Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Davin struggled with the stuck-in-a-cabin and snowed-in scene as he worked in his office after breakfast and again after lunch. He prayed for help and found himself thinking about Chloe and their romance practice.
Within moments, his fingers were flying across the keyboard.
He wrote a scene of Dresden apologizing to Lemmon, them both admitting to their own fears and insecurities, and then it was like poetic symmetry or the most intricate of movement as they slowly became entangled together and shared a kiss that would likely be the start to an incredible future together.
He read it back through before they headed to the bookshop and knew that even his tough readers wouldn’t balk at the romance as it flowed naturally.
The fight and tension of the night before actually was romantic and led into this scene.
The romance was good and it fit. No, it was better than good.
It was fabulous and seamless. It gave him tingles, though it was nowhere near as incredible as what touching Chloe did to him.
If only he could instigate and complete a romantic scene in real life. But only with her. It seemed Robinette and other women were interested. Was Chloe?
An older officer, Griffin, escorted them to the bookshop at three-thirty. Chloe hurried to display the cookies and brownies delivered daily from her friend Sue. He wanted to tell her that her cookies were more delicious.
Davin looked around at her cozy shop to keep himself from staring at her.
There were a plethora of books in different genres and a few knickknacks and Shadow Cove Island paraphernalia on one end shelf for sale.
A large section held the ‘Local Lore and Artists’.
At some point, he wanted to read up on the treasure. How intriguing.
A long counter near the door held the cookies and brownies and some top selling books. Behind the counter was Chloe’s desk and computer, a fridge with lemonades and water bottles, and a Keurig coffee, hot cocoa, and cappuccino machine.
Davin settled reluctantly into his favorite overstuffed chair. It was in the ideal corner. He had the windows looking out at Main Street to his right, but more importantly, he had a straight angle to Chloe’s desk and the counter where he could catch her gaze as often as possible.
At that moment, she looked up. Their gazes held for only a moment then she turned away.
Forcing himself to stop gawking and focus, Davin reread his romance scene again.
He tweaked a few details and searched for synonyms for maximum impact, but overall it was speaking to him.
Even with how invested he was in Lemmon and Dresden’s drama and romance, he kept glancing up at Chloe and wishing he could create his own romance scene with her.
She glanced his way, and this time she didn’t turn away. The yearning in her eyes reflected what was in his heart and soul.
He couldn’t hesitate one more moment.
Standing, Davin set the laptop and his glasses aside.
Their gazes held and possibility lit in the air between them.
He set off at a determined stride in her direction.
He didn’t allow his eyes to stray from hers.
Luckily, he was always fluid on his feet and didn’t run into anything, though he did have to dodge a bookshelf.
Within seconds, he was around her counter and in her space, one hand entangled in her hair, one hand framing her hip and waist as he breathed out, “‘Help me help you.’”
Jerry Maguire. It wasn’t a particularly romantic line in the movie, he should’ve gone with the iconic, ‘You had me at hello’, but this one seemed to work.
Chloe’s lips and gaze were beguiling. She blinked at him with those mesmerizing green and gold-flecked eyes.
No words were needed as he lowered his head and urged her closer.
The ding of a bell yanked them apart. Davin felt the letdown clear through as Larry Reeder waltzed in.
“Hello,” he and Chloe both said at the same time. They were both out of breath.
Davin stepped in front of Chloe, an instinctive move, but he wanted to protect her from this guy in every way.
From what he’d derived from Emmaline Parkinson, the eighty-year-old town gossip, Larry was the math teacher, track coach, divorced for the third time, sleazy, a cheater, and always on the prowl.
He’d seen Larry in the bookshop flirting with Chloe.
He’d only given him dirty looks over his laptop, wishing he had the right to intervene.
“Chloe.” Larry smiled smoothly and walked around the counter so he could see past Davin.
Davin wanted to pivot and keep her out of the man’s line of sight, but it would be awkward and there was no excuse for it.
Unless Larry was the one who had hurt her.
Davin knew very little about the man, besides what Emmaline had shared, but he instinctively thought the smooth-looking, smooth-talking, much-older-than-Chloe man could be dangerous.
“Hi, Larry. The books you ordered are in. Give me just a moment.”
“Thank you. You’re incredible, Chloe. I’m so grateful for all you do for me.” He looked her over as if just looking at her beautiful face was a gift. It was, for Davin.
