Chapter 6 What Is

Saturday

Ames often dropped by the toy store to bring Laura a shot of her favorite espresso on his way to Castellano's. This morning, however, he texted to say he was heading straight to work today. He and his brothers were putting in some extra hours of practice before tonight's rodeo performance, and he wanted to get an early start.

Unaccountable disappointment flooded her. Though he was under no obligation to bring her coffee, it felt like he was avoiding her. A few minutes later, a driver in a Gingerbread House uniform stepped into the store. He was holding a cardboard box, bearing two tall, familiar-looking cups. A swirl of steam rose from each of them.

"Morning," he called cheerfully, glancing around the store. "I have a special delivery of espresso for a Miss Laura Lee and Miss Lucy Lee."

Laura shyly raised her hand. "I'm Laura."

"And I'm Lucy." Lucy breezed up to the guy with an armful of wooden blocks to greedily claim her cup. "Wow!" She spun delightedly in her sister's direction. "Ames is upping his game, huh?" She'd just finished disinfecting the armful of blocks in the back, and she was returning them to the children's play zone. It was a gated off area in a corner of the room, paved with rubber mats in primary colors. This was the place where children could test out toys before their parents purchased them — blocks, rocking horses, dollhouses, and more. It was the most popular spot in the store, and it resulted in a lot of sales.

"I don't know what you're talking about." After ensuring that they didn't owe the delivery guy anything, Laura gave him an extra tip, knowing Ames had likely already done so. Then she followed her sister to help set up the play area for the day. She found herself smiling for no reason at all. Ames just had that effect on her. The sweet stuff he was forever doing for her never failed to put her in a better mood.

"Oh, I think you do." Lucy rolled her eyes. "So, have you kissed him yet?"

"Just stop." Feeling her face grow warm, Laura breathed in the delectable scent of espresso before taking her first sip.

"I'll take that as a no." Lucy made a face at her. "Seriously, what are you waiting for? You're into him. He's into you…" She let her voice trail off suggestively.

"Flint Carson is just as into you, and I don't see you doing anything about that, either." For weeks, Laura had been wanting to bring up the topic, but the right opportunity hadn't come along until now. Their parents were in their glassed-in workshop, and the store wouldn't open for another ten minutes, so the microphones weren't turned on yet. It was the perfect time for a sister chat.

Lucy gave her an are-you-crazy look. "Flint Carson doesn't have a serious bone in his body!"

"In his very tall, very ripped rodeo champ body, you mean," Laura pressed in a teasing voice, watching closely for her sister's reaction.

Lucy avoided her gaze. "I'm not denying that all three Carson brothers are hunks of burning ho-ho-holy hotness. But he's got enough single ladies drooling over him. He doesn't need to add me to that Santa-sized list."

Laura could hear an underlying note of jealousy in her voice. "But he wants to." She couldn't resist pointing out that undeniable fact.

Though Lucy didn't deny it, she shrugged as if it didn't matter. "I think the only thing he finds fascinating about me is the fact that I'm not chasing after him like every other single lady in this town. I'm a puzzle he's trying to figure out. Nothing more."

"If you say so." Laura was far from convinced that was the case.

"I do." Lucy adopted a dismissive voice that told Laura she was done talking about him. However, that didn't explain the flush staining her creamy features or the agitated way she was slapping blocks together to form a tower. Or how off kilter it was and how quickly it collapsed.

Laura took another sip of her coffee before sliding to her knees to help out. "Somebody's off their game this morning. I hope my teasing about Flint isn't what did the trick." To drive her point home, she constructed a straighter tower that stood twice as tall as Lucy's next one. It wasn't half bad, actually. She rocked back a little to admire it.

Lucy zinged a block in her direction, sending it toppling to the floor. "Oops!" There was scant apology ringing in her tone. "Guess you're right about me being off my game."

Laura rolled her eyes and abandoned her mission to help get the play zone ready for the day. "Clearly, you don't need my help here."

"Clearly," Lucy chuckled. She looked a little less grumpy than before.

They were on the schedule to take their lunch breaks in pairs today. That way they could attend the grand opening festivities of the newest shop in town, a jewelry store called All That Glitters. Their parents took the first lunch break at the crack of noon and returned with a shiny new gold bracelet on her mother's wrist, one made of fourteen-karat gold beads in the shape of cats. She'd won it in some opening day drawing. Talk about luck!

