Chapter One #2
One upside of being here now was the snow.
Ski season would be starting soon and Zach was looking forward to hitting the slopes and testing his rusty skiing skills.
Pitting himself against the black runs when he’d gotten a few easier ones under his belt.
Those were sure to give him the adrenaline rush he lived for.
Some of the married guys at the station had talked about taking their families to Miracle Lake for some ice-skating.
He’d like to do that too. Although, would it be weird for a single guy to rock up there just to skate?
What did it matter if it did look weird?
The lake was open to everyone and he was sure there were probably plenty of single women who skated there. Not that he was looking for anything.
So why are you about to walk into the diner, hoping to see your mystery lady?
Zach ignored his inner voice. He was there for dinner, nothing else. The scent of fried food and the buzz of conversation hit him the second he walked through the door. The place was busy and there didn’t appear to be any seats available.
Flo, the manager, came up to him. “Hey, darlin’, what can I get you?”
“A seat, if you have it?” Maybe there was someone finalizing their check and about to leave. He’d be happy to share a table if it came to that. It might give him an opportunity to meet some of the locals. If he was going to make this place his home, he should at least try to make an effort.
With luck no one may have heard of Kathryn Lancaster and her talk show.
Flo looked around, her brows beetling in.
“Sorry, you’re looking at a forty-five-minute wait.
Unless you don’t mind sharing? Some of the locals are happy to do that, but I know you’re new and don’t know that many people, so it might not be something you’re keen on.
A seat at the counter might open up quicker, but I can’t guarantee it. ”
It was like the universe had heard his unspoken words. “It’s okay, I’m happy to share. It’s a good way to get to meet people.”
Flo smiled big as if he’d given the correct answer. “Excellent. Come this way.”
No one paid him any attention as Flo led him between the tables to a booth at the back. It looked empty to him, but as they got closer, he could see a woman with her head down and papers spread across the Formica top.
“Here you go.” Flo shuffled some of the papers and placed a menu, along with napkin-wrapped utensils, down. “Tilly, hope you don’t mind having some company. We’re full.”
Zach blinked twice, not believing what he was seeing. Sitting at the table was the woman who’d kissed his hand not even an hour ago.
“Sure, that’s fine, Flo. Oh, it’s you!” Tilly said as she looked up and found him standing next to the diner’s owner.
“Do you two know each other?” Flo’s gaze flitted between them.
“Not really,” Zach commented as he slid into the booth on the side opposite Tilly. He noted the papers she was working on looked like forms of some sort.
“I see. Well, here’s your chance to get acquainted. I’ll be back with some water.” Flo darted off before either one of them could say anything.
After a few beats of silence, where they both stared at each other, he held out his hand. “Zach Langley, nice to meet you.”
“Tilly Bloom.” She grasped his hand and, like the first time they touched, a sliver of electricity bounced up his arm. He found himself keeping ahold of her hand for longer than was really polite. Tilly didn’t seem to mind, as she wasn’t yanking her hand away.
Eventually, he released his grip. “That looks . . . interesting.” He glanced at the papers on the table.
It was as though he’d hit a light switch. Excitement filled Tilly’s hazel eyes, the gold flecks almost glinting in the diner’s lighting. Her smile was wide and welcoming. A flash of warmth pooled in his belly.
Had he been missing out on the town’s friendliness because he’d been too worried about being recognized?
Highly possible. In fact, most definitely. For a while it hadn’t bothered him, but after the fire and the aftermath, he’d reevaluated his life as some things were more important—like living his life the way he wanted to live it.
Zach sighed. Now wasn’t the time for heavy thoughts, not with his mysterious hand kisser sitting across from him.
“Oh, it’s more than interesting, it’s exciting,” she gushed. Her enthusiasm seeped out toward him, encouraging him to grasp it. “It’s going to be amazing. The town is going to love it.”
“Sounds intriguing.” And he wasn’t just saying that for the sake of making conversation. His curiosity was piqued and he wanted to know what had her so excited.
Conversation halted for a moment as Flo returned with a glass of water for him. “I know you’ve ordered, Tilly, but you don’t mind if I bring your food out when I bring Zachary’s? That way you’re both eating together.”
“That’s fi—”
“That’s not nec—”
They both spoke at the same time. The last thing Zach wanted to do was make Tilly wait even longer for her meal.
“I’ll be back in five to take your order, Zach.” Flo winked and headed back to the kitchen.
“I’m really sorry you have to wait on . . .” Zach started to say, but Tilly waved away his protest.
“It’s fine. I want to get these forms filled in anyway. Then I can go home and transfer all the information online.”
“Wait, you printed out an online form?” How was that even possible when most were the type where you couldn’t see the next page until you’d answered all the questions. Whatever the format, she’d been able to do it.
Tilly nodded. “I like to read through everything first and know what I’m doing, rather than having to click through each box on the computer and not know what’s coming up.
My job is data entry, and the amount of time people fill out stuff incorrectly is amazing.
Even on a printed form, they still manage to misread and mess things up. ”
That made no sense to Zach, but who was he to argue? Everyone had their quirks or a particular way of doing things. He certainly had one when it came to his turnout gear. “Fair enough. Need any help?”
Why was he volunteering to help someone complete a form which, from looking at it, seemed pretty straightforward?
“Nope, I’m just about done. I need to work out a way to make what we’re going to do sound amazing.” She tapped her pen against her lips and his attention was drawn to their pink fullness.
Would they be soft under his?
Whoa, where did that thought come from?
Maybe he should go, because the things he was imagining he had no place thinking, especially with someone he’d just met.
He didn’t do this type of thing.
He didn’t believe in the whole instant attraction concept. He left that to the people, and the world, his mother lived in. He dealt in a world where life could be ended in a screech of brakes, an errant spark, or a gale-force wind.
Even after his internal lecture, he found he couldn’t slide along the vinyl bench seat and exit the diner.
What was it about lovely Tilly, a complete stranger, that tempted him to stay when it would be far safer for him to run?