One Bride for Five Mountain Men

“No, I meant…”

“Well, the plane hasn’t left yet. I can always rush back,” he smirked, making a half turn.

“No, no. That’s not what I meant. I meant…” Rory exhaled to compose herself. “I meant, weren’t you guys supposed to leave today?”

“Yes. The departure is set for today.” He paused. Rory wanted to rush him to complete his sentence but didn’t. “But I wanted to say goodbye to you first,” he finished in a calm voice.

So this is goodbye. The confused joy that she felt when Arsen had walked in left her body in haste and was filled with that same old sense of loss.

“Well…” Rory was lost for words as she came out from behind the counter and stood in front of Arsen. Should I shake his hand or something?

“Also the thought of sharing a plane ride with Mickey was not very appealing to me. So I bailed.” He was grinning. Rory was positively confused. She wasn’t sure what was goin

g on.

“So you came to say goodbye and then get on a plane?”

“No,” he grinned.

“Then…? I’m really confused here. Are you leaving or not?”

“As much as you want me flying off on a jet plane, I am not leaving as of yet.”

“I don’t want you to leave!” The words came out too fast for her taste. “I meant that I… or anyone else for that matter doesn’t, would not want, to be rid of you. You can stay for as long as you like.” What the hell am I even saying?

“That is good to hear. Then would it be too much to ask you to spend the day with me?”

“What?” Rory was distracted by the dimples that graced his face.

“Spend a day hanging out with me.” Arsen smiled and took a couple of steps toward her.

When she had woken up that morning Rory was certain that she had seen the last of this incredible man, and somehow, he was here, right in front of her, asking to hang out with her. This was more than she could’ve dreamed of. Her concerns about his departure and the fact that it would just break her heart disappeared in the excitement.

“Sure. Why not?” She tried to be nonchalant. “Lizzy hasn’t come in anyway. I could use an assistant for the day.” Now it was her turn to smirk.

“Good. Works for me. I’d hate to go out in public and have the paparazzi ruin our day. This is a good place to hide.” He smiled.

Rory suddenly thought about how different their problems were from each other. They led such different lives as if they were living in two different worlds altogether.

“So what is it that you would like me to do?” he asked expectantly.

“Well…” Rory tried not to think too much about what she’d like him to do, lest it be written all over her face. She wanted to keep him around, in any case. “You can start by keeping me company till a customer walks in.”

“All right. Sounds good. Can I man the cash counter?” he asked.

“Be my guest.”

“Now I can also add bookstore assistant to my resume,” he said, pleased with himself, as he sat down behind the counter.

“Well—for that you have to at least make a sale,” Rory smirked.

“No problem.” Arsen looked around, grabbed a book and put it on the counter, along with a twenty dollar bill that he took out of his pocket, ringing himself in. “There you go. My first sale.”

Rory shielded her laugh with the back of her hand.

“No! Making a sale does not mean that you buy a book yourself.”

“Too bad, now it’s done,” he said, as he autographed the bill. “Now make sure that you mention this in your recommendation letter for my next employer.”