"I love it!" Laura oohed and aahed over it while Lucy finished helping a customer. "I've always wanted a cat," she reminded, nudging her mother suggestively with her elbow. "Now that we're no longer traveling the country in a teensy tiny travel trailer, we should consider getting a pet."

Her father grunted. "The poor critter would be home alone all day long. What kind of life is that?"

Laura pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe we could bring him to the shop?" she suggested hopefully.

Her mother was shaking her head before she finished the question. "Too many people are allergic to cats, I'm afraid."

"What if you and Dad kept him in the workshop with you?" There had to be a way to make it work. People adopted pets all the time. People who were busy. People who worked the same long hours she and her family did.

Lucy waited until they were on their lunch break at one o'clock to offer her input into the topic of adoption. "I can put a bug in Ames' ear for you about that cat you want so bad. I betcha he'll find a way to get you one. Or three. Or fifty. Maybe he and Flint would be willing to raise a whole herd of felines for you in their bachelor pad next door."

Laura smiled, wondering if it was true. It certainly sounded like something Ames would do, but it wouldn't be fair to pressure him into handling the care and upkeep of a pet for her. That would be taking advantage of his kindness…and the very serious crush he seemed to have on her. Just thinking about it made her heart do a crazy flip-flop. Okay, a whole series of flip-flops, followed by a few cartwheels, and a triple backflip.

She glanced away to hide the butterflies fluttering inside her stomach. "He and his brothers are gone as much as we are. I doubt they're in any more of a position to adopt a pet."

"Don't know until you ask," Lucy noted impishly.

"Please don't." Laura's voice grew thready. She really, really, really didn't want to put that kind of pressure on Ames right now. Their relationship was already experiencing enough growing pains.

Giving her an odd look, her sister finally dropped the topic. For now. Or maybe she fell silent because they'd reached the grand opening of Pinetop's newest boutique. A throng of people surrounded the entrance to the jewelry store.

Laura and Lucy exchanged a wry glance, both silently acknowledging that it would take longer than their one-hour lunch break to make it inside the store. There was a pretty lengthy line waiting to get in.

Lucy stepped closer to Laura to murmur, "Guess that's what happens when you give away a free gold bracelet."

Or more than one. According to the excited chatter around them, a drawing for a second gold bracelet was about to take place soon.

"Maybe I'm just a simple elf," Laura joked, backing away from the growing army of spectators, "but I don't need or want a gold bracelet badly enough to risk being trampled." The tiny local news station had two cameramen on site, filming the event with cameras elevated on poles.

A child, who was stuck in line between two adults holding her hands, suddenly squealed. She tried to wiggle from their grasp and managed to break one hand free. She pointed frenziedly at Laura and Lucy. "Look, Mom! Elves! Real ones." She couldn't be more than four or five-years-old.

Laura felt sorry for the child, knowing she would be having a lot more fun at Santa's Toy Factory. Instead, she was shivering outside in the mountain breeze with parents who probably weren't going to win the next gold bracelet.

She and Lucy curtsied in their elf skirts and candy cane striped stockings, blowing kisses at the little girl. She started to jump up and down, begging to have her picture taken with the elves.

The sisters ended up posing with her and several more children. The parents thanked them profusely for helping break the monotony of standing in line. One even offered them a tip, which Laura quickly refused. Instead, she took the opportunity to invite them to pay a visit to the toy store later on.

"When you're done being a walking advertisement…" Lucy tugged on her arm to get her moving again. "Our lunch break isn't going to last forever. Our best bet, at this point, is grabbing lunch at our favorite sandwich truck on the way back."

"It's a date!" Laura momentarily paused in front of the All That Glitters display windows. Like nearly every other shop in town, the store windows were drenched in Christmas lights. Theirs were all white with gold foil accents, an entrancing mix of holiday spirit and glam that was well suited to a jewelry store.

"You seriously can't resist shiny things." Lucy quit tugging on her arm and joined her at the window, pointing at one of the pieces of jewelry on display. "There's your ring, sis!"

Laura followed her finger, surprised to see a massive square diamond on a simple white gold band. "That's at least five karats!" She couldn't imagine spending that kind of money on a ring. Ever.

"I know, and it's exactly the kind of ring Ames is gonna spring for when the time comes. Mark my words." Lucy batted her lashes teasingly.

"Luce," Laura groaned. "You really don't have to say everything that pops into your head." Her younger sister had been born without a filter. It was no wonder Flint was so into her. They had that unfortunate trait in common.

