4. Chloe

CHAPTER 4

Chloe

T he diner hasn’t changed a bit. It’s still decorated with the same Charlie Brown Christmas tree in the window that barely holds six ornaments before it starts to tilt over. The silver garland twinkles with tiny blinking lights of red, blue, green and yellow dancing with the festive music that’s piped softly through the whole place.

The air is redolent with the scent of pine and cinnamon mixed with delicious cooking smells and the best coffee anywhere around. Joe insists on it being his own personal blend and it’s amazing.

I have missed this place.

Belle giggles and tugs at my hand. Her blue eyes sparkle with happiness and a tug of jealousy ripples through me.

I wish I felt that naive and happy. But most of the time I feel tired and shaky. Part of that is my own fault but part can be laid at Bennet Murphy’s door.

We only went on two dates two years ago and you’d think that in all this time he would have gotten over it.

But not him. Instead he’s become my permanent shadow, following me around and harassing me every damn day. That’s one thing I was looking forward to about leaving campus. For awhile at least he won’t be able to find me and I can breathe a little easier.

Belle sobers. “He’s still messing with you, isn’t he?” She asks quietly.

I nod my head and then reach out to grasp her hands tightly. “Don’t say anything to anyone though. Okay? I mean, Aunt Wren and Aunt Ruby both had really bad problems with guys and I don’t want to freak anyone out. He honestly hasn’t done anything close to what happened to them.”

She leans closer, her blue eyes wide and concerned. “What happens if he does? If he escalates too quickly and nobody around you knows what’s going on? You need to let one of them know about this. At least one,” she huffs angrily.

“If one knows, they all know. You know how they work. It’s like the Mouseketeers or something.”

Belle giggles. “Musketeers. The Three Musketeers.”

I laugh shakily. “That’s what I meant.”

“I know.” She pauses for breath and smiles. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so damn much. I should smack the hell out of you for staying away so long.”

“You know why I did.”

“Yeah. And you know that he still cares about you. And you care about him too! So why are you running away from him for years?”

I sigh and pull my hands back, resting them in my lap and twisting them into my sweater. “It was just so fast and I needed time to think. And I’m so afraid to screw things up with us and our families. It’s an absolute mess of tangles familial obligations and I didn’t know what to do with all of it. I mean…what if we break up? Are the parents gonna pick sides? Nobody wants to see that.”

She shakes her dark head. “Nobody is going to blame either one of you if something doesn’t work out. But what if it did? What if it’s the most amazing thing in the whole wide world and you’re running away from it? What then?” She pauses and her blue eyes turn foggy with memories. “I mean, if I had someone who loved me as much as Sam loves you, I don’t think I’d run away from him. I’d run at him so fast that his head would spin! Love’s a fragile, frightening thing sometimes. But it’s always worth the risk.”

I study her, a little scared at the intense look on her face. “Are you alright?”

She shakes herself like a dog shakes after it’s come out of the pool. “Yeah. I’m fine. I just don’t think you should waste this opportunity. Some people never get to find their soulmate. You’re lucky that you have.”

“I never said that Samson was my soulmate,” I protest. But we both know that I’m not fooling anybody. She rolls her eyes and grunts.

“Yeah. Right.”

Joe pops up at the table, his dark eyes smiling at me. “If it isn’t the prodigal daughter! You wanna cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie?”

I moan and glare at him. “You know I do!” Then I laugh and jump to my feet. “Joe! I’ve missed you so much!”

He wraps me up in his warm hug and chuckles. “I’ve missed you too, sweetheart.” He pushes me away and then growls, “But you need some meat on those pretty bones! Let me get you one of my famous turkey and all the trimmings sandwiches!”

“What about the pie?” I giggle.

“There’s always room for pie afterwards!” He shuffles off to the back room.

I glance over at Belle where she’s grinning at me. “Prepare to get some meat on your bones. You know how he loves feeding people.”

I moan. “I’m not saying I don’t want that but jeez! I’m gonna have to work out like a fiend at the gym to make up for all the food I’m sure he’s gonna try and force feed me.”

“You’re perfect just the way you are. Don’t try and change a thing, Sweets.”

My head jerks up and I find myself locking eyes with Samson. He doesn’t look away either. Just keeps staring at me as he picks up his food and then turns and heads for the door. My whole body vibrates with some weird kind of longing for the giant man.

And it’s like he knows it too because as he heads out the door with everyone’s food, he glances back at me and my breath stops…just, nothing. There’s something about that look he gives me. The heat in his alpine blue gaze promises a heady, sweet reckoning that may well break both of us.

But God do I want all of it!

“What the hell was that all about? I could practically feel the heat rolling off the two of you. It was really uncomfortable to sit here and watch.”

I keep my eyes on Samson as he stalks out the door, no longer looking back at me.

I look up at her, confused. “I’m not really sure. But knowing Sam like I do, I have a feeling he won’t wait long before I find out exactly what the crazy man is talking about.”

And lord love me, I can’t wait.