Page 19

Lizzie—

I sit behind my desk in the office and stare at the stack of invoices. The last thing I want to do is the books.

Maybe some coffee first.

I grab a cup, then walk outside to the alley to drink it. I’m only out there a few minutes when I hear something near the dumpster at the end of the alley. Glancing over, I spot a raccoon, and my mouth drops open. It turns my way, then goes up on its hind legs and stares.

I stay absolutely still, mesmerized.

It lifts a paw almost like it’s motioning or waving at me.

The paper cup slips from my hand and coffee splashes everywhere. I jump to avoid the droplets, cursing, and when I look up again, the raccoon is gone.

The door behind me opens. “Kate told me you two went out for margaritas.” Darko glances at the spilled coffee. “You okay?”

Embarrassed, I push past him and dash to my office. I’m sitting in my chair with my face in my hands, sobbing when the door opens, then quietly closes.

“Hey, you spilled some coffee. It’s not the end of the world,” Darko teases. He pauses when my sobs reach his ears, and his voice softens. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

I shake my head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

“Try me.” He grabs the chair that Eli usually uses and spins it around, then sits, his arms resting over the back.

I sniffle. “I saw a raccoon.”

That puts a blank look on his face. “It scared you?”

I shake my head. “That was our sign.”

He frowns. “Whose sign?”

“Matt and me. We used to have this raccoon hang around our house when we first moved in. Then she had the cutest little babies. Anyway, I began putting out cat food for them. They were so adorable. Matt started teasing me that if he ever died, he’d come back as a raccoon and visit me.”

“A raccoon, huh?”

“There was a raccoon in the alley just now, and I swear to God it waved its little paw at me.”

Darko grins, a big show-all-his-teeth grin.

“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?”

“Not at all. So, your husband has reincarnated in the shape of a raccoon, and he lives in the alley?” He chuckles.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

He stands. “C’mere.”

“What?” I snap.

“Just c’mere, woman.” His voice deepens, and I rise.

I walk around the desk, and he takes me in his arms. Then pulls back, holds my head in his hands and lets his eyes travel over me. He brushes the hair from my face, his big hand calloused but gentle.

“I like your hair.”

“Do you?”

“How many margaritas did you two have?”

I slug his arm, and he grins.

He touches one pink-tipped lock. “I think it’s you.”

“Really?”

“Um hmm. It’s cute. Edgy. Badass.”

“Thanks.”

“So, I guess I need to go shopping, huh?”

I frown. “What do you mean?”

“Gonna have to pick up some cat food.”

I can’t help smiling.

“There it is.”