The Trouble With Valentine's Day by Rachel Gibson Page B

looking at Kate’s hair was like staring into a fire. One of the first things he’d noticed about her the night they’d met in the Duchin Lounge besides her smooth white skin and big brown eyes had been her hair.
    Tonight she appeared cool and composed, but the longer he studied her, the more her full lips pulled into an irritated frown. Her arms remained folded across her wool coat, and her long legs were crossed at her knees and seemed to stretch out forever in front of her. She wore black pants and spiky-heeled boots. The kind that most likely came with a matching whip and paddle. Damn was right.
    â€œIf I can have everyone’s attention,” Ada Dover spoke from the pulpit, drawing Rob’s gaze to the front of the room. “I’d like to welcome everyone to this month’s social. Especially the first-timers in the back row.” Stanley cringed while Rob and Kate sank a little lower in their chairs, but both were too tall to disappear completely.
    â€œAs everyone knows, this is poetry night. Quite a few of us have brought something to read. After everyone has a chance to share, we’ll begin the social portion of the evening.” She glanced down at her notes, then continued, “I’ll be the first to share, followed by Regina Cladis.”
    As Ada launched into a long poem she’d written about her dog, Snicker, Kate’s cool composure showed one more sign of cracking. It started with a slightly annoyed sway of her right foot, but after several minutes of Snicker, the little sway worked up to an agitated little kick.
    â€œHis eyes are brown,” Ada waxed in the final stanza.
    â€œHe’s the only dog in town
    to come when I call Snicker.
    His tongue is pink,
    his fur is like mink, and
    he’s one hell of a licker!”
    Kate’s foot stopped, and Rob thought he heard her murmur something that sounded like, “God have mercy.”
    Stanley coughed behind his fist, and Rob was grateful that his mother wasn’t the only bad poet in the room.
    Regina was up next and read a poem about the library where she worked. After Regina, Iona Osborn plugged in a tape player, and the sound of a steady boom bop-bop boom filled the grange. Over the drumbeat Iona recited a poem entitled “If I Were Britney Spears.” It was lighthearted and wasn’t half as bad as Ada’s dog poem. Kate’s foot settled into an easy sway once more, then stopped as her long fingers worked the big buttons on her coat. Her shoulder bumped Rob’s as she tried to pull her arms from the sleeves. Watching her was like watching someone try to get out of a straitjacket.
    He leaned in and said close to her ear, “Lift your hair up.”
    She stopped her fidgeting and glanced up at him out of the corners of her eyes. She looked like she might argue. Like she might launch into another “I can take care of myself” speech. She opened her mouth, closed it, then ran one hand across the back of her neck, twisted her wrist, and gathered her hair. She scooped it up and Rob reached for her coat. He pulled the back of the collar down as she leaned forward. She drew one arm free and straightened, letting go of her hair. It fell in a gentle wave and brushed the back of Rob’s hand. A thousand strands of red silk touching his skin and curling around his fingers. If he turned his palm up, he could gather it in his fist. It had been a long time since he’d felt the weight and texture of a woman’s hair in his hands or across his chest and belly. Desire both unexpected and unwanted tugged at his lap.
    She looked at him and smiled for the first time since the night they’d met in Sun Valley.
    â€œThank you,” she said as she pulled her other arm free.
    â€œYou’re welcome.” He turned his attention to the podium and folded his arms across his chest. His life had become pathetic. Her hair had touched his hand, big deal. There’d been a time in