Page 35 of Deserving Lara
“Yeah?”
“Kiss him. Owl is head over heels for you. I’ve never seen anyone so protective of someone else before. And before you say that being protective isn’t an indication that he likes you as more than a friend—you’re wrong. It’s thebestindicator. Eric doesn’t have a temper, but all it takes is for someone to say one derogatory word about me or my job to get him riled up on my behalf. You won’t find a better man for you than Owl.”
Lara was very glad she’d decided to eat lunch with these women today. “I will,” she blurted.
“When?” Cora demanded.
“I don’t know. When the time seems right.”
“The time will never seem right,” Jess argued. “I mean, in the middle of the woods against a tree probably wasn’t the best timing, but it worked out.”
“So, what, you think I should just walk into the lodge and plant one on him?” Lara asked sarcastically.
“Yes!”
“I’d pay to see that!”
“Absolutely!”
Lara laughed at her friends. “Whatever.”
Cora squeezed Lara’s hand that she was still holding. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Don’t be happy yet. He might not want to change things up between us,” Lara said.
“He does. He will,” Cora said confidently.
“On that note, I need to go out front and relieve Brick from the desk. He doesn’t love being there,” Alaska said.
“And you do,” Henley said with a smile.
“I do,” she agreed. “I know, I’m weird.”
“We all are,” Reese said with a shrug.
As if Alaska’s leaving was a signal, the others all got up to put their dishes away and head out themselves, until it was just Cora and Lara left in the kitchen.
“Do you really think he likes me…that way?” Lara couldn’t help but ask.
Cora grabbed her hand again. “Do you really think I’d be encouraging you to open yourself up to Owl if I didn’t think down to my toes that he would be receptive?”
“Well, no.”
“Then there you go. I’ve watchedCinderellawith you how many times? A hundred? A thousand?”
“It hasn’t been that many times,” Lara protested, even though she knew it was probably somewhere between those two numbers.
“He’s your Prince Charming. Not rich, but you don’t need money. Not from a royal background, but I have a feeling that would be a pain in the ass. He’s struggled and suffered…so he knows what you’ve experienced.”
Lara blinked in surprise. Cora didn’t know what Owl had told her, but she was so on the money with that comment, it was almost scary.
“He’s your match, Lara. You’ve been looking for him your whole life. You’ve had some bumps in the road along the way, but you did it. You found him. Now you just have to find the courage to reach for what you want. And…I think I need to say it.Hold on. For all you’re worth. Don’t let go, no matter what.”
“What if he wants me to?” Lara couldn’t help but ask.
“He won’t.”
“How can you be so sure?”