"Whatever." Lucy rolled her eyes. "I was just pointing out the obvious."

"Are you?" Laura gave her a warning head shake. "What part of we're not dating can't you seem to get through your noggin?" She was still too messed up in the head over her breakup with Brex to give another relationship a fair shot at the moment. Sorry, Ames! She truly was, but he deserved better than a bunch of rebound nonsense. It was such a shame that Brex had popped into town when he did. She'd just about reached the point of being able to move on with her life. Then he'd shown his arrogant mug and ripped off the scab again.

"Uh…maybe because a certain crazy good looking bronc rider kisses you with his eyes every time he sees you." Lucy employed her duh voice, like she was trying to communicate with someone who was really dense.

He does? Laura stared at her, perplexed. Was it really that obvious to others?

Lucy wasn't looking her way. She was pointing to another ring. "Now that's more my style." It was a marquise diamond set in a diamond-encrusted sterling silver band.

"It looks like something that belongs in a museum," Laura sighed, leaning closer to get a better look at the intricate details etched into the side of the band. "It's absolutely stunning." It was a one-of-a-kind ring, the work of a master designer.

"I know. Utterly perfect for this go-big-or-go-home kind of gal." Lucy wiggled the fingers on her left hand with a faraway look, clearly envisioning it on her ring finger.

It was Laura's turn to bat her eyelashes. "I'll be sure to let Flint know."

"You do that." Lucy snorted, sounding more amused than worried as she swung away from the window. "Tell him if he buys me a ring that nice, I might have to consider dating his cocky self, after all."

Laura burst out laughing. Her sister joined in. They strolled arm in arm down the street together, stopping at their favorite truck vendor to purchase grilled jerk chicken sandwiches. The brioche buns were filled to overflowing with pineapple slices, coleslaw, and shredded chicken.

"Pinetop serves the best food on the planet," Lucy declared between bites. "I'm practically inhaling this thing."

Laura was amused by the way her words became muffled by her next gigantic bite. "You must have worked up an appetite rebuilding my block tower after accidentally knocking it down earlier."

"Holding grudges, are we?" Lucy munched her way with gusto through the delectable sandwich as they strolled back to the toy store.

A loud mechanical wail shrilly rode the breeze, making them slow their steps.

Lucy abruptly swallowed the bite she'd been chewing. "Is that a security alarm?"

"I think so." Laura turned to scan the row of holiday boutiques on both sides of the street behind them. "Hopefully, it's just a test." Or maybe someone had burned a bag of popcorn and set off a smoke detector. She doubted it was much more than that. This was Pinetop, a peaceful little town whose crime rate had to be down near zero.

The shriek of a police siren joined the melee, verifying that what they were hearing was not, in fact, some sort of security alarm test. Lights flashed, uniformed officers ushered the crowd back, and police tape was rolled out in front of one of the shops.

"It's the jewelry store!" Lucy craned her neck for a closer look, but the number of spectators standing between them and the store quickly swelled. It was difficult to make out much of what was happening.

"Nothing we can do," Lucy muttered, half turning away. "Let's get out of here."

Laura agreed. And though she was dying to know what was going on, she knew the best thing they could do right now was stay out of law enforcement's way. It wasn't like they'd been close enough to witness anything useful. It was with a heavy heart that she returned with her sister to the toy store.

Their mother, who'd been covering the showroom floor while they were away, gave them a sweeping look of concern. "Why the long faces?" She was wearing a Mrs. Santa outfit today, complete with a white wig and silver spectacles that her sharp eyes didn't require for reading. Her Asian features gave the outfit an exotic twist that rarely failed to make her girls smile.

However, Laura couldn't have felt less like smiling. Sadness tightened her insides as she shared the unfortunate news. "It appears that All That Glitters was robbed."

Her mother yanked off her spectacles. "But you were just there! So were we! How in the?—?"

"I don't know," Laura shook her head. "We never made it inside. They were wall to wall with people, and there was a huge line snaking down the sidewalk. It would've taken hours to get through it."

"Are you sure it was the jewelry store?" Ayaka Lee worriedly twisted the new bracelet around her wrist.

"Very sure," Lucy declared flatly.

"On their opening day, no less," their mother sighed. "What a shame!"

Laura nodded, wishing she knew more. In the entire year she and her family had lived in Pinetop, she couldn't recall hearing anything about a store being robbed. Or any shoplifting being reported. Or vandalism. The worst thing she'd witnessed before today was a deputy issuing a citation to a driver who'd blatantly run a stoplight.

