“Well,” he said, lifting a hand to her face as she neared. Her cheek, smooth and cool against his palm, flushed pink. “I’m not interested in dating anyone else, Kira. And if you aren’t either, then I guess we can make it official.” He grinned, let his posture droop like a lazy teen’s, and channeled his old high school bravado voice, which sounded a whole lot like Sylvester Stallone’s in Rocky. “I don’t have a ring or nothin’ like that, but uh … will you be my girl? I can bring my letterman’s jacket to school if you want to wear it.”
She grinned, that color in her cheeks deepening. “I would love that.” And then, in true Kira fashion, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.
He was in trouble now. His recent reaction said it all. Just one week ago, Kira had come into the diner with her head hung low, looking as if she were ready to wave that infamous flag. Turned out that wasn’t the case, but Anthony had nearly crumbled under pressure. Yet now, as he kissed Kira’s warm and tempting lips, Anthony mindfully clambered for that protective guard. The one he used to have poised at the ready. He’d have done anything in that moment to build it high once more. But it was too late.
“Can’t believe we’re almost done,” Kira mumbled against his mouth. “How about we clear out, clean up, then meet back at my place?”
Anthony nodded, took one more kiss before speaking. “Sounds good to me.” The phrase You can’t swim if you don’t get in the pool came to mind—something his pop always said. It was fair to say, as Anthony savored the taste of Kira Moretti’s mouth once more, that he’d jumped in with both feet. He only prayed he wouldn’t regret it.
That train of thought stuck with him as he helped finish the last few details, slowly tugging blue strips of paint-tape from the ceiling and baseboards. The gal who’d moved out had left the duplex in decent condition. Not too much clutter or junk. Thank heavens for that. With a nice layer of paint, the place looked good as new.
As Anthony dragged his supplies back to the truck, Kira hauled the extra paint cans and brushes to the utility garage behind the duplex. While she took a quick shower, Anthony ran home and did the same. She’d invited him back to her place afterward. And though it was getting late, there was no place he’d rather be. Kira had just made a declaration: She wasn’t interested in anyone else but him. She was committed to Studio Click and planned to stay right there in the good old town of Cobble Creek.
He’d kissed her earlier, when she said yes about being his girl. And as good as that moment had been, he craved more. Craved being close to her without the hesitant voices in his head. Without the reservation that kept those encounters safe in the shallows.
The shops along Main had closed up for the night. All but the bar, a few men climbing off their bikes and heading in. Perhaps if he looked close enough, Anthony would see good ol’ Seth. The poor guy was in a similar position. Running a family business, rooted in a place that didn’t offer a whole lot of single ladies. Well, Seth would have to keep on looking; Kira was already interested in Anthony.
A warm light glowed from her front window as he pulled into the drive, feeling different from how he’d felt when he left. More confident. He wasn’t a fool risking everything for someone who’d take off without warning. He was a man falling in love with a woman. One who planned to stay right there in Cobble Creek.
After a tap on the door, Kira’s voice sounded from inside. “Come on in.”
Anthony didn’t hesitate. Kira sat on the couch, a bottle of lotion nearby as she rubbed both hands down one leg. “Hi,” she said. “Come, sit. I’m just letting my hair dry in front of the fire.”
He closed the door, glancing at the gas-fueled flames behind the glass. She had her back to it while a fan blew the scent of that lotion throughout the room like a drug. Her. It was so her. A scent that reminded him of a rose-colored wine he’d tasted at a recent fundraiser. The tangy sweet scent of wild strawberries.
He plopped onto the other end of the comfy couch, watched as she smoothed her palms over her ankle, and then her foot.
“Thank you so, so much for coming to my rescue this week.”
He grinned, a bit of nerves kicking up suddenly. “Any time.”
Kira switched her focus to the other leg, squirting another dab of lotion onto her hand before smoothing it over her knee, down the back of her calf. “I can’t tell you how much it means to have someone help without acting like I’m a giant mess or a great big burden.” She shrugged. “When we talked about my family before, I said I didn’t think they were sincere in their compliments. Remember that?”
