Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
It grew quiet, and I looked over to see Kian in deep thought. What I wouldn’t give to know what he was thinking about. At that moment, he turned and looked at me. His eyes grew darker, and my lower stomach tugged with something I didn’t want to recognize.
“I think as you get older,” he started, “you start thinking about other things. Like life and settling down somewhere with a wife, and maybe a kid or two. I don’t know.” He shrugged. “Maybe that’s what happens when you turn thirty-three. You think about how much time you wasted on things that didn’t matter…or people who didn’t matter. Instead, you want to experience moments that you will remember and cherish.”
“Like this moment.”
He turned and looked at me, a surprised expression on his face. “Yes, exactly like this moment.”
Turning my head, I looked out over the lake. I had an overwhelming sense to share my story with Kian. Could I trust him? Would I want to put him in danger was the question I should ask myself. Something told me I could trust him, but I’d only known him for a couple of weeks. My need to spill my guts wasn’t as crucial as keeping Kian in the dark about my past. At least my most recent past.
Kian’s phone dinged with an alert as he looked down at the screen. “It’s Opal asking me to give her a call.”
“Go ahead. I think I’m going to walk down to the water.”
He smiled and hit the Call button on his phone. Walking down toward the water, I took in how I was feeling. It had been the first time in months I had felt so carefree. I wasn’t looking over my shoulder; I didn’t freeze whenever I saw someone I thought I knew. Today had simply been a relaxing and fun day.
I wrapped my arms around myself and took in the serene scene before me. The lake was calm and reflected the trees and blue sky. I could see why it had been named Sky Lake. If you didn’t know any better, you would think there were two skies.
“Hey…umm, are you free for dinner?”
Turning, I smiled when I saw Kian standing there, a slight blush on his cheeks.
“Craving pizza?” I asked in a teasing voice.
He laughed. “Actually, Opal is making her famous clam chowder and invited me over. When she found out I was with you, she extended the invite to you as well.”
“Oh,” I said, looking everywhere but at him. “I don’t want to intrude.”
“Hey, Cadie, you’re definitely not intruding. Besides, what are you going to do? Go back to an empty cabin?”
“I still have my room at the inn.”
He screwed up his face. “No way you’re staying there another night.”
I was positive my eyes went as wide as saucers. “What do you mean?”
“The Moose Village Inn is decent, but you need a nice bed until you get your furniture. You can stay at my folks’ house.”
“With you?” I nearly shouted. “I’m afraid people would get the wrong impression.”
Kian leaned in and with a smirk said, “What’s wrong with me?”
Confused, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“Is it so bad to have people think we’re…you know?”
I took a step back. “I’m not interested in…you know.”
He held up his hands. “Whoa, neither am I, but come on, I’m not that bad of a guy to be rumored to be…you know.”
I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Kian, the one thing I have found out about this adorable town is there is a gossip mill that would put any other small-town gossip mill to shame.”
“Yeah,” he mumbled as he rubbed at the back of his neck. “I know. The good news is, I’m not staying at the house. I’m staying at the guest house, remember? You’d be up there alone. Well, not alone, Sally lives there. She would love the company.”
“Sally?” I asked. That was the second time he had mentioned her, and I heard Macy mention that name to Opal as well.
“Yes. She’s like my second mother. Pretty much raised us kids.”
My heart tugged a little. The idea of not sleeping on that god-awful mattress at the inn was appealing. And knowing I wouldn’t get the furniture in for at least three weeks and having to stay at the inn wasn’t appealing.
“Sally would love for you to come and stay. Think about it, another almost what was it…three weeks? That’s when your furniture will be delivered, right?”
I sighed. “Yes, three weeks. I can just get a blow-up mattress or something.”
“You’re not getting a blow-up mattress, Cadie. No one will be in that big house, so you might as well use it. There are five guest bedrooms.”
“Five!” I cried out. “Five bedrooms that are just for guests?”
He laughed. “Let’s talk about it on the way to Opal’s. She said dinner will be ready in about an hour. By then, my ice cream will have worn off.”