Free A Jar of Hearts by Clarissa Cartharn

asked.
    “Yes,” she mumbled, trying to push herself away from him.
    “Anne?”
    “Yes… yes, fine. I’ll have dinner. Can we just go home now?”
    He narrowed his eyes. She seemed to be fine with him so long as she didn’t have to touch him. And he would never be fine unless he did.
     
     
     

     
     
     
    Julia sat their steaming mugs of coffee on the table in the verandah as Anne listened to Ashley skip about the yard with Harley.
    “He already feels like he’s always belonged here,” Julia said, settling into a chair.
    “He must be beautiful.”
    Julia wrapped her palms around her cup. “So are you really going out for dinner with him?” she asked carefully.
    “Why does it sound so unbelievable?”
    “Probably because you hated him?”
    “I don’t actually hate him, Julia,” Anne let out tiredly. “I guess… I’m just afraid.”
    “Anne.” Julia reached out for her hand. “Why… what are you so afraid of?”
    Anne’s eyes welled with her tears. Unable to restrain them, they flooded out and stained her cheeks. “I’m afraid I will forget…”
    Julia clasped her hand, soothing her. “Everyone loses someone they love, Anne. And I promise you that just because you’ve decided to move on, don’t necessarily mean you will ever forget the memories.”
    Anne covered her face, trying to stifle her tears. But what could she do about the pain spearing through her heart? She could never move on. Especially not with James.

CHAPTER 14

     
     
     
     
     
    She was sitting by his side again as they drove towards his favorite restaurant by the ocean. He glanced at her occasionally, admiring the manner in which her golden curls fell down her shoulders.
    “What is it called? This restaurant?” she asked.
    “Candle by the Sea,” he said.
    Candle by the Sea , he heard her repeat under her breath.
    “You haven’t been there, have you?” he asked. “I was hoping it would be a surprise.”
    “I haven’t,” she replied. “In fact, I haven’t been out much at all in San Diego.”
    He pressed his lips together in thought. “I heard you lived in Boston. Is there a reason you moved?” She wasn’t sick, was she?
    “I just got tired of Boston, that’s all,” she replied nonchalantly.
    She didn’t want to talk about Boston, he frowned.
    “Are we almost there yet?” she asked again.
    “Uh… yes, in five minutes.”
     
     
     
    Dinner wasn’t at all what he had expected. She had been quiet through most of their meal. And even though he had tried to banter with her, she remained withdrawn, answering in short syllables.
    “Do you want to take a walk down the pier?” he asked as they stepped outside the restaurant.
    “Do you?”
    She didn’t care, he thought. She was here with him because she felt obliged. But as long as she gave him that chance, he would take it.
    “The sky is clear of any clouds and filled with a mass of stars. And the ocean is steady and relatively calm. It would be a pity to miss any of this,” he said softly.
    “Then we shouldn’t,” she breathed out.
    He put her hand on the crook of his arm and led her towards the pier.
    “James,” she whispered.
    “Hmmm?”
    “Why did you want to have dinner with me?”
    “What do you mean why? You’re a beautiful woman and I wanted to see if I could inch into your good books.”
    “I’m blind,” she muttered.
    She stepped away from him to put some distance between them. But he followed, nearing her, eager to hold her again.
    “And so am I,” he whispered back. “I’m blind to the fact that you are.”
    She bumped against the railings, trapping herself between it and him. “James...”
    He reached out for her face, cupping it in his hand.  He brushed her jawline with the pad of his thumb, caressing it. “What does it matter, Anne? Why can’t I like you for who you are?”
    “James, please…,” she pleaded between her tears.
    He pressed his brow gently against hers, his breath mingling with hers. “You drive me