Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106839 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 534(@200wpm)___ 427(@250wpm)___ 356(@300wpm)
“I’m not doing it because I need to, Rosie. I’m doing it because I want to.” Then he turns, fishing his keys out of his pocket, and heads down the street where his truck is parked.
I watch him for a few moments before getting in my car, stunned and amazed that he and I are here already. Talking about dreams and… other things that just didn’t get said.
When he pulls up, I pull out, and he follows me all the way into Disciple. I park in front of McBooms, but Amon doesn’t find a spot. Just sits in the middle of the road, idling with his window down like we’ve got unfinished business.
“The letter?” he says. “The one in your purse?”
“Oh, right.” I fish it out and hand it to him. “The other one is at the house. Do you need it right now?”
“I think these two will do. So…”
“Tomorrow?” I ask, hoping he didn’t forget.
Amon nods, kinda hypnotizing me with those blue eyes of his. “Noon. I’ll pick you up at the print shop.”
“But I gotta change before our date. Pick me up at the cottage.”
Amon shakes his head. “The print shop. Noon.” Then he salutes me, like he might one of his buddies, and takes off down the road, his truck rumbling along like the thunder that comes just before the glory.
The next day at the Busybody flies by because it’s Wednesday and I’ve got so much to do in order to get my prints ready and it doesn’t help that I’m completely distracted by my date with Amon this afternoon. I must read his ad a million times while I set the type. She is smart, funny, adorable, and a good mother who did not get lucky, but got exactly what she deserved. That’s my favorite part. And I love that he put it in there because it’s a sign that this isn’t just some one-night thing. He said those same words to me at the diner the other day. And if he’s repeatin’ them, then he was sincere.
And this means the world to me.
I want to get everything done before he gets here, including stuffing and mailing envelopes, so I came in two hours early and still the time ticks off so fast, I’m barely back from the post office when the little bell above my door jingles.
I turn to look and have to catch my breath. “Amon? Is that you?” It is, of course, but I have to ask because he’s wearing a full Bishop summer costume of breeches, boots, and waistcoat and coat. Which, like Disciple, isn’t precisely historically accurate but comes close enough. He’s all color-coordinated in varying shades of gray, including bits of smoky blue, which complements my own silver-pink ensemble.
Amon’s smile could brighten a pitch-black room, it’s that lively. “Surprise?”
Oh, my God. He’s… well, I’m not sure there is one word that could accurately describe Amon Parrish all dressed up like a Bishop gentleman because handsome just doesn’t cut it. He’s… everything. “Did you dress up like this for me?”
He makes a face. “What do you think, Rosie? Why else would I be wearing this outfit?”
I smile, then bring my fingertips up to my lips so I can chuckle.
“Do I look ridiculous?”
“Ridiculous? No, Amon. You look positively… fetching.”
He laughs now too. “Fetching?”
“Well, I’m trying to stay in character here. But if you’d like the Revenant version of that word, it would be… fuckable.”
He laughs again. “I’ll take either.” Then his eyes slowly glide down my dress. Like he’s studying every bit of my body. “Speaking of…” His eyes find their way back up to meet mine. “I really like you in these dresses, Rosie. Of course, I like you in all the outfits you wear, so maybe it’s just you I like.”
I sigh, fanning myself like I’m in church. But the fact is, he is kinda making me hot. “You’re charming, Amon. I always did know that. But you have definitely been upping your game since high school. How do you not have a wife already?”
“Oh, that’s an easy one. I was waiting for you, of course.”
Which is a lie, because we never had no interest in each other as kids. I was too young when he left, not to mention pregnant. So I tsk my tongue at him and shake my head.
“Do you need any help with anything, Rosie? Or are you ready to go?”
“We’re going out like this?” I pan my hand down my dress. Of course it’s kind of a dumb question because he’s here, dressed up in costume, which makes it obvious that we are. But I’m just surprised, so it comes out before I can think it through.
“I’ve got a table reserved at the Ordinary.”
“Oh.” I smile, pressing my lips together. An ‘ordinary’ restaurant in Colonial times would be just that. Ordinary. But in Bishop, the Ordinary is a special place that tourists need reservations for well in advance because unlike the Bishop Inn, everyone is in costume, including the guests.