He nodded, curious. “Yes.”
“But after giving it more thought, what I really believe is that they’re afraid of me.”
He let out a chuckle before realizing she was serious. “Why would they be afraid?”
“They think I’m less predictable than I am. They’re all just waiting for me to self-destruct somehow, and I keep waiting for them to figure out that that’s not going to happen.” She rested the lotion on the coffee table and straightened out, draping the bottom half of her legs over his lap, and sighed. “I might mess up here and there. But I’m never as far gone as they think, you know?”
He was guilty of that very thing himself. Misjudging her. Fearing her, even. But he was done with that. Starting tonight, Anthony was all in. He nodded, cupped a hand around one of her knees, and circled his thumb over her silky skin. “I can’t speak for your family, but I’ll admit to being scared in the beginning.”
He risked a glance at her before continuing. “First my mom. Then a couple of women I dated, Ruth and Elsie. Separately—I didn’t date them at the same time.” Anthony shot her a wink, then shook his head as he continued. “The most important women in my life all left. And when you came in declaring your passion for new adventures, I was terrified. Mainly because I already felt so drawn to you.”
Admitting that, with her so close, it dug into a whole new level of vulnerability. Setting his gaze back on her took that connection even further. Deeper. She gulped, lifted her head away from the armrest like she was hanging on the words he spoke.
“But I can truthfully say that I’m not worried anymore. You have it together.” He laughed. “I mean, you’re going to have stuff sneak up on you, like the due-sooner-than-you-thought house payment. But you’ve impressed me. You’re smart—brilliant. With the way you thought to contact the high school and the ideas you’ve come up with already. And you’re so talented. Those pictures … wow. I can’t get over it.” In his excitement, Anthony hadn’t noticed the tears welling in Kira’s eyes. Not until one trickled down her cheek.
“Really?” she squeaked. “Is that what you see in me?”
The question nearly ripped his heart in half. Thank you, God, for letting me see this before now. Before a moment that Kira probably needed more than he’d ever know. “Of course,” he said.
At once she was in his arms, her exuberance like the sun itself. A mass of vibrant energy, heat, and light.
In a contortion of arms and legs, the removal of his jacket happening somewhere along the way, they moved onto the floor. A rug as thick and soft as the socks she wore buffered the rigid wood planks beneath. Colorful flames flickered in her eyes as he slipped a hand around the back of her neck. Only this time she didn’t rush in and take over like she often did. Instead, Kira stilled, closed her eyes with her face toward his, and sighed.
Anthony looked over her face. Soft, rosy cheeks, hints of moisture caught in her dark lashes, and a vulnerability that sparked a deep admiration. He leaned in and pressed one soft kiss at the corner of her jaw. And then another.
The anticipation was fuel as he moved up her warm cheek, over her brow, and back down the other side of her face. As he neared her delicate earlobe, Kira moaned, kindling an entirely different fire low in his belly. The urgency won out. Anthony rushed in, took her mouth to his in a series of deep, lingering kisses.
She was a taste of heaven. Silky soft, fire hot, and sweeter than anyt
hing he’d known. He loved this woman. Cherished her. With the gentle touch of his lips to hers, he admitted that very thing. “I love you, Kira.”
Kira pulled back the slightest bit, held his gaze in the low light. “I love you too.” She sealed the words with a kiss, and he lingered in every blessed sensation.
Anthony had always hoped to give his heart to someone before he died, even if he had been hurt before; he just never imagined giving it to someone so completely. In that moment, Anthony knew his heart belonged more to Kira than it did him.
Chapter 15
Kira traced the tip of her finger over her tabletop, spelling out the word perfect in big cursive letters. Things had been so perfect last night she could hardly believe it. The more she kissed Anthony, the more she realized just how much a kiss could say about a guy. Python was a greedy kisser. It had always been about him. Everything had been about him. Sloppy, hurried kisses with wandering hands. But Anthony … she sighed. Anthony Marino had mastered the kiss with paced perfection. Slow rapture. And all the feels she could hope to feel and more.
