Ketch stared at her. How could a woman like him and be afraid of him at the same time? She’d hold his hand on a date, but she didn’t want to be his girlfriend. “Then I’ll walk. If you’ll watch.”

She smiled and thanked him for the date as he drove her home.

When he followed her to her porch, she stood on the second step and kissed him good night.

He wished he could know if she’d ever be able to love him. Sometimes he felt like his heart hung under the LOST sign on a telephone pole and no one ever noticed.

As the kiss ended, he said his thoughts. “I don’t want to let you go.”

She laughed. “You have to, Ketch. We can’t stand here all night. Besides, if you have time for lunch tomorrow, drop by the library. I’ll be starting my training.”

Tiny moments, he thought, nothing more. He wasn’t sure he could live on small bits of her, but he knew he didn’t want to step away.

“I’ll drop by. Dr. Monroe wants to see me tomorrow after his one o’clock class.”

“I thought the survey was over. The ‘Chemistry of Mating’ will soon be an article and maybe a winner.”

“It has been turned in, even with all the excitement going on. They barely got the article and research findings in on time.

“Who knows what Monroe wants to talk to me about. The Randall brothers also want to meet about something. They probably want to know if I’ll stay around and work for them this summer.”

She kissed his nose. “Will you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, don’t even think about standing me up tomorrow. I’m not ready to give you up.”

“You don’t need me, kid.” Ketch turned around before he said too much. “See you tomorrow.”

* * *

The clock tower was clanking out the noon hour when Ketch picked up Tuesday from the library. She chattered on about how she loved her job and how wonderful Miss Remington was.

He was halfway through his sandwich when she asked about his morning.

“Fine.” He smiled. “Perfect, in fact. Monroe asked me if I wanted to design and build a house for him out on a piece of land near his dad’s place. When I asked what kind of house, he just said it needs to be a one of a kind, like Primrose Hill is. He and Jenny are getting married as soon as the semester’s over. They want to be settled in their new house before the baby comes.”

When Tuesday didn’t ask any questions, he continued. “I talked with the Randall brothers about supplying the lumber, and they’ll let me be in charge.”

“That’s wonderful.”