Incidental Happenstance

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Authors: Kim Desalvo
show, I think,” she said. “We’ll be comparing notes on Tuesday.”
                “That’s right, Memorial Day weekend, huh?”
                “Yeah, my job has some perks too. Summers off, breaks during the year…it’s not a bad gig.”
                Dylan stroked the soft hand that he cradled in his own. It had just felt natural to reach for her, and he was completely comfortable walking with her hand in hand. In his mind, however, he fought to keep his thoughts focused. It wasn’t an easy task. She was pretty amazing, this woman. He’d just met her, but already he was feeling things he hadn’t felt in a long time. He’d dated Hollywood A-listers, top models, sports stars; and none of them had ever had the effect on him that this woman was having in just a few short hours. Maybe that was it. Although he found it hard to believe that his famous girlfriends, the ones who had it all, wanted more from him than this woman he’d picked up in a crappy bar, he thought that it just might be true. He’d been used and abused by celebrities, and he was long past being naïve about the dangers of entering into any sort of relationship. But Tia was so real, and natural, and fun; and she honestly seemed to like him for who he was, not who he was . It elated him and scared the hell out of him at the same time.

 
     
Chapter 6
     
                Tia stiffened when she realized they were approaching the pub. She’d been so wrapped up in Dylan—literally and figuratively—as they talked that she’d paid no attention to where they were going. Once she saw where they were headed she hoped to guide him right past the door, and hoped that no one she knew would come out while she was strolling past. The memorial would be in full swing by now, and she didn’t know how she’d explain her reluctance to join the gathering to either Dylan or her old friends. She tried to keep the conversation light, and to keep him walking, but to her horror, Dylan started heading for the entrance. “Let’s check this place out, then. This is the place you said was pretty decent, right? Paddy’s ?”
                Tia’s knees suddenly went weak and she felt her stomach sink like a rock. She opened her mouth to speak, but found she’d suddenly lost the power of speech. She was powerless as he put a hand on her lower back and eased her toward the entrance. As he opened the door, she croaked out an inaudible “I don’t know…” but by then it was already too late, and she’d have no choice but to face the music. Who was she kidding, anyway? She wasn’t some Hollywood diva who dated guys like Dylan Miller. This was her reality and she couldn’t hide from it; not for long. One night out with a celebrity didn’t change who she was or what she’d been through. Dylan would find out more than he ever wanted to know about her now, and no doubt he’d go running for the hills once he found out the real reason they ran into each other tonight. Who wanted to deal with that kind of baggage? She certainly didn’t want to deal with it, and it was her cross to bear. Her heart started pounding as she stepped into the pub and the familiar sounds and smells of the place wafted over her. Paddy’s had pretty much been her second home for five years, but it had been twelve full months since she’d stepped through its huge wooden doors, and part of her feared that she’d no longer be welcome.
                “Dylan, I…” she began, feeling slightly woozy.
                He turned to look at her and saw that the color had drained out of her face.  “Are you OK?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
                “It’s just that…I know a lot of people here. Probably all of them.”
                “Is that a problem?”
                “Well…I really should explain…”
                But that wasn’t going to happen. They

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