The jewelry store robbery felt new and sinister, like things around them were changing and not in a good way. She wasn't the only one who felt that way. Word quickly spread around Pinetop about the shocking theft that had taken place in broad daylight. Cell phone video clips of the incident flooded social media.

According to the news anchors, nobody the sheriff and his deputies interviewed was a hundred percent sure what had happened, not even the patrons who'd been standing inside the jewelry boutique. One second, the place had been filled with happy, chatting customers. The next second, the security alarm had gone off. Nobody recalled seeing who broke the glass on the display case in question, and nobody remembered seeing anyone reach through the broken glass to steal anything.

More than a dozen diamond rings had simply vanished. A special bulletin was released to the public, announcing that the store owners were turning over their security tapes to the police. Laura could sense that the citizens of Pinetop were taking a collective breath and holding it. She did the same, anxiously keeping an eye on the news updates on her phone app for the rest of the afternoon.

Lord willing, what was recorded on the footage would lead to an arrest.

Sheriff Dean Skeltonpaced his office as five o'clock approached. His lips moved in silent prayer for a report back from the forensics experts he'd reached out to. Since it was a Friday afternoon, he knew the chances were slim he'd hear anything before the close of business today. However, he'd implored them to put a rush on it, assuring them he'd pay extra for a same-day turnaround. He'd take any news at all at this point.

Nothing like this had ever happened in Pinetop before. Naturally, the mayor was clamoring for an answer. So were the local news anchors and everyone else. Something like this could really damage the family friendly atmosphere the citizens had worked so hard to build. Safe streets, homes, and businesses were an integral part of what attracted vacationers to come shop in their small-town boutiques instead of spending their hard-earned money in bigger cities.

I need to get to the bottom of this, and soon.

The phone on the sheriff's desk lit up with an incoming call. It was the forensics office. Drawing a deep breath, he took a seat in his swivel chair and reached for the receiver, knowing he probably wasn't going to like what they had to tell him.

He didn't.

Apparently, both security cameras had been pushed far enough to the side so that neither had recorded who or what had shattered the display case. It wasn't a simple setup error on the security company's part, either. Or a coincidence. Someone had tampered with the cameras.

A carefully coordinated kind of tampering, as it turned out. The video feeds of both cameras shifted to other parts of the boutique in one well-synchronized movement. It happened so quickly that only a stick-like blur had been captured by the video feeds. The forensic team's working theory was that retractable wands had been employed in the diversion.

From the loud cheering in the background of the clip, it was additionally determined that the thieves had made their move right after the announcement of a winner to the jewelry store's second giveaway. One happy woman could be seen joyously clasping on another one of All That Glitter's custom gold bracelets.

While the video cameras recorded the cheering and clapping of the onlookers, the owners of the jewelry store had simultaneously suffered a loss of nearly a hundred thousand dollars in stolen gems.

It was a puzzle that was going to take some good old-fashioned detective work to solve. It was going to take time. It wasn't going to happen tonight.

Dean Skelton thanked the forensics experts for their assistance. Grimacing, he dialed the mayor next.

Though it was closing time,the shop owners on Main Street lingered in their doorways and on the sidewalks outside, wearing troubled expressions as they tried to come to grips with what had happened.

Laura and her parents couldn't help overhearing some of their conversations as they locked the front doors of Santa's Toy Factory. Lucy had pulled the Jeep around front and was waiting for them at the curb with the motor idling.

One boutique owner gave a soulful sigh. "It sure won't look the same with bars on all the shop windows in town."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," another woman soothed. "Lots for us to pray about, that's for sure."

The drive home was punctuated by somber silence. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts.

Laura waited until Lucy pulled into their lower-level garage before announcing, "I think I'm going to head to Castellano's this evening." After Ames' one and only text this morning, she hadn't heard anything else from him, not even a response to her thank you text for the espresso he'd had delivered to her and Lucy. His silence felt out of character. Maybe she was reading too much into things. Maybe she was simply allowing the unfortunate events at the jewelry store to affect her mood. Regardless, she wanted to go see for herself that things were still okay between her and Ames.

"I'll go with you," Lucy offered.

"Please do." Their father gave a decided nod as he climbed out of the Jeep. "It would be safest to stick together after everything that's happened today."

