“I know. I feel the same about you.” She kept her eyes closed because she knew if she looked at him, she’d never want to look anywhere else. “But this isn’t real. It’s temporary. It can’t be more than that.”
“Why not?”
Now she did look at him. And felt herself fall utterly and completely in love. She should tell him the truth: that he’d never be happy in the open, impulsive world she lived in. And she’d never survive in the cage he inhabited. But if not the truth, he at least deserved an answer. “Because I’m not meant to be anyone’s forever.”
* * *
XANDER WATCHED CALLIOPE all but float across the lobby and disappear behind the glass doors leading to the restaurant. His entire body buzzed, as if it hadn’t known what alive was until he’d touched her. He hadn’t been joking when he’d said she enchanted him. There wasn’t any other word to define it. And he’d tried to find one. Endlessly.
“Anything I can do for you, Mr. Costas?” Willa came out from the back office and took her seat behind the registration desk.
“Xander, please.” He still looked around for his father when someone called him Mr. Costas. “And no thanks, I’m okay. Um, actually.” He walked over to the desk. “Do you have another copy of the holiday events schedule? Now that I’ll be sticking around a little longer, I was wondering what was going on.”
“Certainly.” Willa handed him a pamphlet.
He scanned the list. Caroling around town, a Christmas parade at the harbor, the gingerbread sandcastle competition. Holiday candy-making and a secret Santa party at the youth center. “This Christmas market on Sunday? Is that at Calliope’s farm?”
“Yes. It’s the fifth time she’s hosted. It’s kind of a craft fair where the residents sell what they make through the year. We set up tents, play holiday music, roast chestnuts. Calliope makes it snow.”
“Snow, huh?” Did the nature-loving Calliope make an exception and coat her fields and flora with shredded plastic?
“No one’s sure how she does it. One of those holiday miracles.” Willa’s thin, pretty face brightened as she talked. “I don’t think I want to know. I’d rather believe in the magic, wouldn’t you?”
“I would indeed.” His cell phone rang and he excused himself as he recognized the mayor’s office number. “Gil. Good to hear from you.”
“I hope so,” Gil Hamilton said. “Sorry about the cancellation. I’ve been dealing with some unexpected things. Life of a small-town mayor and all.”
“I’m sure you’re never bored. Are you calling to reschedule?”
“More like calling to confirm. I heard you’re planning on leaving on Thursday.”
“Ah, change of plans, actually. My sister came out to join me and I’m taking some extra time.”
“Then you’re still interested in submitting a revised design?”
“I am.” Because he didn’t have a choice. No matter how enchanting and distracting Xander found Butterfly Harbor and Calliope Jones, he still had a family business to save. Alarm bells clanged in Xander’s head when the mayor didn’t respond. “Why?”
“Well, to be safe I put out some other feelers and got a pretty good response. I’m going to be meeting with some other firms and architects after the first of the year.”
Meaning Gil had been so unimpressed with their submitted proposal he’d decided to look elsewhere. Great. Xander pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. “Is Costas Architecture still in the running?”
“If you want to be, absolutely. To be honest, I wasn’t certain how enthusiastic you were about the project after our initial meeting. But time’s turning into an issue, Xander. I’d need something concrete and cohesive by early January if we’re going to break ground next spring.”
“You’ll have it sooner.” Xander’s heart pounded unsteadily in his chest. “And you won’t be disappointed.” Again.
Pocketing his phone, Xander knew what he needed. He had to get out of his own head, push aside the doubt and fears and find a way through this mental block of his. He needed inspiration. And in Butterfly Harbor, there was only one person who could provide it.