I love you, Kira. The words washed over her like liquid sugar. Offering that same, deep-seated thrill every time she replayed them. Which was roughly ninety-nine times that morning. Not to mention the couple of hundred times she’d replayed them before falling asleep.
Anthony Marino loved her. Believed in her. And best of all, as dumb as it sounded, he wasn’t afraid of her. Wasn’t secretly terrified that she’d up and leave and ruin her own life. His support felt like a rare gift.
Also a gift was the sun as it rose over the east mountain and warmed her back while she checked her to do list. Her new notepad—a gift from Anthony—sported the Tony’s Diner logo on top. It made her picture him in the diner, ready to slide a mug of coffee across the bar. She’d sip on it over fresh banter, the conversation more stimulating than the caffeine. Today would be great, she decided while looking over the list. She’d take her laptop to the studio and work on images of the Lockheart’s darling baby girl. Talk about adorable. While bundled into a gorgeous wool-knit wrap, Abby had fallen asleep, her tiny face and puckered lips looking doll-like. Another favorite was the one she’d taken on the soft floral mat—a canvas made up of hundreds of pink, silky petals. Kira had tossed a handful of matching petals over the baby to cover her diaper and tucked another into her tiny fist. Kira’s heart melted every time she looked at those pictures.
Trent and Jessie had already selected their favorites and ordered a ton of enlargements, prints, and baby announcements—a first for Kira. She could hardly wait to sit down and try out some of the new digital templates she’d bought to create custom cards.
Hopefully she’d book a few more appointments. Maybe get some walk-ins. Anthony had lent her a standing sidewalk sign, which should catch more attention than the marquee. The thing was nearly as tall as she was. She’d pick up some colored chalk at Graham’s Pharmacy and write up a special on walk-ins. She planned to switch it up each week or so. This week’s offer would include a set of photo mugs with any sitting.
Oh, and she was supposed to show the rental later that night. Yep, things were looking good. Or, as she’d spelled out on the tabletop, perfect. She nodded, giving her to-do list one last glance over, Marissa’s visit waving from its designated spot at the bottom, then slipped it into her bag on her way out.
Yet as she neared the car, that pesky little voice told her she was tempting fate. There’s no such thing as perfect. And when Marissa came, she’d see nothing more than a wannabe. Slim funds coming in. Not many customers to speak of. A woman still trying to find her course in life.
True, she hadn’t found her way in life yet. And there wasn’t such a thing as perfect. It might take a while to get the duplex rented. Perhaps it’d take months. It could be that the studio would sit empty day after day, and Kira would have to drain her savings and possibly even take out a loan. Maybe that’s all Marissa would see when she came next month. But the thing was, none of those things were as important to her as they used to be. Because for the first time in a very long time, Kira didn’t have anything to prove. Thanks to Anthony, she felt good enough just the way she was.
Chapter 16
Kira blew out a slow, calming breath as she inspected the studio. Three months. Wow, she could hardly believe it. Just three months ago she’d started a new chapter in life. And though time had gone by quickly, she’d accomplished more than she imagined was possible. Her planner was peppered with indoor studio sittings, outdoor shoots, upcoming dances, and large events, too. She enjoyed those the most. In fact, last month for Easter, Kira had snapped pictures at Cobble Creek’s Easter Egg Hunt. A gal at the community center had hired her to capture some of the goings-on that day, along with staged portraits with the Easter Bunny. It’d been a blast. But still, one thing Kira was most proud of was the graffiti wall she’d come up with for senior portraits. Prior to their scheduled appointments, graduates of Cobble Creek High were invited to come and personalize part of the studio’s brick wall by spray-painting a background that represented them—perfect for teens. Luckily, Hammers Hardware carried plenty of washable spray paint for the occasion.