"I agree." Their mother reached for the hand he was holding out to her to assist her from the Jeep. She continued clinging to his hand as they made their way up the stairs to start dinner.

"Mom, we'll wait and eat at Castellano's," Laura called after them. There was no point in eating before heading to a dinner theater.

"Enjoy yourselves," Ayaka Lee called back, sounding a little more cheerful. She and her husband loved piddling in the kitchen together. They were forever stirring up dishes from their childhood days in Japan — katsu chicken, sushi rolls, and crab rice with edamame.

Lucy took her time strapping her crossbody purse around her and reaching back inside the Jeep to retrieve her insulated coffee mug from the console. It wasn't until the door shut behind their parents that she asked, "Why the sudden need to pay a visit to Castellano's?"

Laura shrugged, not sure how to voice her latest string of uncertainties. "I just want to make sure Ames is okay."

Lucy fiddled with the strap on her purse. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"I don't know." Laura really hoped she was imagining the pulling away vibes she was getting from him. "He's been really quiet today."

"He had your favorite coffee delivered," her sister reminded, pushing the button on the wall panel to shut the garage door.

"I know, but he hasn't responded to my thank you for it, and that was hours ago." Because of the robbery, it felt like days ago. Laura met her sister's questioning gaze, wondering if she even had the right to be worried. She'd made it painfully clear that she and Ames were just friends. To him. To her sister. To everyone.

Lucy studied her soberly. "Can I say something without getting my head bitten off?"

Laura's lips parted in surprise. "You mean you finally found a filter?" What was the world coming to?

Lucy rolled her eyes. "I'll take that as a yes. Listen." She grimaced and seemed to be searching for the right words. "I know Brex hurt you in ways I may never understand, but that's not Ames' fault. And you've been stringing that poor cowboy along for months and months and months."

"No!" Laura's agonized protest filled the garage. "There was no stringing. I didn't even realize he felt that way until—" She bit her lip, wishing she hadn't said so much.

Her sister didn't hesitate to pounce on the revelation. "So you two have talked about getting together," she crowed in an aha voice.

"He wants to," Laura admitted. "I, um…sort of just found out he's been feeling that way for a while."

Lucy shook her head in disgust. "And they say guys are dumb!"

"I know. It's just all happening so fast, and now Brex is in town, and I'm a wreck all over again." Laura blinked rapidly to hold back the sting of tears. "It wouldn't be fair to Ames to try to get something going with him right now."

Lucy snorted. "Somehow, I don't think the timing would matter to him. He's got it for you so bad I almost feel sorry for him." She spun in Laura's direction. "If we leave right now, you can probably catch him before the show."

"In our elf costumes?" Laura stared in dismay down at her red felt dress and the upturned toes of her elf boots.

Lucy gaped at her. "I'm not even going to grace that question with a response." She stomped toward the stairs.

Right. Laura hurried after her for a lightning shower and a change of clothing. Instead of jeans, she selected a corduroy dress of blue velvet that fell just above her knees. She paired it with soft suede boots in a light beige color. They hugged her legs, adding a much needed layer of warmth to the February temps. Since the two of them wouldn't be outside for long, she opted to leave her winter coat at home.

"That should get his attention." Lucy cast an approving sideways look at her on their way back to the Jeep. She mashed the button on the wall to open the garage door.

The cold mountain air immediately swirled into the garage, making Laura shiver.

"You think?" She smoothed her hands nervously over the skirt of her dress as she clasped her seatbelt and settled into the passenger seat.

"If you don't want to take my word for it, wait and see what Ames has to say about it," her sister advised cheekily. She started the motor.

Laura foundAmes in the lower-level stables, brushing down the horse he'd be riding that evening. At the sight of her, he shoved the brush at his youngest brother and strode her way up the long, plank hallway. Horses nickered from the stalls on both sides of him.

"What are you doing here?" His blue gaze darkened as he drank her in.

She felt like a flower blossoming in the sun beneath the intensity of his scrutiny. A guy like him didn't need to fill the air between them with words. All it took was one look from him to make her feel special. Cherished. Adored. Wanted.

She smiled at the sound his leather chaps made as his long legs ate up the stretch of hallway between them.

"I came to see you."

The admiring glow in his gaze was immediately replaced with concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes and no." She was full of too many conflicting emotions to put a label on what she was feeling.

He reached for her shoulders and spun her around to face the opposite direction. "We can talk in the Carsons' home away from home, if you prefer."

