Chapter 34
“Just keep in mind what I said, okay?” Michelle waddled on her knees off the bed and clamped her hand on Candace’s wrist. “They'll call me if they need to. You get dressed and go to the museum. I’ll call you if I hear anything. No, don’t object, let me take some of the duty for a change. It will be good for me. Heck, maybe I’ll even freak you out completely and clean up my room since you’ve done the rest of the house.”
“Not the attic yet.” Or the windows. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
“God, Candace, you need serious help. Go. Git. Don’t come back until Nolan is done with you.” She swatted Candace on the hip, then gathered her into a warm, impulsive hug. “And promise me. Promise me you’ll think about how many people it’s really your job to keep happy besides yourself.”
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Candace pulled into the public museum parking lot, nervous and jumpy. She assumed she and Nolan were going to spend a sedate hour or two inside— what was so threatening about that?
Obviously Michelle’s little talk had left Candace feeling off balance, vulnerable, uncertain. She hadn’t felt this way in a long time. Once Gran and Grandad gave her life ballast, she’d thrived, applied herself to her studies, to her work with Grandad, to her dream of becoming a brilliant, famous and well-compensated photographer.
Yes, well, everyone needed dreams.
When her relationship with Alan went belly-up, she was on the verge of graduating and moving to Drakoria; when her relationship with Sam ended, she’d eventually decided to move to Rosehill. Always a clear purpose. Always a clear idea of who she was and what she wanted and why.
Now…fear of commitment? Deliberately seeking out unsuitable men who wouldn’t challenge her safe version of herself? She could laugh the whole thing off except Michelle’s theories definitely struck some kind of chord. Since when was Michelle the “together” sister? Since when was she the one stepping back to figure life out rather than drifting from moment to feel-good moment? Maybe she really was turning over a new leaf, Sledge notwithstanding. Maybe she really would evolve. Why did that make Candace feel stuck behind in her old rutty self?
She needed to shake off the uneasiness, have casual fun with Nolan today and leave for Rosehill first thing in the morning, back on track. She hadn’t watched her mother throw her life away on one man after another without having learned the importance of counting only on herself. She was strong, she was woman, she could enjoy this day without getting irretrievably deep into feelings for Nolan, and have fun memories when she moved on with what she was meant to do. What she wanted to do. Someday she’d meet the right man at the right time who fit in with her plans.
Good.
She eased her car into a parking space, crossed the garage to the museum entrance, heels tapping sharply on the concrete, barely audible over the noise of the air circulation system. Once inside, she strode down the long corridor, past the colorful museum shop, toward the staircase to the exhibit space.
Would he meet her there? He hadn’t arrived yet. She turned…and saw him behind her, halfway down the hallway, approaching in his loose, masculine gait, comfortable and at ease as usual. She grinned and felt herself relaxing. This would be fun. She could handle keeping things light between them and emerge unscathed to tell the tale, not out of Michelle’s “fear of commitment,” but just because it was the healthiest and most sensible way to handle her feelings.
“Hi there.” He kissed her cheek, apparently having done away with his no-touching rule. She wouldn’t object.
“Two surprises in one day, breakfast and now a museum expedition. What have I done to deserve this?”
“It’s more what you don’t deserve.” He held out a green paper entrance bracelet for her to wrap around her wrist. How had he managed to buy tickets already? “You don’t deserve to stay home cleaning on your last day.”
The phrase last day twisted her stomach.
Steady.
“C’mon.” He took her hand and they started up the stairs to the second floor.
“What are we seeing?”
“Butterflies. The live ones.”
“I don’t know that exhibit.” She’d been through the museum countless times. “Wait, yes, I remember reading articles when it was built.”
“You’ll love it.” He pulled her close as they mounted the stairs and put his lips to her ear. “And by the way, you look incredibly sexy in those red shorts. Almost as sexy as you looked in bed when I brought you breakfast. It was all I could do to leave the room.”
It was all Candace could do to laugh off his compliment when she wanted to say to hell with her resolve, drag him home, strip him and beg for sex. Was this what Michelle felt? Was Nolan Candace’s “dangerous” man? Her Sledge? Maybe she needed to have a little more compassion for Michelle’s…active social life.
“Hey, Candace.”
“Mmm?”
“I know that face. You’re overthinking.” He shook his head sternly. “Today is about fun. Leave the cerebral stuff for tomorrow.”
She smiled and collected herself again. He was just a man she’d met and enjoyed. Nothing about her life had changed. She was going to be fine.
“It’s a deal.”
They got into line for the popular exhibit, then spent a few minutes with their designated group in a small transition area before they were admitted, to make sure no butterflies escaped. The two-story glassed-in room was swarming with all types, colors and shapes, including, behind one special pane, various stages of caterpillar, chrysalis and emerging adults. In the open room around various flowering plants and trees adult insects fluttered free, landing on walls, greenery and awestruck visitors, who’d lowered their voices instinctively once inside, adding to the enchantment.
The creatures were so beautiful, so delicate, and right here, all around.
Candace wished she had— A cold metallic rectangle was put into her hand.
She looked down, then up at Nolan in amazement. “What’s this?”
“Thought you’d want to take a few pictures.”
She was beside herself. “How did you know?”
“Because you’re a visual person with a lot of talent.”
“Wow.” She swallowed hard. “Wow. Thank you.”