“Only because they don’t know you. Look! There’s a man right there just begging for some conversation. Give it a shot.”
“No.”
“All right, mister, you want to play hardball? I can do that. I’m going to climb up on that railing and ask someone to shake your hand.”
I grinned. “You wouldn’t dare.”
She slapped her hand to her forehead. “Oh no, you did not just challenge me.”
I watched as she climbed up on the first rung of the railing. I reached out to her, worried she would tumble to her death. Even if it wasn’t possible, it was still alarming. “Get down.”
“Hey, you are all walking in the presence of the greatest candy man in the world!” she said loudly. “This man is a genius! Who wants to shake his hand?”
My eyes nearly popped out of my head as I stared at her. “What are you doing? Get down.”
A guy carrying a skateboard with hair that extended past his shoulders stepped up to me, his hand extended. “I know who you are, man. I met you like five years ago when my school went on a field trip to your factory.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, shaking his hand and nodding.
“You’re a cool dude. Keep on making the candy man, candy man.”
He walked away, leaving me surrounded by a few other people who were looking at me with odd expressions. Harper hopped off her perch and came to stand beside me, grabbing my hand and pulling me back toward the car.
“Was that really necessary?” I asked, slightly irritated by her antics.
She stopped walking and grabbed my hand, pulling me to a stop. She took my hand and pressed it against my chest. “Do you feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“Your heart beating. You survived.”
I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”
“Part of dealing with anxiety is determining just how logical it is to be afraid of whatever it is that is freaking you out. You faced your fear with none the worse for wear.”
“Are you a therapist?” I asked.
She laughed. “No, but I have a little boy that has dealt with his fair share of anxiety. His anxiousness turned me into one very worried mama. I researched the hell out of anxiety and shyness and how I could help him cope. Hell, at this point, I could probably have a PhD.”
I smirked. “You’re shrinking my head.”
“Not at all.”
“I have a feeling you think I’m unhappy.”
She shook her head. “Definitely not.”
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I asked, feeling bold. Maybe her little experiment had worked.
“Laundry.”
“Come over,” I blurted out.
“What? To the factory?”
“No. My house. Bring Jace. I want you to see how I spend my time. How I have fun.”
She grinned. “Did I hit a nerve?”
“Not at all, but I’m not broken.”
“I don’t think you are,” she said. “I’m sorry if I made you feel like that.”
“I don’t. I know myself pretty well. I can admit I’m not great at the peopling, but I’m not a complete recluse.”
“All right. I’ll do it. I have a feeling whatever it is you do for fun will entertain Jace as well.”
I unlocked the passenger door and opened it for her. She grinned at me before getting in the car. I walked around the front. I was excited for the company. That was definitely new. I felt like she understood me or at least how I thought. She wanted to help, not ridicule.
I got into the car. “Where to next?”
“You’re not going to kick me out?”
“Nope. Want to grab lunch?”
“Sure.”
Chapter 12
Harper
“Do you think he has books?” Jace asked.
I looked in my rearview mirror. “I’m sure he does.”
“I like him. He was nice at the factory.”
I grinned. “I think he might be all right.”
I glanced at the screen of my phone. Theo had sent me his address, and I was using Google to guide me to his house. At first, I was worried I had been led astray. The houses were few and far between. Huge houses with perfectly landscaped yards. The GPS instructed me to take a right. I pulled up a long driveway lined with trees and flowers.
I stopped in front of a gate and stared at it. I could see the rooftop of a massive home, but I couldn’t see the house through the trees and shrubbery. I thought about throwing my car into reverse and going home. I felt a little intimidated.
“Do you have a key?” Jace asked.
“No, I don’t.”
“How are we going to get in?”
I looked at the small keypad on my left. I rolled down my window and pushed the green button. A few seconds later, the gates slid open. “Here we go,” I said, suddenly feeling nervous.
I pulled around the circular driveway. The house came into view. It looked like Tara from Gone with the Wind on steroids. Once again, I debated backing up and speeding away. I had never seen a house so big, at least not in person.
“Wow. Is this a hotel?”
“No,” I said. “I don’t think so.”
“Are we going to go in?”
I parked my car in front of the five-car garage and shut it off. “I suppose we should.”
Together, Jace and I walked to the front door. I rang the doorbell, not sure if I should expect a butler to answer the door or a housekeeper. The door opened, and it was Theo standing on the other side. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, which seemed to be his standard attire.
“Hi,” I said.
“Hi, come in please,” he said, opening the massive door.
Jace went inside first. I followed behind him, trying to keep my mouth closed as I took in the massive foyer. There was an open room off to the right with several chairs and couches positioned around a fireplace.
“You have a really big house,” Jace said.
Theo chuckled. “I do. Would you like to see it? I’ll give you the two-cent tour.”
“Yes, please,” Jace answered.
I followed behind, with Jace walking alongside Theo as we made our way from one room to the next. It was sparsely decorated with minimal furniture. We walked into a room with a beautiful piano positioned in front of several windows.