Chloe nodded, slid around the desk, and walked to the back room. Larry turned and watched her go instead of keeping his focus on Davin. If he knew how close Davin was to using the Tae Kwon Do he’d researched, he wouldn’t have looked away.
Larry finally glanced back, slowly looking him over and sizing him up. “You’re the author from out of town?”
“Yes. And Chloe’s boyfriend.”
“Really? I had no idea.” Larry smirked as if he knew Davin was lying. “Shall we clarify that with Chloe?”
Davin swallowed. His stomach squirmed. He didn’t know how Chloe would react if Larry asked her if they were dating. “No,” he murmured. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a deadline to meet.”
Larry’s smirk grew to a wide grin. “Sure thing.”
Davin slunk back to his chair, feeling like a liar.
He tried to work on the next scene. Lemmon and Dresden donned all the warm clothing they could find and trekked through the snow to get into town.
They had to catch the killer and prevent the next murder.
What if they arrived too late? The tension was good and more romance presented itself as Lemmon proved himself to be a gentleman and showed that he cared deeply for Dresden.
Sadly, Davin couldn’t appreciate how well the manuscript was progressing as all he could hear was Larry flirting with Chloe and Chloe teasing back.
He kept looking over, glaring at the two of them, but neither of them seemed to notice he was there.
How could Chloe tease and flirt with this guy almost as adorably as she flirted with Davin?
Was Davin just another one of the men she teased with?
He sank deeper into the chair and his shoulders grew more rounded.
Finally, finally, Larry said his goodbyes and strutted out of the store after one last lingering glance at Chloe.
Davin stared at Chloe, but she avoided his gaze. How could he jump out of airplanes, hang off three-hundred-foot sandstone cliffs, free dive a hundred feet, or accomplish a dozen other dangerous stunts, but be so afraid to declare his feelings to the woman he wanted to be his future?
He stood, intent on somehow growing a brave bone and telling her how he felt about her. He had to know if she could possibly return the favor.
Chloe’s green eyes darted to him and their gazes entangled.
The moment grew warm and binding. She gifted him with a soft, beckoning smile, and Davin’s own grin burst out as he started toward her.
He was going to tell her she ‘had him at hello’ or maybe even get brave enough to say, ‘What is it you want … the moon?’ Then he’d explain he would give it to her.
The bell dinged again as the shop door flung open. The intrusion yanked Davin’s gaze away from Chloe. The rush of fresh air was welcome, but the woman who appeared and the interruption were not.
Robinette sashayed in, focused on him. “There you are. I went by your house, but you weren’t there.”
Davin nodded, not certain what his response should be. He didn’t answer to Robinette.
Robinette eased to him and trailed her long nails across his chest. His muscles tensed and he caught her hand, ready to tell her to back off.
Chloe grunted, muttered something, and bustled into the back room.
Robinette kept her gaze on him, but her grin looked like the cat who had already devoured the canary.
He released her hand and stepped back. Oblivious, she covered the distance. His realtor was becoming a real problem. Could he find a house on the island without her help? Call in a realtor from Eureka? That sounded like an excellent solution.
“You haven’t been answering my texts or calls,” she purred, stepping even closer and running her fingernails up his arm. He’d allowed a tarantula to crawl across his arm in Costa Rica for book research. Robinette’s touch felt similar.
“I’ve been busy, Robinette. I’ll get with you next week.” He took two large steps back, sat in the chair, and pulled his laptop desk and computer onto his lap, sliding his glasses on. “Forgive me, but I need to get this scene done while it’s fresh in my mind.”
“Are you and Chloe dating?” Robinette demanded, folding her arms under her large bosom and tapping the toe of her high heel on the wood floor.
“No,” he admitted. If only he could lie. If only they truly were dating.
“Then why are you with her all the time?”
“The bookshop is a great place to work. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
“Ugh!” She threw her hands in the air, whirled, and stomped out, banging the door open again.
It swung closed and Davin shut his eyes. He said a prayer to know how to deal with Robinette, date Chloe, keep Chloe safe, find her attacker, and finish this book. At least he liked where the book was going.
When Chloe came out of the back room and wouldn’t even glance his direction, he knew they’d regressed again. If only he had any clue how to fix the relapse. He wanted to like the direction he and Chloe were progressing. Instead, they were backtracking.