Chapter 2: Undeniable.
Lucas sat in his office, paperwork spread around the desk in front of him. It had been almost a week since Fiona had ended up in his arms at the train station. The knowledge that she stayed even in part because of him had him feeling like he was walking on air all day long ever since.
They had seen each other often this week. Daily in fact. Sometimes it was planned like meeting for a sarsaparilla after work but mostly they just ran into each other as if the town itself was a matchmaker. While officially still just friends, there was undeniably more between them than simple friendship.
On this particular day, he was trying to think of a way to spend a little extra time with her. Oh he was supposed to he working through more research and details for the national park project but all he could think of was her, her laugh, her smile. So rather than paperwork, he decided on a haircut.
He took at look at his reflection in the mirror. It was fairly obvious he didn't need a haircut. Truthfully, it had only been a few weeks since his last but he had heard that she was running Nichols and Dimes again and it would be a great way to see her.
Mei had been more than happy to return the keys and work of the barber shop back to Fiona's capable hands. Fiona enjoyed catching up with the townspeople as they stopped in. She was constantly reminded why she had chosen to live in Hope Valley all those years ago and why she had stayed again just last week. This town, the people, it was truly something special. Well that was part of the reason she stayed. The part that she was willing to tell her customers when they asked. But the biggest part of her reason for staying was also the reason she had been mindlessly sweeping the same spot on the floor for the last few minutes with a silly grin on her face.
Lucas. Just thinking of him made butterflies dance inside her. Though normally self assured and well spoken, she often found herself a little tongue tied in his presence and she couldn't help but notice she had the same effect on him. Especially right now as they stood right on the edge of something new and deep and true. Whatever this was between them, it made her happy to the point of distraction.
And distracted she was because the jingle of the little bell over the door made her jump. Looking up, she felt her cheeks flush. It was him.
Lucas stood at the doorway of the barber shop. It was clear he had startled Fiona and now, as she looked at him, her cheeks were turning the most becoming shade of pink.
"Do you have time for me?" he finally asked.
"For you?" Somehow in her flustered state, Fiona couldn't make sense of his question. She stood there, broom in hand, unmoving.
"For a haircut? Maybe a trim for my beard?" he clarified, running his hand over his cheek.
"Oh! Yes, of course. Right. Yes!" Just how many words did it take to reply, she questioned, inwardly cringing at herself.
Fiona gestured to an open chair and Lucas unbuttoned his suit coat to hang it on the rack by the door before making his way over. Fiona turned her back to him, trying to settle her nerves. She had cut hair for years. She had even cut his hair before. But this time surely felt different. Subtly, she locked the door and flipped the sign to closed. It would be nice to have a few minutes alone together, a rare treat indeed.
Fiona took a deep breath, picked up a cape, and made her way over to Lucas. In one smooth motion, she draped the cape around his shoulders. Her hands rested there and she looked up and met his gaze in the mirror. They both smiled. Finally she looked down at his hair. It pretty obvious he was not in need of a cut, she smirked to herself and got to work.
As she snipped and combed, they relaxed into easy conversation. Mostly it was small talk, commenting on their day and the weather. After years of working together and knowing each other, they had a level of comfort for this kind of chatting and companionship. But the recent addition of romantic feelings now made them overly aware of the closeness they shared and every moment they spent together.
His very minimal haircut complete, Fiona moved around toward the front of the chair to begin trimming his beard. As she did, her apron caught, tripping her up, and before she could catch herself she had fallen right into Lucas's lap. The fall made her gasp and tense up but the realization that she was wrapped in his arms, face to face with this man made her sigh and relax.
With both arms around her, Lucas held on to Fiona. Of course it was partly that he didn't want her to fall but mostly, he was enjoying this little incident. At first he thought she would pull away and stand up quickly but it seemed she was just as entranced. Lucas gently pulled her a little closer, his eyes never leaving hers.
Fiona knew she didn't want this moment to end. It was then she realized she too was holding onto him. They were so close but she leaned in a little closer still and glanced down at his lips, wanting to be sure they were on the same page.
Lucas read her like a book. He already knew he wanted to kiss her but now he was confident she wanted the same. Keeping one arm around her, he moved the other to gently bring her lips to his when there was suddenly a loud knock at the door and someone trying the handle.
Fiona sprang to her feet, smoothed her skirt and fixed her apron ties. She moved toward the door but didn't open it, thankful the blinds were already pulled to block out the hot afternoon sun.
"Who is it?" she asked in what she hoped sounded like her usual voice. Lucas snickered at her.
"It's Nathan. I was just hoping for a haircut. Aren't you usually open now?"
"Just a minute." She called in an unusually perky tone. Fiona gestured to Lucas to sneak out the other door and avoid any explanation of their private haircut session. He quickly got up and tossed his cape aside.