“It’s beautiful,” I commented.
“Thank you.”
“Do you play?” I asked him.
He nodded. “I do.”
“Will you play something?”
He walked to the bench, positioned his hands over the keys, and began to play. My heart leapt. The music he created was magical. He played like it was not a big deal. His fingers flew over the keys, light and airy. The music filled the room, transporting me to someplace far away.
He stopped playing and looked over at Jace, who had moved close to him while he was playing.
“Amazing,” I said. “I had no idea you could play.”
He shrugged. “I took lessons when I was little.”
“You’re a creative man. That’s for sure.”
He nodded. “I suppose I am.”
“Can I play?” Jace asked.
“No, Jace,” I answered. “That is an expensive piano, not a toy.”
“It’s fine,” Theo answered, getting to his feet. Jace sat down and tapped one of the keys.
Theo came to stand next to me as I watched Jace.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“You’re welcome.”
“This is a beautiful room,” I said.
“It’s my favorite room in the house. If I’m not in the gaming room, I’m usually in here.”
“Your house is huge. Did you inherit it?”
“No, I had it built.”
I nodded. “It’s pretty far out of the way.”
“Which is why I bought the land. I like the peace and quiet.”
I nodded. “It is nice out here. Do you live alone?”
&n
bsp; “Yep. As you know, I’m not big on people. I like being alone. No one can criticize me. No one can look at me funny.”
“I hope you know I’m not criticizing you,” I said, feeling a little guilty.
“I know. I understand you’re only trying to help. Although I don’t think I need help.”
I laughed. Jace hit a particularly high note on the piano, causing me to wince. “You don’t need help, but I think you’re a pretty cool guy, and you are depriving the world of your greatness by hiding out.”
He chuckled. “That’s a smooth tactic.”
I giggled. “You like that? Not all people are critical or bad. I like most people. I’ve met a few bad eggs, but ultimately, mostly good. I love meeting people and talking to them and learning from them. Everyone has a story. I love to hear stories.”
He smiled at me. “I think we all gather input in different ways. I prefer the quiet. I like listening to all types of music. I like reading. I just like getting my thrills alone.”
I looked at him, raising one eyebrow. “Maybe too much information.”
He blushed. “Ha. Ha.”
I laughed, liking that I could joke with him. “I think if I had a house like this, I wouldn’t mind staying home and being alone. I bet it is nice to have solitude. You don’t have to worry about some salesman knocking on your door or neighbors popping over to complain about your lawn not being kept up.”
He smiled. “I have landscapers. My lawn is always perfect.”
He was loosening up. Being in his world and seeing how he thought and operated was like turning the page in a book and getting more of his story. I had to be careful. I really liked him. There was an attraction to him I couldn’t deny. He wasn’t my type, but there was a pull toward him that was getting harder to ignore.
“Can we see your yard?” I asked.
“Absolutely.”
I put my hand on his lower back. “Thank you.”
He looked at me. His eyes were so intelligent. I could practically see him thinking. I got the feeling he wanted to say something. Instead, he looked back at Jace. “You ready to see my pool?” he asked Jace.
Jace’s eyes lit up. “You have a pool?”
Theo chuckled. “I have two. One inside and one outside.”
Jace looked amazed. “Wow.”
We walked down a wide hallway with windows and two sets of glass doors at the end. I could see the pool before we walked outside. The backyard was huge. It wasn’t necessarily a yard. It looked more like a park. The landscaping was impeccable.
I took in the outdoor kitchen, complete with an outdoor seating area that included a large-screen TV and a bar. I was amazed. His house was set up for entertaining. I doubted he had ever hosted a party or even a small gathering.
“Your home is really very nice,” I told him.
“Thank you. It’s my oasis.”
I smiled. “I can see that. This backyard was meant for barbecues and parties.”
He grimaced. “Maybe one day.”
“Oh, you’re opening up to the idea.” I grinned.
He shrugged. “I like hanging out with you guys, but I’m not sure I’m ready to open the door for the public.”
“I can understand that.”
“Can I get you a drink?” he asked, moving to the bar area.
“Soda?”
He nodded, opening a small refrigerator. “Coke, Sprite? I have just about anything.”
“Sprite works.”
“What about Jace?”
“Sprite too, thank you.”
I loved that he thought about him. Jace spotted an area where massive games were set up on the lawn. He raced over to play while Theo and I sat down in the chairs. It was very quiet and relaxing. I understood why he liked spending so much time at home. It was his own personal paradise.
“How is your festival planning going?” he asked casually.
“Good,” I said, appreciating his asking. “It always gets a little hectic just before Halloween.”
“What is it?” he asked.
I smiled. “It’s like a fair and a farmer’s market and trick or treating all rolled into one. We have games, rides, and contests, and vendors set up booths to sell their goods.”
“Is it scary?”
“No. We do have a few haunted houses, but they aren’t necessarily scary. We try to keep it friendly.”