He and his brothers had a dressing room all to themselves. She'd only been inside it one other time.

Her heart beat an insane rhythm as he led her to it. Shutting the door behind them, he leaned back against it and faced her. "What'll it be this time, darling? More pickup rider services?"

"No." She forced herself to swallow her pride and take a step closer, resting a hand on his arm. The sleeves of his plaid shirt were rolled up. She stifled a shiver at the way his muscles flexed beneath her fingers. "I, um…" Oh, this was so much harder than she'd anticipated! She suddenly wished she'd taken the time to rehearse what she was going to say.

Ames watched her with a hooded expression. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm trying to be, but I've been worried about you." The words burst from her.

"Worried about me?" He pointed at his chest, looking puzzled. "Why?"

She glanced away from him, blinking nervously. "I know this may sound stupid, but you didn't respond to my thank you text for the coffee. Then the jewelry store was broken into. Lucy and I had just left?—"

"You were there?" Ames straightened against the door, reaching for her hands.

"We didn't go inside." She shook her head. "We tried dropping by their grand opening celebration during our lunch break, but it was too crowded to get through the door. On our way back to the toy store, we heard the security alarm go off." If he'd been watching or listening to the news, he already knew the rest of the story.

"Did you see anything?" He rubbed his callused thumbs in circles over the tops of her hands.

"No. There were way too many people between us and the store."

"Good." He tugged her closer so he could rest his chin on top of her head. "That's messy business. I'm glad you're not involved."

"So we're okay?" She snuggled closer, reveling in his nearness and scent — a mix of saddle soap, leather, and the faint overtones of aftershave. "You and me?"

He grew still. "Any reason we shouldn't be?"

She felt silly reminding him, but she didn't know what else to say. "You still haven't responded to my text."

"Ah." He hugged her tighter. "Figured I'd leave you alone for a while. You know…give you some space. Flint said I follow you around like a needy puppy, and girls find that annoying."

Nothing could've been further from the truth in his case. "I don't find you annoying," she assured fervently.

"Good to know." One large hand threaded through her hair, cupping the back of her head. "You gonna get around to telling me what's wrong before the show starts?"

She nodded against his shirt. "Lucy said I've been stringing you along. Is that what you think I've been doing?" Her shoulders shook from the effort to hold back a sob.

"What? No!" He leaned back a little to scowl down at her. "Lucy's wrong, you hear?"

She nodded, unable to keep her eyes from filling.

"What you and I have is special," he continued in a gruff voice. "It doesn't need to fit any mold. It's ours."

She fisted her hands in his shirt. "I just needed you to hear it from me…that I would never, ever, ever knowingly do anything to hurt you, Ames. You mean too much to me. I've just been so caught up in my?—"

"I know," he interrupted. "It's okay." He let her go, but only long enough to reach for her face and cup it gently between his hands. "You and I are okay. Promise."

"Are we?" She felt herself crumpling from the inside out. "Now that I know the truth about how you feel about me, I feel so selfish."

"Well, don't." He cast a reluctant glance at the clock hanging on the wall behind her. "Listen, I don't have much longer before I have to be in the ring, but I'm gonna let you in on a little secret."

She searched his rugged features, needing to see for herself that he was okay with the way things stood between them.

He ducked his head over hers, blocking out everything but the sincerity in his voice and expression. "The way you've grieved over your broken engagement tells me that commitments like that mean something to you. You don't toss your affections around lightly. From my angle, the next guy who manages to get a ring on your finger will be the most fortunate guy on the planet."

She swayed closer to him, feeling like she was floating on clouds and rainbows. "If you still want that kiss you've been gunning for," she murmured, "take it. I'm ready."

"No. You're not." He brushed his thumbs beneath her eyes, wiping away the dampness. "You'll know when you are, and so will I."

"Ames," she sighed as he dropped his arms and reached for the door handle. A fresh wave of anxiety rose in her throat.

"Laura," he echoed, treating her to a very thorough once over. He spent their last moments together raking her longingly with his gaze from head to toe, assuring in a way that no words could've ever done that the dress she'd chosen to wear this evening was a roaring success.

"Relax, darling. I'll text you back." Humor twinkled in his gaze as he pulled open the door.

It was just the right thing to say to her to ease her remaining fears, and he probably knew it.

A damp chuckle pealed out of her. "I'll be the one cheering the loudest for you out there tonight."

"You'd better be." He kissed her again with his eyes. Then he was gone.