Chapter 10 - Leah

I woke up to the sound of birds singing outside the window and took a deep, contented breath at how warm and comfortable I felt. My eyes were still closed, but I could tell something was different this morning. I concentrated on my surroundings and suddenly realized why I felt so warm.

My eyes snapped open, and I saw an arm resting across my torso and a large hand resting on the bed in front of my stomach. I remembered the pillows had been between us when we went to bed last night, but at some point, they had disappeared. My back was pressed up against Killian’s chest, and I could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath as he slept.

As annoyed as I was that I had found myself unsuspectingly sleeping in his arms, I couldn’t help but be turned on by how it felt to be wrapped so securely in his embrace. It had been a long time since I had been in such close contact with a man. I had nearly forgotten what it was like to feel their muscles as they held you tightly and to feel the rough warmth of their skin.

Slowly, I rolled onto my back. If I could move away without waking him up, I could put the pillows back between us. He would be none the wiser.

But as I moved to lift his arm, his eyes popped open. “What are you doing?” he asked sleepily.

I cleared my throat awkwardly at being caught trying to manhandle him in his sleep. “Trying not to wake you up.”

“Hmm,” he said, looking down at where his arm still wrapped around my waist. “It seems like you were trying more than that.”

“I think the pillows got kicked down to the bottom of the bed while we were sleeping,” I said quietly.

His face was so close to mine, and I was distracted by the way his eyes were roving over my body. I hadn’t expected him to see my pajamas since we usually had a barrier between us, let alone be close enough for him to touch them. The silky material was thin and left little to the imagination.

“It seems they did,” he replied, still holding me.

I breathed in the musky scent rolling off him, my heart fluttering with excitement and anticipation. All I needed to do was lean in a few inches, and I could close the distance between us. Just a little bit, and then our lips would touch.

But I couldn’t do that. He and I were not lovers, as much as he seemed to enjoy claiming me as his wife. I turned my face away from him and waited for him to move his arm so I could get up. I was glad that I was a female and didn’t possess any body parts that would alert him to how aroused I was by his proximity.

He, on the other hand, had a more difficult time hiding it. His body was angled towards mine, and I felt a slight prodding in my thigh as his morning wood stood at attention.

“Sorry about that,” he said, shifting away from me.

“It’s fine.” I wasn’t sure there was anything else to say in a situation like this.

We both got out of bed awkwardly and began getting ready for the day. Killian had to work, so he left while I dawdled around the house, looking for something to keep me occupied.

After finishing my chores for the day and failing to find anything interesting to watch on television, I decided it was time to get out of the house. I hadn’t done much exploring of the town yet. It was time I started putting down some roots in my new home.

Aside from that, I realized I needed to find a job. The dresses that Kay was making for me would be done in a few weeks, and I wanted to make sure I was ready to pay for them when it was time.

I put on some shoes and walked down the street, hoping to find something that would catch my eye. I made my way to Main Street, taking a mental note of a few places that I could inquire at later. None of them immediately jumped out as a place I’d be interested in working at, but anything was better than nothing.

I turned off Main Street to make a loop back to the house when I spotted a tiny bar. The sign outside read “Moondance Tavern.”

The sound of our song drifted lightly in the air as Killian twirled me around underneath the moonlit skies. Promises of forever love poured from the car stereo.

“Someday, I’m going to dance with you at our wedding,” he whispered into my ear.

With our bodies close together, it almost made me believe that it was possible.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to leave Sparkle Hollow,” I said quietly. “No matter how much I want to.”

He paused our dance, placing his hand on my face as he looked deeply into my eyes. His hazel eyes sparkled in the dim light from above.

“I swear, Leah. This won’t be our last moon dance.”

I stared at the sign in wonder. The memory had sparked my curiosity, and I felt a compelling need to venture inside. This was as good a place as any to work, I figured. My skill sets certainly qualified me for the service industry.

I opened the glass door and stepped into a dimly lit but well-maintained room. The sign said they were open, but the bar was completely empty. It was still early in the day, so that wasn’t surprising.

“Hello?” I called uncertainly. “Anyone here?”

The door behind the bar opened and out stepped the last person I expected to see.

“Leah,” Killian said, his face showing as much shock as mine must have. “What are you doing here?”

“I was out walking around and saw the sign,” I explained. “Do you work here?” I suddenly realized I had never asked him what his job was.

“I just bought this place a few months ago, actually,” Killian said with a smile.

“You own it?” I asked. “Did you name it as well?”

“It used to be called Pine Nuts Bar,” he said. His cheeks turned slightly red, and I wondered if he had realized the significance of the name he had chosen or if he was just looking for something classy to attract business. “The owner wanted to retire, and I wanted to settle down and have something of my own. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

I couldn’t help the anger and sadness that arose as I heard him talk about how he had managed to make a dream of his come true in my absence. While I had been abandoned and alone in Sparkle Hollow, he had been off starting a new business and making a home for himself.

“Yeah,” I said noncommittally.

“Would you like a tour?” he asked.

I nodded, and he started to show me around the establishment. I had to admit, he had done a great job with the place. It was tastefully decorated, impeccably clean, and well-stocked. The entire place was upscale enough to attract visitors to town without being off-putting to local clientele looking for a more relaxed atmosphere. Overall, I was impressed. Although I was still slightly bitter, I was glad for him.

“It’s a really nice place,” I remarked as we made our way back to the front of the building.

“Actually, now that you’re here, I have an idea,” Killian said. “I’ve been wanting to bring on another part-time person to help with the busy nights and fill in for some of the other staff members if they need some time off. You had mentioned wanting to get a job sometime. Would you want the position?”

I raised an eyebrow at him for extending the offer so quickly. “Don’t you need to see my resume or conduct an interview? Maybe call some references?”

Killian laughed at my sarcasm. “I think I’ve got all the information I need to make a decision about hiring you, Leah.”

He seemed so confident, so friendly and inviting. It wasn’t that he had changed necessarily, but that I was focusing on a different part of the man I had known before. I was intrigued to learn more about this new side of him.

“Then you know my answer,” I replied.

“Great,” he said, grinning. “You start tomorrow.”