Summer on Blossom Street (Blossom Street #6)(40)

“Losing your f iancé…”

“Yes, well…these things happen.” He could tell that talking about the man she’d loved f lustered and upset her. Hutch felt bad about bringing up such a painful subject, but he wanted to be sure Phoebe knew he sympathized.

He decided to take his cue from her and move on. He said the f irst thing that came to mind. “I’ve enjoyed being in the class with you.”

Her eyes softened as she cast her eyes down. “I feel the same way.”

“I’d…like to see you again, outside class.” He didn’t give her a chance to respond. “But only if you’re ready. If it’s too soon, I understand. All I ask is that you let me know when you feel ready to date again.”

“I…I…” She hesitated.

His heart sank.

“I believe I’m ready now,” she said, meeting his eyes. A sense of exhilaration f illed him. “That’s wonderful.” Then, because he felt he had to clarify what he’d said, he added quickly, “Wonderful that you’re willing to see me again. Not wonderful that your f iancé died.” The instant the words left his tongue, Hutch wanted to yank them back. He couldn’t have said anything stupider or more insensitive. “That didn’t come out right.”

“Don’t worry. I knew what you meant.”

He exhaled a sigh of relief. “The Fourth of July is this weekend,” he said.

“So I noticed.”

“Would you like to go on a picnic?” he asked. It was a traditional Fourth of July activity, he f igured. “I have a couple of bicycles,” he said on the spur of the moment.

“That sounds like fun. Anyplace special you’d like to ride?”

Hutch hadn’t taken out his bicycle in years. “I biked through the Skagit Valley once and really enjoyed that.” The landscape was f lat. He didn’t want to huff and puff his way up a hill; he’d prefer to play it safe.

Phoebe’s eyes brightened. “I love the Skagit Valley.”

He felt like standing up and cheering. “Then it’s a date.”

“I look forward to it.”

They parted outside the café and Hutch experienced an unfamiliar feeling of satisfaction—with the conversation, with her and even with himself.

The next morning Hutch arrived at the off ice in an exceptionally good mood.

“You’re whistling, ” Gail said.

“I was? When?”

“Just now.” She seemed to approve, however, because she sent him a contented smile.

“I didn’t realize it,” he said, feeling vaguely puzzled. “Listen, I need you to do a couple of things for me.”

“Sure.”

“Order me two fully assembled mountain bikes. One blue and one red, complete with helmets. Have them delivered to my house.”

“Right away.”

That morning he’d checked out the bikes in his garage and they were old and not in the best condition. Rather than spend the time getting them updated and repaired, it would be simpler to purchase new ones.

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” He felt a bit self-conscious about this. “Go online and order me a book, if you would.”

“Of course. Do you have the title or the author’s name?”

“I don’t know the author, but the title should be along the lines of Dating for Dummies or Relationships for Idiots.”

Gail couldn’t disguise her amusement, which Hutch chose to overlook. He couldn’t blame her. However, he was willing to start his romantic education from scratch, as long as he could spend time with Phoebe Rylander.

Chapter 14

Anne Marie Roche

“Blossom Street Books.” Anne Marie answered the phone in her usual pleasant tone, assuming the caller would be asking about her hours or whether a particular title had come in.

“Anne Marie, this is Tim Carlsen.”

Anne Marie froze and drew in a deep breath. She’d known it was too much to hope that she’d never hear from him again. Fortunately she was alone in the bookstore. “What can I do for you, Mr. Carlsen?” she asked stiff ly.

He ignored the lack of welcome in her voice. “Have you given any more thought to our conversation last week?” he asked. It’d been ten days since she’d heard from Tim Carlsen. Ten days since the Monday afternoon he’d told her he might be Ellen’s biological father. From that moment until now, Anne Marie had been waiting, wondering if he planned to follow through with his threat to take legal action.

“I assumed the next move was yours,” she said, hoping her bluntness would tell him she had no intention of allowing him into her daughter’s life. It was too late—and besides, the law was on her side.

“Listen,” Tim said, “I’m not going to get an attorney. You’re right. Ellen’s your family now. Whether I’m her biological father or not isn’t relevant.”

Anne Marie was prepared to battle him all the way to the Supreme Court. That he’d capitulated so readily took her by surprise. “Thank you,” she whispered, hardly knowing what else to say.

“If you ever decide you’d be willing to have Ellen tested…”

“I won’t.”

Undaunted, he continued. “Or if one day Ellen asks about her father, I hope you’ll contact me.”