Page 33 of Decidedly Off Limits

Kelsey

Rememberwhen you were a kid and Santa didn’t bring you the one gift you had really hoped for? The one gift that would change your life (or so your seven-year-old mind would’ve had you believe)?

That was how I currently felt.

I’d enjoyed learning to make the dishes, and I looked forward to cooking them again with Trent for our friends. But as I took the last bite of the dessert, I realized the spark I’d hoped for still wasn’t there. I wanted to find something I was passionate about—and cooking fancy dishes wasn’t it.

So now what? There had to be something beyond Trent that got my blood pumping.

I squirmed at the effect he still had on me, evident by my reaction when he’d brushed the flour off my cheek. At least that was better than the panic attack when he’d asked me why I had ignored him for all those years.

I would’ve rather had my head waxed than havethatconversation.

For one, it meant telling him about the feelings that I’d had for him back then and still had. Guys who put their career first and avoided having girlfriends weren’t interested in hearing things like that.

Only women like Holly could handle him being a workaholic, especially since she wasn’t much better. But what about the commitment part? Was she okay with being only a short-term girlfriend? Or maybe once they got together, Trent would realize she was the right woman for him and would be eager to settle down.

Pain worse than having an elephant step on your foot taunted me at the thought. I quickly reminded myself it shouldn’t matter that I was falling for him all over again. Trent’s happiness? That was the trump card when it came to my heart.

Besides, I wasn’t interested in dating until I had my life figured out.

But Trent isn’t justanyone.

I ignored my heart’s lovesick mutterings.

We cleaned our workstation, the odd tension that had sprung up between us when he’d brushed the flour off my cheek still lingering in the air.

“So?” Trent asked as we exited the room.

I waited for him to elaborate.

“What did you think of the class?”

“It was fun, but I don’t think cooking really does anything for me.”

“Any other ideas then?” He pulled the main door open for me. I stepped out into the cool evening air.

“I’ve always wanted to surf, but my balance isn’t great.” Not to mention it was spring and I was more of a hot-tub-temperature-type person. The cold ocean at this time of year didn’t appeal to me. “And let’s not forget the sharks,” I added. “Knowing my luck, a great white would decide I’d make a tasty lunch.”

“You know, the odds of being attacked are pretty much zero.”

“And you know this for sure?” At his quick shrug, I said, “Yeah, I thought not. Maybe I could do something craft related.”

“Good idea. I’m sure your brother would get behind it more than you surfing in shark-infested waters.” He chuckled and I punched him in the arm.

“Ha! Very funny.”

As I drove home, the idea of learning a new craft started to appeal to me more. By the time I pulled into my driveway, I couldn’t wait to see what I could find. I went online and studied the arts and recreation catalog for the local community college. Erin had gushed last year about the jewelry-making class she had taken there.

Belly dancing. Hmmm I wasn’t too sure about that. It might be fun as a class, but I couldn’t see myself doing it as a long-term hobby.

Drama. My 2.5 in high-school drama said that was a no.

Bookbinding. People did that for a hobby?

Drawing for Beginners. That might be fun. I had always wanted to learn to draw.

The next session started in a few days and the class wasn’t full yet. I registered for it and studied the list of supplies I needed to pick up before the first class.