty sure he’s thinking it’s indirectly his fault. It was his job to keep my visa up to date. Him giving the task to his assistant and her failing to complete the DS-160 forms is irrelevant. “How much time do I have?”

“I can ask my assistant to call the Embassy again tomorrow to explore if there are any extenuating circumstances considering your situation, that may give us a bit more time. But odds are you’ll have little to no time before you need to return to Canada.”

My head drops to my chest and my limbs feel weighted.

“I’m so sorry, Adam.” Finn says, regret oozing from his voice.

“I know. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” I say softly.

I stare at the phone and shake my head, as the absolute craziest thought crosses my mind.

Rubbing my face with my hand, I groan. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.”