Treasured

An hour or so later, the front door of the mountain shop opened again.  The hum of female voices noticeably diminished when a solitary male entered the shop.  Annie gazed in the direction of the silence and then caught the edge of the nearest counter to steady her.  She shut her eyes and opened them quickly, hoping the man in of front her was a mirage.  Surely lightening cannot strike twice in anyone’s life, Annie thought desperately.

            Lisa audibly gasped. "My, God!  He looks just like your dead fiancé, Jackson, in the pictures you showed me.”

            Annie winced.

            Lisa carelessly continued. “I remember you mentioning that he had a twin brother.  Wow!  What a hottie!  Why don’t I help the customers, and you can help HIM,” she gaped, a flurry of red curls trailing her to a far corner of the shop.

            Annie remained speechless.

            “Annie Lundquist?” 

            Was she mistaken or did her heart skip a beat under the stranger’s intense stare?  Annie cursed the delicious shiver it caused to slide down her spine.  Bottomless dark eyes searched hers for an acknowledgment.

            Annie weakly nodded a response, not trusting herself to speak.  His resonant voice had turned her knees to jello.  Where had he come from?  How had he found her of all people?  Willfully pulling herself together, she uttered, "I'll be with you as soon as I've finished with these ladies."

            “Take your time.  I'm not in any hurry,” he responded evenly.