“How did you get into it? Did you take over the business?”
I looked at Jace and thought about the day the idea had bloomed in my head. “Jace was three at the time. I’ve always loved Halloween, but Jace was afraid of the costumes. I organized a very small carnival for the kids on base.”
“Base?”
“My husband was in the Army. We lived on base.” I wasn’t ready to get into that chapter of my life.
“I see,” he said and didn’t press the issue.
“The following year, I was asked to organize it again. We ended up moving to San Francisco, but by then, I knew what I wanted and how to make it happen. The first year we did it in San Fran, it was a huge success. It was like a snowball rolling downhill. It picked up speed, and by the third year, we were worldwide. This year, I’m hoping to take it to the next level.”
“Do you only do Halloween?” he asked.
“Yes. Christmas is taken. There are so many festivals and fairs for Christmas, I think it’s a saturated market. I would love to get the chance to do it, but I’m not ready to try yet.”
“Just the two of you run the whole business?” he asked with awe.
“Yes, mostly. It’s not as bad as it seems. We have an entire year to plan the festival. We get to do it in bite-size chunks.”
He smiled. “I see. That makes sense.”
“I’m excited for you to see it,” I told him truthfully. “I think it will be right up your alley. It’s very benign and fun. There’s no real fear. It’s just people there to have good, safe, family fun.”
“I do want to see it.”
“You’ll be my honored guest,” I told him.
He grinned, turning his head to look at me with those eyes that were truly hypnotic. “What’s my next task?”
“Your next task?” I asked.
He nodded. “You’re helping me get ready for my big public debut. You can’t think I’m cured with one short walk on a bridge.”
I giggled. “Definitely not. Let’s see. I can’t do anything tomorrow, but how about dinner on Tuesday?”
“Dinner, huh? In a restaurant?”
“Yes, in a restaurant. With people.”
“I don’t know, are you up for that?” he asked with a small smile.
“I am. Are you?”
“As long as it’s not a McDonald’s or one of those places where everyone yells and sings, I’m good.”
I shook my head. “I’ve done my time at McDonald’s. I have no intention of going back, except through the drive-thru.”
“Then I guess it’s a date,” he said, his voice low.
The way he said it made me feel all warm and fuzzy. It was like being wrapped up in a warm blanket. It had been a long, long time since I had felt that way. I sighed. I wasn’t sure what was happening, but I hoped it didn’t hurt.
I could be bubbly and happy, but I had fears of my own. The fear of being hurt by a man was very real. The fear of being left alone after knowing a man’s love and loving in return was always a fear that had me keeping men at arm’s length. If they didn’t get close, they couldn’t hurt me.
As we were getting ready to leave, Theo pulled me to the side. I expected him to tell me he had changed his mind. We had way overstayed our welcome. I had never intended to stay the entire day, but things were going so well, and Jace was having so much fun, I couldn’t pull him away.
“I had a really good time today,” he said, his voice low.
“I did too. I know Jace did.”
“It isn’t often I enjoy myself with other people, but today was different. I hope to do it again.”
/> I smiled, feeling like the warmth of the sun was shining down on me and making me glow brightly. “I would love to. We had a lot of fun. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“You better,” he said with a firmness I hadn’t heard in him before.
It was very exciting. Maybe a little too exciting. I couldn’t let myself get too caught up, too fast.
Chapter 13
Theo
This Monday felt different than Mondays past. I felt renewed, like I was seeing the world through new eyes. Things looked brighter, prettier.
I had gotten up earlier than usual. I had certain rituals I liked to go through every morning, including my usual coffee and breakfast of toast and fruit of some kind. I grabbed my coffee and headed for the music room. I had a small table beside the piano to keep from putting my cup on the surface.
I played my favorite Chopin piece from memory. I closed my eyes and let the music carry me away. The room was designed to bounce the music. It echoed around me, creating the perfect amount of sound. As I played, my mind drifted back to Harper.
The woman was a lot to handle. More than I could possibly expect to handle, but I wanted to.
I couldn’t explain what the draw was. I switched to another piece, an up-tempo Mozart. The woman was like a magnet I couldn’t resist. She was wild and vivacious and my polar opposite. She could find joy in everything. I wanted to be like that, or at least a little bit like that. I wasn’t quite ready to be that enthusiastic and outgoing.
I was guessing she was a cheerleader in high school. She was very perky. I smiled, thinking about her wearing a cheerleader uniform. That would be one of my secret fantasies that would never see the light of day. I’d be keeping that one all to myself.
I finished the piece and took my coffee back into the kitchen before grabbing my keys from the hook and heading to my car. The drive to work was short and uneventful—as usual. It was then I realized my life was very uneventful. Before I met Harper, I liked my easy, ritualistic life that had few changes in routine.
She seemed to have a lot of excitement in her life. I wanted to dip my toe in that lifestyle. I wasn’t ready to jump in, but I wanted to experience it—with her. I was certainly not going to do it without her by my side.
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