Should I look at what was inside? Had Mitchell planned on asking someone to marry him at some point? Why did he have a ring box in his bedside drawer? If it was a ring, shouldn’t it be in a safe or something?
I rolled my eyes. This was Oak Springs, not Chicago.
My curiosity got the better of me. I picked up the notebook and set it on the nightstand as I reached for the ring box. Holding my breath, I opened it to see a beautiful emerald ring.
“Oh my,” I whispered.
A loud bang from downstairs scared me and I shut the jewelry box and put it back. When I reached for the notebook, I accidently bumped it, causing it to fall to the ground. It had opened face down on the floor. Grabbing it, I turned it over and went to close it when I saw my name.
I started to read what was written on the page. Covering my mouth, I sat on the bed and got lost in the words.
I closed the notebook and slipped it into the drawer. Standing, I attempted to calm my racing heart. Mitchell had feelings for me too. He was as affected by me as I was by him. And he wrote about it in a journal. If that didn’t make me fall head over heels, I don’t know what would. Taking in a few deep breaths, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I needed to pretend I hadn’t just read his thoughts.
“Be cool, Corina,” I whispered as I headed down the hallway. Rounding the corner, I saw Chloe sitting on the kitchen island. Mitchell stood with his back to me. He had a giant paper hat and apron on.
“Good morning, Aunt Corina!” Chloe shouted in the happiest of voices.
I smiled at her. “Good morning, sweetheart.”
When I forced my eyes to Mitchell, all I could do was stare. He was holding a spatula and his apron said, I turn grills on. His dark hair was messy and he had on a muscle shirt that nicely showcased every ripped and defined part of his anatomy.
“You…um…cook?”
Okay, is that the best you could come up with, Corina?
Mitchell pulled his head back in surprise. “Heck yeah, I cook. And good morning to you too, sleepyhead. Chloe already watched a movie while I went for a run, and you slept in.”
Focusing on Chloe, I said, “You’ve already watched a movie this morning?”
She nodded. “Uncle Mitchell promised me French toast when he got back from his run.”
“What time is it?” I asked.
“Ten.”
“Ten?” I practically shouted.
Laughing, Mitchell asked, “Do you have plans or something?”
“Oh, I hope not. Uncle Mitchell was gonna take me ice skating. Please come, Aunt Corina.”
Chloe was making it very hard for me to pretend to be angry with Mitchell. “Ice skating? Where could you possibly find ice skating in the middle of summer?”
Mitchell let out a rumbling laugh that moved through my body. “We do have ice rinks in Texas, Corina.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know that, but near Oak Springs?”
“Yep.”
Did I want to spend more time with Mitchell? Or to stick with my original plan of being pissed off at him? Who was I kidding? I was far from angry with him. Still, as much as I wanted to, I wasn’t ready to let him in.
At least not yet.
I pulled up to the rink and put the truck in park.
Corina helped Chloe out of the truck. “I had no idea Uvalde had a skating rink,” Corina said.
“It’s the most fun ice rink ever!” Chloe practically shouted.
“How about ‘this is the best ice rink ever’,” Corina said.
“Yeah! That too!” Chloe shouted as she took our hands and dragged us to the front door.
I let out a chuckle. “A for trying, Ms. Miller.”
Corina rolled her eyes.
“Follow me, Aunt Corina! I know where to go. Uncle Mitchell and I have been skating here lots of times.”
We followed Chloe to the counter were we all rented skates.
“Does Chloe stay with you often?” Corina asked.
Tying my shoes, I nodded. “She stays with me a few times a month. We have fun together.”
The way she smiled made my stomach do a weird dip. “It’s obvious she loves spending time with you. You’re so good with her.”
With a shrug, I stood. “I guess ‘cuz I’m a little kid at heart.”
Laughing, Corina stood on her skates. “You sure your foot is okay to skate?”
I shot her a dirty look. “My foot is perfectly fine, thank you very much.”
There was no way I was going to tell her all four of my brothers had already found out about the damn glass incident, and so had a few guys I worked with. I could thank Trevor for that one. Little bastard.
“By the way, how did Trevor get a picture of me in the hospital?” I asked.