Chapter Four

A million thoughts raced through Faith’s mind as she hurried home to drop off her books.

“Don’t get stressed out over this,” she told herself out loud. “Okay, so he’s pretty, and he likes sandwiches. Don’t read into this what isn’t there.”

Pretty doesn’t even come close to describing that man well enough, her psyche retorted. And why don’t you believe he’s into you? He asked you to dinner, didn’t he? Not to mention asking if you were married! He’s interested, trust me.

Back and forth the war within herself raged as she opened her front door on autopilot, set down her purse, unwrapped the books and put them in their proper order with the rest of the collection.

Faith moved to the bathroom, checking her appearance again.

And the war increased in intensity, a very loud drum in her ears – Oh my God girl please tell me you are at least going to put on mascara! – with her battered self-esteem shouting out in response Why? He’s just being polite.

She closed her eyes, hands gripping the sink for balance, and willed the storm into silence.

“I am terrified,” she admitted aloud, lifting her head to stare into her own soul in the mirror.

***

Rick moved quickly through shutting the store down for the night, then set the alarm and locked the door. He stepped out onto the sidewalk and looked the direction she had gone.

What if she doesn’t come back? Then what? he asked himself.

Guess I will just eat alone as usual, came the answer. But I hope she does. Man, I hope she does.

He pulled out his phone, started to check a couple of emails he hadn’t gotten to yet, but he found that his focus kept returning to the woman he had just met.

The most gorgeous woman I’ve seen in a long, long time, he admitted, and when he closed his eyes, he could see her face as clearly as if she was still standing right in front of him.

Hazel eyes that seem to miss nothing framed with naturally long lashes, dark brown hair with beautiful silver strands cascading through, high cheekbones, lightly sun-kissed skin I would kill to touch, a mouth made for kissing. I bet underneath that baggy sweatshirt her body is lush and ripe… I wonder what it would feel like pressed against mine...

Sighing, he forced himself to concentrate.

He responded to his distributor’s notice about a pending shipment, and three more emails that he’d received in the past half-hour. He had just hit ‘send’ on the last one and closed his email browser when he noticed a flash of movement coming toward him.

He looked up and felt breathless, like he’d been struck by lightning.

She had come back.

***

“Hi again,” Faith said. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“Your timing is just about perfect actually,” Rick replied, hoping he didn’t sound like a lovesick teenager. “I just wrapped up the last emails of the day. You hungry?”

“Yes,” she said and smiled as he extended his arm to her.

“Okay,” he said and willed his muscles not to tense as she linked her arm around his.

They strolled the two blocks further down to Mama J’s. Rick noticed that the bistro had placed a couple of small tables with chairs out on the patio.

“Indoors, or out?” he asked Faith.

“Out,” she answered. “It’s the perfect time of year for it.”

“Couldn’t agree more,” he said, and pulled out her chair for her.

***

“Rick! Faith! Nice to see you again! Didn’t realize you two knew each other,” Mama J said with a big smile, and hugged each of them in turn.

“We just met tonight, Mama J,” Faith told her. “At Book Keepers.”

Wow, look at the sparks we got flyin’ between these two here, Mama J thought to herself with a smile before she asked, “Usual drinks?”

“Sweet tea with lemon,” they said at the same time, and glanced at each other.

“And are you ready to order?”

“I will have my usual, Mama,” Rick replied. “Hot pastrami and provolone on marble rye, with spicy mustard.”

“Ooh,” Faith piped up. “I love their pastrami, but I’ve never tried it with spicy mustard.”

“Well, you should, it’s awesome,” he said.

Faith turned to Mama J.

“Sounds good, I’ll do that too.”

Mama J chuckled.

“Peas in a pod. I will get those right out for you,” she confirmed, and made her way into the kitchen.

***

“So,” Faith began, “um, how long have you been around here?”

“Moved to Pantego about five months ago, after my uncle died. He owned the building Book Keepers is in, and he left it to me.”

“Oh! Your uncle was Mr. Connor?”

“You knew him.”

“I did. He lived across the street from me. I only moved in about six months ago, and only talked with him a couple of times. But he was a really nice man.”

Rick sighed.

“Yeah, he was. I hadn’t seen him in a long time. Being active Navy tends to keep you moving around a lot. I found out he had passed when his lawyer called.”

He paused, taking a sip of his tea.

“He and I were the only family left. I had been planning a trip to come see him after I officially retired from active duty back in October. Life had other plans, I guess.” 

He smiled at her.

“Uncle Jack and I had talked several times over the years about taking that building of his and opening a bookstore. I moved here, sold the townhouse, spent the first four months or so rehabbing the bottom floor for the store, and converting the top floor as my living space, and I opened doors for business March thirtieth,” he finished.

“Yeah, I noticed the moving van come into the neighborhood and people in and out over there by my place,” Faith mentioned. “Wondered what was going on.”

“Yeah, well, Uncle Jack was shrewd with money. He owned his townhouse free and clear, same with the bookstore building. I couldn’t see holding on to both for just me. We shared a love of literature. I couldn’t think of a better legacy to remember him than Book Keepers.”

She placed her hand over his and squeezed it gently.

“What a sweet way to honor him,” she told him, then pulled her hand away, blushing slightly, as Mama J approached.

“Here you go,” Mama J said, setting two plates piled high with sandwich and fries in front of them. “Enjoy.”

Companionable silence ensued for a bit as they both started on their sandwiches while Mama refilled their glasses.

When they were alone again, Rick asked, “So. Faith. I want to hear about you. What’s your story?”

She took a deep breath then exhaled slowly.