Chapter 2

2

CROW

W hy have I never thought of this before? To get a woman to fall for me, I simply need to find someone who hasn’t heard of my family.

We’re not bad people, not at all. It’s just that we’ve lived somewhere other than Cedarville for a stint here and there. So even though we’re from here, we’re semi-outsiders, because the unofficial Old Ladies Brigade can’t account for our every movement during the time we were living elsewhere.

Okay, there’s only a handful of the nosy old biddies. But it still bugs me to think that they look down at me for going to art school and apprenticing at a few well-respected tattoo shops over the years. I’ve seen enough of their kids and grandkids over the years to know that the entire town isn’t anti-ink, so that’s something.

What will win Emma over?

An hour of scrubbing the shop within an inch of its life, and my coffee mug is empty. Yet I haven’t figured out where to take Emma tonight. Fifteen minutes later, I’ve cleaned the whole kitchen area, not that I have any intention of making my own coffee any time soon.

Dammit. I said I’d be back in about an hour, but I still need to think of somewhere even vaguely interesting to take Emma tonight. Some way to get to know her. Going out for coffee would be boring. Going for a walk when she’s been on her feet all day feels like an asshole move.

Digging through my email, I skim the cheesy Cedarville town events update. Bingo. My mug and I march back across the street.

Emma is laughing with two older guys in the corner, as she tops up their coffee, and my breath stops when she turns to me with a huge smile. Those soft gray-blue eyes on me make me feel the way I did the first time I had to run into an active fire. Getting a huge adrenaline rush, yet precisely where I’m supposed to be.

I love that her wavy auburn hair is a bit wild. It makes her look like a forest goddess, and don’t get me started on those voluptuous curves that can’t be hidden under her plain black pants and green tie-dye Charming Café t-shirt.

I’ve never experienced a connection anything like this. I can’t find the words for it. This woman is… luminous .

She takes my mug without a word, carrying it around behind the counter to rinse it in hot water. Once it’s full and on the counter, I drop another five, then pull out my phone. “May I please have your number?”

She recites it slowly, as if she wants to be sure I type it in correctly.

“Thanks. Hey, do you enjoy a variety of great and terrible music?”

Her head tilts to the side. “Yeah. Well, I always hope for good music, though I’ll sit politely through terrible music if it’s necessary.”

I chuckle at that. “You close at six, yeah? Can I pick you up then?”

“No.” Her eyes are sparkling as she smiles. “I’d like to run home and change so I don’t smell like baked goods. It’s only three blocks away. How about six-thirty?” She gives me the address, and her number.

“Thanks.” I flash a smile, then lean in closer. “Although you’re gorgeous wearing what you have on right now.”

There’s something in her eyes – she likes me, even though she’s a bit nervous. “I know,” I whisper. “I should be smoother. Think of some great lines to pick you up with. I’m sorry, I’m just flustered because I have a feeling about you.”

Her long lashes drop as she stares at the counter. Her fingers twitch slightly. I get it. She hasn’t dated much, and she’s cautious. Before I can explain, two truckloads of construction guys start strolling through the door. “I’ll text you, gorgeous. We’ll have a chill evening, okay?”

“Okay.” We grin at each other hard for a few seconds, then I get out of her hair. As soon as I’m back in the shop, I text her.

Betty’s Bistro has Tuesday Tunes every week in the summer. They have a variety of bands out on the patio. Don’t know if they’re any good, but the food is.

It takes her around twenty minutes to respond.

Emma: Sounds great. See you tonight.

Emma: Wait – is that patio big enough for a band?

You’ll see.

I’m floating. She’s clearly a bit nervous about going out with me, but she’s doing it anyway. Obviously she’s perfectly safe at a nice town event. No matter how people try to peg me as some sort of dark outside influence.

Her eyes light up every time I smile at her. And when we were standing so close that I could breathe in the faint scent of her vanilla shampoo, I thought my heart was about to explode.

I’ve never been drawn to a woman like this. All I can think about is how long I should wait to kiss her. If a date goes well, a goodnight kiss is traditional. I’ll watch those expressive, sparkling eyes to be sure. But that’s hours from now.

I don’t know what it is about this beautiful, sweet, smiling young lady, but I’m already infatuated with her.