He was sitting this time and kept his head tilted down as he peered up at her. It looked just like an image from a fashion magazine. Blake was so handsome—Livia couldn’t believe the other women on the platform weren’t taking cell phone pictures of him.
Debra AnastasiaLivia wondered what, exactly, Beckett did for a living. Her question was soon answered. Everything bad.
Debra AnastasiaYou smiled that night. He was adamant that it had lasted longer than the others.” Cole looked at her with troubled brown eyes. “Livia, if I may be so bold, he’s going to take your kindness very seriously. If you’re playing a game, or trying to get even with a boyfriend by dating the worst thing you could find—”
Livia held up one hand to stop him. “With all due respect, never, ever refer to Blake as ‘the worst thing’ in my presence again.”
To Livia’s surprise, Cole almost smiled.
Four hundred forty-six,” Cole whispered.
“What?” she asked.
He kept his head down in what seemed to be a prayer. “He counts. You’ve smiled at him four hundred and forty-six times as of a few minutes ago. He announces the number every time I see him.”
“I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t think you were real. Considering my line of work, I should have more faith in humanity.” Cole shook his head. “I think it was smile two hundred eighty-six that drove me the most crazy. It was the night train. Blake was so sick, feverish. Honestly, I was considering taking him to the hospital. But no. He didn’t want to miss a smile. He wouldn’t even let me drive him. Blake walked the whole way in the pouring rain for number two eighty-six.
With all due respect, never, ever refer to Blake as ‘the worst thing’ in my presence again.
Debra AnastasiaAm I the star in this story or you?”
Blake wrinkled his nose and chuckled.
“Was that a bad analogy? I meant we’re the star, Livia. Us. This.” He shrugged his shoulders like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Us being in the same atmosphere is either a great cosmic catastrophe or the most serendipitous rendezvous.” Blake pronounced the French word like a closeted foreign language teacher.
The pull toward him came from her center. Her eyes never left his face as she moved to her hands and knees. She crawled slowly over the blanket, the breakfast, his legs, until her hands rested on either side of his hips. His smile lifted only on one side. He took care to stay very still, but his mouth opened slightly as she approached. This close to Blake she could smell him. Fresh, sweet fall leaves and mint.
Debra AnastasiaLivia ignored Beckett’s hand to give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for watching over him before I knew him,” she whispered.
Debra AnastasiaThis is a great first date.” Livia huddled closer to Blake.
“This isn’t our first date. I count all the breakfasts. Don’t worry, Livia, none of these people will harm us.” He seemed confident.
“You’re that scary?” Livia whispered.
“No, but Beckett is,” Blake said.
You’ve no idea what you’re getting involved with.” Cole closed his eyes. He seemed to be reaching inside to calm himself.
Livia took a step out of the pew. “Cole, I can’t turn back now. My life leads to his. It’s as simple as that.”
“Two months.” Cole looked doubtful.
“Four hundred forty-six smiles, plus two months of talking twice a day, five times a week,” Livia corrected.
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