Page 84 of Robbin’ the Rich

"You saw that?" His grin appeared immediately.

“Yes! That was amazing!”

"There'll be more."

As if the universe wanted to prove him right, another streak of light flashed overhead. Then another. Soon they were appearing everywhere. The night sky was filled with tiny light streaking across the sky.

I found myself laughing, like my body was having trouble containing the joy and it was just bubbling out in giggles. And somehow, sitting there in the middle of a field in rural Ohio, wrapped in a blanket beside a nerdy science teacher with a telescope staring at the vastness of the sky, I felt smaller than I ever had before, and more alive at the same time.

Micah adjusted the telescope and motioned me over.

"Come look."

I leaned forward and pressed my eye to the lens. When I looked like this, the stars weren't distant points anymore. They were real. They appeared almost close enough to touch.

"It's beautiful."

"I know."

The answer wasn't smug at all, it held all the amazement I felt too.

I pulled my face away from the telescope and saw him staring up at the night sky with peaceful awe filling his face. Yeah, there was a good chance I was already in love with him.

Micah glanced over and caught me looking up at him. His eyes were full of so much emotion and thought I was sure they held some sadness to them. But when he bent down and kissed me under the starry sky I couldn’t focus on anything else.

I never considered myself to be the kind of woman to be swept off her feet, but here I was being swept off my feet underneath a canopy of stars by the most unexpected man I’d ever known.

18

ROBIN

Trixie's was packed enough that the noise settled into a comfortable roar around them. I sat with Belle and Zella at one of the high-top tables near the stage, nursing a beer while pretending I wasn't watching the band.

I was absolutely watching the band. More specifically, I was watching the lanky blonde bassist in a faded Star Trek shirt who was currently concentrating on his instrument like the fate of the universe depended on it.

Belle followed her gaze and smirked.

"Oh, you have it bad."

"I don't know what you're talking about," but I just smiled. While I was still denying it outwardly, I knew I did, in fact, have it bad.

Belle leaned forward. "Have you told him?"

"Told him what?" I shrugged while holding my beer.

The words had barely left her mouth when Micah glanced up from the stage. As if he could somehow feel her looking at him. His eyes found mine. He smiled…. And winked.

"Oh my God!" Zella practically shrieked.

Belle slapped the table triumphantly. "I knew it!"

I rolled my eyes, but I could feel myself smiling anyway. "We can't all fall for giant broody rich men. Some of us fall for hot nerdy bassists."

There may have been squealing, but I chose to ignore it.

The ridiculous thing was that the wink wasn't even the best part anymore. A month ago, that would have been enough to leave me flustered for hours. Now it was the familiarity behind it. It was a private gesture between us.

Micah adjusted his glasses and turned back toward the crowd, still smiling.