What the Heart Knows

“Fair enough, what do I get if I win?” he asked.

“Oh we’re gambling now?”

“It might make things a bit more exciting,” he said.

Her eyes lit up as she leaned towards him with her elbow on the counter.

“Well, what are the stakes? What do you want?” she asked.

You. He cleared his throat, and moistened his dry lips with his tongue as he inhaled her scent. She smelled floral and light, just like her name.

“A kiss.” He felt heat rush to his cheeks the moment the words left his lips. Had he really just said that?

Her jaw dropped as she blinked.

“I’m sorry. Did you just say a kiss?”

“I did, Juniper Bloom.”

They locked gazes and he wondered how old she was, and if he’d finally lost what was left of his sanity. It was one thing to enjoy a conversation and a bit of harmless flirting. What he was doing now went beyond that. Who was this woman to cut through his grief like a knife and allow him to remember what happiness felt like? The sensation was exhilarating. Right or wrong, he decided to ride it out until she shot him down. If only for tonight he would know joy.

“Deal, you have three tries.”

Her swift agreement surprised and further excited him.

Oliver nodded as he leaned back and studied her. Her eyes were those of an old soul. She’d seen a lot of things in life, and that lead him to believe it was writing of some sort.

“Is it a novel?”

“Strike number one, Oliver.” Her full lips curled up into a smirk.

“Poetry?”

“Strike number two, you might want to take your time before you ask that last question.”

He scratched his head and leaned back as he examined her once more. In spite of her youthful appearance, Oliver sensed a deep being. One he felt as if he’d met before. He’d always heard of déjà vu, just never experienced it firsthand, until now.

“A journal entry?” he asked.

“Close, but no cigar.”

“What are you writing then?”

“A list,” she said.

“Of things you need to do?’

“Sort of.”

His interest was piqued, but he backed off, sensing her reluctance.

“Since I lost, what do you get?”

The tension faded from her body as she smiled. It was fitting that she’d have her secrets ‘cause Lord knew he had plenty of his own.

“How about three questions?”

“Shoot.”