Another hit was her newly finished kids’ corner—a spot Anthony helped her create for the little ones. While small visitors sat up to the table for a tea party in the charming, miniature kitchen, Kira snapped away. Sisters giggling over tiny teacups, laced gloves accentuated lifted pinkies while knitted shawls hung over their small frames. Adjacent to the kitchen, mock tools dangled from small brass hooks on an old-time pegboard. Greasy coveralls draped over rusty-looking nails, ready for the next “mechanic” to work on the knickknacks on the workbench. A tiny tots library separated the two opposing scenes, offering a spot where kids could cuddle up to mom or dad, big sis or bro, and giggle at the selection of classic picture books. All of this while Kira captured the moments.
Business was good, and she’d never felt so accomplished in her life. But Kira wasn’t sure it would be enough to impress her older sister who, over time, had proven to be one of her toughest critics. And what would she say to Mom and Dad about the visit? Sure, Kira’s doing good now, but we all know it’s not going to last. Give her time, and she’ll mess it up like she does everything else.
Kira hated setting such low expectations for Marissa. It wasn’t fair, and she knew it. Perhaps this visit could mark a new beginning for them both.
A ding sounded from her phone just as she thought to check the time. It was from Anthony. Speaking of good. Wonderful was more like it. She peered down at his text:
What time does your sister get here?
Kira straightened up and turned to look over her shoulder. If she squinted hard enough, looking beyond passersby on Main Street, she could possibly make out his impressive stature behind the bar. Or at least imagine seeing him between Chuck and Don as they ate their Saturday morning special. Her phone let out another ding.
Are you sure you don’t want me to come to the airport? I will, you know.
Yes, bless him. But no, this was something she had to do herself. Besides, Anthony would meet Marissa soon enough.
I do know that. Thank you for offering, but I’ve got this. I’ll be over in a minute to kiss you goodbye.
It dinged back in a hurry.
Mmm … Can’t wait. Let’s kiss hello too. Then goodbye. I like it better when we do that.
She chuckled, bathing in the thrill that bubbled up in her chest. She and Anthony were in the honeymoon phase of a relationship. The hate-being-apart, want-to-go-everywhere-together, make-a-special-trip-to-say-goodbye phase. And Kira was loving every minute of it. Which had made last night difficult; with the weather turning warm so quickly, Shadow River had risen too high, causing flooding along the edge of town. Rather than spending a nice quiet evening together like they’d planned, Anthony had gone off to help sandbag the fire station.
Today’s three-hour trip to the Jackson Hole Airport, when doubled, would take up most of the day. Wh
ich meant she wouldn’t see much of him today either. No early lunch before the studio opened. No quick visits between sittings. But Marissa had taken time out of her life to visit her—a visit Kira had cleared her schedule for once her sister confirmed the dates—it’d be worth it.
Sunlight poured over Main Street as Kira locked up the storefront. Cobble Creek hadn’t seen snow since the first of April, and Kira had finally unpacked her shorts and capris. She’d also tucked her winter coats away for the season, needing only an occasional jacket or raincoat. She paused to take in the magic of the quaint, side-by-side shops. One walk down Main offered townsfolk places like CC’s Salon, Top’s Bakery, and the Flower Girl Floral Shop. Kira’s new favorites were Books and Nooks, Frank and Signs, and of course the Old-Fashioned Soda Shop in the pharmacy. Baskets of fresh produce lined the storefront just a few doors from Tony’s Diner, the color as vibrant and diverse as the people she’d met. This was truly the place Kira belonged, and that knowledge meant more to her than she could say.
Kira intended to listen to an audiobook during the drive to the airport, but by the time she remembered that idea, she was more than halfway there. Her mind preoccupied with a mixing pot of memories. She and Marissa when they were young. Many put a smile on her face. Some were tender enough to make her cry. Others had Kira shaking her head, wondering why her older sister had often been so harsh.
When she’d stepped over to the diner to tell Anthony goodbye, he’d offered some encouraging words, assuring her there was no reason to dread the visit. “Your family loves you,” he assured. “And they want to see you succeed.” The best part about Anthony was that he never made her feel like she’d be less great without him. He simply had a way of helping Kira see her strengths—qualities that existed with or without him. She wasn’t sure why that felt so important to her, but it did.
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