Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
When Gideon called, “Watch out, Rosie, Isabella is heading toward the lane,” all the activity stopped.
But instead of crawling into the lane, Isabella went straight for a bowling ball.
Troy marveled, “That girl crawls faster than a speeding car.”
Rosie ran to her, then stopped two steps away as Isabella grabbed the edge of the ball return and pulled herself up. She patted the smallest ball one of the girls had been using, laughing and chirping as though she was trying to say something. Then she toddled four steps toward her mother before she plopped to her knees.
Rosie cried, “Oh my God, her first steps. That’s crazy.”
Troy hooted. “There you have it, folks. A champion bowler in the making.”
Every person in the bowling alley cheered, even the vets who’d come along to watch.
He was going to kiss her. Michaela knew it.
She just didn’t know what she’d do when he tried.
It had been such a fabulous evening. As they drew closer to her office, she had to say again, “You were amazing with those kids.”
It was dark in the car, but she thought maybe he blushed. “Thank you. Gideon’s asked me to come back for the next group when they’re aging out.”
With all the enthusiasm she felt, she said, “You have to do it. You inspired each and every one of them. They all have dreams, but I’m not sure many of them have ever voiced their dreams before. Or acknowledged they have them. But you got them to do it.”
She wasn’t lying to stroke his ego. What he’d done was incredible.
“And Gideon Jones,” she went on. “I can’t believe what he’s done with his youth centers. All the help he’s giving those young people.”
Troy turned onto Santa Cruz Avenue, heading to her office. “He has a pretty amazing story too. Right out of high school, he went into the Army. While he was out of the country, he completely lost track of his sister Ari when she went into foster care after their mother died. It took them years to find each other again. That’s why he helps both veterans and foster kids, because of what he and his sister went through. He’s never said it, but he’s got some PTSD from when several of his comrades were killed in action.”
“I didn’t know all that. I only knew about the painting your brother bought, which is how he started the foundation.”
“He’s a pretty incredible guy.” Then he asked, “Where are you parked?”
“There’s a garage under the office building.” She pointed. “Turn in there.”
He pulled in beside her car, one of the few left in the garage.
Oh God. He’d do it now, she was sure.
But instead of jumping her, Troy asked, “What were you and Rosie talking about?”
It felt like a reprieve. “Gloria Madden is very interested in Rosie’s art. I’m getting the two of them together.”
“The billionaire matchmaker strikes again.”
“I like to bring together people with mutual interests.” But his words pleased her.
“That’s your knack.” He reached out to tap her temple. “You have this Rolodex in your brain, and you spin it and bring people together.”
He smiled so sweetly, reminding her of exactly how good he’d tasted.
Half of her brain—she didn’t know whether it was the left or the right—shouted for him not to kiss her.
But the other half—okay, that had to be the right side—chanted, Please, please, kiss me.
“I’ll watch until you drive away. So I know you’re safe.”
But he did not kiss her.
Why not? Was this a test? Maybe he was waiting for her to kiss him. If she did, she’d be lost. Completely, totally, utterly.
Or maybe she already was.
But she listened to her left brain. “Thank you so much for a wonderful evening.” And opened the car door.
True to his word, he watched until she drove away.
While her right brain was still screaming for that kiss.
He should have kissed her. He’d planned on it, had dreamed about it for four days.
But if he’d kissed her, he wouldn’t have been able to stop. He would have begged her to come home with him. Holy hell, he might even have begged her to climb into the back seat with him. And he did not want his first time with Michaela Killian to be in a parking garage.
But he’d seen it all in her eyes. She’d wanted him to kiss her. Maybe even as badly as he wanted to.
Was it a strategic move not to? Or just plain stupid?
He began planning their next date.
“What fun thing should we do this weekend, Mom?” Michaela loved doing fun things with her mother—shopping, thrifting, hiking. Flo was as avid a hiker as she was.
She needed to do something to take her mind off the fact that Troy hadn’t kissed her on Wednesday night or called her since, not even to ask if she’d found the perfect date for Gabby. Which she hadn’t. Yet. No one seemed exactly right.