Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Caroline
What was I doing? I left one crazy bad date to wait for a man who isn’t right for me either. I have to have lost my mind.
As soon as I get home, I’m pacing, going back and forth, looking for things to spruce up. Goodness, there isn’t anything I can do to calm my racing heart. I check my reflection several times in the front hall mirror, and yes, I still look as adorably flustered as I did two minutes earlier.
I turn and pace back to my sofa where I fluff my cute snowflake pillow and put it on my lap.
I hear the sound of tires going over the snow so I’m back on my feet, wondering if he decided to leave.
I walk to the door again, but it’s just a neighbor coming home.
Then I take another look at my small, but cozy home and sigh.
Damn it, he’s going to rush right out the door the second he steps inside. My house looks like Candyland Christmas exploded in my living room. I have a pink and white Christmas tree with all the trimmings, straight out of Barbie’s dream house.
It’s not something I’m just going to stop loving out of nowhere and not for anyone.
The doorbell rings, and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest. I freeze in place, quickly calling out, “One minute.”
I rush to my front closet and slide on my boots. I slip on my coat, and then my hat, snagging my keys just in case. Stepping out on the porch, I close the door behind me.
As soon as I see him, all thoughts of our differences fly out the window. He makes my heart pound so hard that I can’t hear anything but that rhythmic beating.
“Um, are we going out to grab a drink?” he asks.
“We can,” I answer nervously.
“You don’t trust letting me inside?” I see the hurt in his eyes, and I feel guilty.
It’s not him that I don’t trust. “I think it’s best that you didn’t come in.”
“I’m not going to try anything, Caroline.”
“That’s not exactly why, but we shouldn’t make promises that we can’t keep.”
“You don’t trust yourself with me?”
“No.” I shake my head with eyes gleaming with unshed tears.
I don’t know this man, and yet I feel connected to him.
It isn’t that he’s handsome. Sure, that is a bonus, but I’ve been asked out by several handsome men.
There is something in his hazel eyes that makes me want to linger in his personal space.
“And that’s a bad thing.”
I swallow hard and nod. “Yes. Look, you’re insanely hot, and I’m attracted to you, but we’re not a good fit. Not at all. Your sister told me. I’m Suzy freaking Snowflake, and you’re Scrooge. So, I’m sorry. I just can’t be with someone like you.”
I rush back inside and then close the door before he can try to change my mind.
I peek through the sidelights and see him standing there with an open mouth, completely stunned.
He stands there for a few minutes and then walks away.
He gets in his car and drives away, and I just drop my outerwear on the floor and fall asleep on my sofa.
Why am I so sad? Because for the first time I’m crazy attracted to a guy and we don’t even have a shot in the dark.