in something modern, more normal, if you will, what in the world would she look like in it?
The knob twisted.
Burke’s pulse spiked.
The door creaked open, revealing—inch-by-inch—Justine standing slightly taller in a stunning black cocktail dress. He moved his eyes up her slender legs, curvy hips, and delicate looking shoulders.
It was a rare occasion that Burke found his face filling with heat, enough that the effects would be visible. But as he fixed his gaze on Justine’s hazel eyes—the most alluring quality about her—Burke felt his face turn Red Sox red.
“Wow. You look…” He ran through a list of adjectives. Gorgeous, beautiful, incredible? “Great.” Great? You idiot.
Justine bit her lip. “So do you.” She let out a soft chuckle and tucked those pretty locks behind one ear. It didn’t do much to tame it, but he liked that too. Her blonde curls seemed to be a reflection of her—soft, carefree, and a bit unpredictable.
Burke had dated plenty of women over the years, but not with any real intent. Only once since his initial heartbreak back in high school had he developed feelings for another—Ella Brinkley. She was smart, sophisticated, and yet down to earth too.
The moment he’d caught himself falling for Ella, Burke got so freaked out he ended their date early, saying something had come up. It hadn’t been too hard to avoid her after that, though he’d often wondered how she was. What she was doing with her life. A wedding announcement months later answered that question for him, putting his curiosity—and any feelings he had left for her—to rest.
To say he was developing feelings for the stranger beside him was absurd. But the potential seemed stronger than any he’d known. So where was his instinct to run?
It hadn’t made an appearance yet. Burke held out his elbow for her. “Shall we?”
Justine blew out what seemed to be a pent-up breath. “Yep.” She stepped through the doorway and wrapped a hand around the nook in his arm like she’d done at her granddad’s. It felt nice there. Soft, warm, and comforting.
He watched as she spun back to close the door completely, tipping his head as a cluster of furniture appeared to be crammed close to the door.
“Do you block the door at night?” he guessed.
She pulled the door closed completely then turned a questioning look on him. “What was that?”
“The furniture,” he said. “I just wondered—”
“Oh, yeah. No. I mean…” She chuckled. “That’s for the festival. I restore furniture,” she explained. “I use discarded materials to add artistic touches, I guess you’d say. Colored glass and old, shattered pots can make a gorgeous looking mosaic on a tabletop.
“Of course, not all the improvements I make are like that. Sometimes I just use a special stain or unique type of paint. The right finish can make all the difference. ”
“No kidding? I’d love to see them sometime.” He pulled open the car door for her.
Justine slid her hand down his arm to grip his fingers as she settled into the passenger seat. She reached for her seatbelt next, fastening it as he gave her a nod.
Gently then, Burke closed her door and made his way to his side of the car.
“So what is it that you do?” she asked once he was settled behind the wheel.
Great. Burke started the engine with the press of his key fob. A quiet hum filled the space as he fastened his own seatbelt. Don’t forget about Lenny’s warning. “I work in real estate, in a way. Buying and selling properties.”
“You flip houses?” she asked, a small pucker between her brow.
“Just land, usually. A lot of times it’s an old, almost forgotten listing that I dig up. I can get those at a great price. Then my business partner and I, we have a unique marketing technique that scouts out those willing to pay the big bucks.”
There, nothing too damning.
“So that’s it? You don’t have to do anything to it?”
Burke tipped his head, curiously watching as she reached for the Mentos in his drink holder. She pried one of the candies from the roll and proceeded to bring it to her lips.
“Oh,” she said, glancing over. “You don’t mind, do you?”
He grinned at the fact that asking him was nearly an afterthought. “Not at all. Those are my favorites.”
“Mine too.” She popped it in her mouth and looked at him expectantly.
Oh yeah, she’d asked him a question. “As for the properties, if necessary, I’ll make improvements or additions to make it appeal to a certain