Slipping past her, he quietly said "So just how often do you think I could get a hair cut without it being too suspicious?" Fiona blushed in response. With a wink, he was gone.
Opening the door, she welcomed Nathan in just as Lucas stepped out from around the side of the building. "Lucas? What were you doing back there?" And suddenly, it dawned on the Mountie. This investigation was over before it began. With an exaggerated goofy, teasing grin he glanced back and forth between Lucas who was still standing right where he'd been caught and Fiona who had been desperately trying to get him in the door before he noticed Lucas's escape. "Oooh! I see! You two eh? Well I can always come back another time if you'd like."
Lucas laughed and waved him on, and then began to cross the gravel street. Fiona continued to blush and attempted to move things along.
"The Governor was just getting a haircut. That's it. Just a haircut. Have to keep up appearances and all." She was babbling again and she knew it. Certainly this well trained Mountie had spotted the truth.
"Yes, the governor, very important that he's looking his best." Nathan took on a mock serious voice.
"Do you want a haircut or not?" Fiona finally gave up and laughed. At least Nathan was a good sport about it. Imagine being caught by Florence!
Lucas wandered back to his office, unable to wipe the grin off his face. He'd never felt sparks fly quite like that before. Something about Fiona left his head spinning in the best way. Until they were interrupted. At least it was Nathan. He might enjoy teasing them but he wasn't one to spread around stories and he seemed happy for them.
Sitting behind his desk, Lucas picked up his pen but then set it back down and leaned back in his chair. Might as well just call this day a write off. His mind was anywhere but on his work. Instead he allowed himself a little time to think about Fiona, life, the past, the future. His mind wandered back over the past year.
It had been almost a year since his engagement to Elizabeth ended. While it had been hard for a time, he had grown. He had learned a few things about himself and about love. It wasn't how anyone would choose to gain this knowledge but maybe it was the only way. Ultimately, seeing Nathan and Elizabeth join their families, he knew that it was good and that there was good out there for him too. Maybe just across the street. He was smiling again. That seemed to happen a lot lately.
That also meant it was heading for a year since the night of the election when celebrating so quickly turned to crisis. Lying in the street in the rain, before unconsciousness mercifully allowed him rest, he was sure this was where his story would end. But here he was, healed and recovered. His assailant and her accomplice behind bars. The discovery just a few weeks ago that Jeanette had played any role in his shooting had also come as a shock. Lucas felt a greater thankfulness for his law-abiding life and the second chance he had been given to live it. His path could have looked like hers but instead he was trusted with the position of governor.
In fact, he was nearly a year into his term as governor. It was another growing experience. He was constantly mindful of the honor and the depth of responsibility that collided in such a title. He had had so little time to really consider what it would be like to serve as governor before allowing his name to be in the ballot but he still felt it could be his purpose in life. The good he could accomplish, the lives he could better. He had often struggled with the feeling of wanting to do more and this position gave him that chance. Despite a rollercoaster first year and the ongoing lack of support from some newspapers, he felt more confident than ever that he was right where he was supposed to be.
Well, metaphorically. Right now, the pressure was on for him to relocate permanently to Capitol City. He had always known that he had to base out of the city. It was no surprise. It had only been put off because of the shooting and the now failed resort project. His GV they called it. Well he wasn't feeling very grand now. Maybe this was another lesson to learn and Lucas did want to learn, to grow.
With his time in Hope Valley running short, the irony of wanting Fiona to stay just a week ago when he was getting ready to leave himself weighed heavy on him. Did this put him back in a similar place as last year? After all, it was the impending move that had pushed Elizabeth to really look at her heart. He assumed that was the catalyst at least. Would Fiona end their fledgling relationship before it had even got off the ground over the long distance that would soon separate them?
This was one topic they hadn't touched over the last couple weeks of reconnecting. Maybe she hadn't heard of his imminent travel plans. Maybe she just didn't care. No that wasn't it. He'd seen the look in her eyes today, felt the warmth in her hug at the train station when she decided to stay.
Then he has his answer. He would make the most of the time they had and hope it would be enough to see them through even when miles separated them. His train ticket was already booked for next weekend. He had one more week in Hope Valley. One more week of seeing Fiona every day. One more week.
Suddenly feeling the urgency of that timeline, he stood up and walked straight back over to the barber shop. It was just about the time that she would be closing. Maybe he could catch her.
Fiona was just about to lock up when she saw Lucas coming across the street. He seemed to be heading her way and that made her smile. She opened the door just as he was getting to it.
"I think it might be a little too soon for another haircut, Governor," she said with a flirty smile.
Lucas laughed. "Actually I'm here for another purpose. May I come in?"
"You may." Fiona answered playfully and, after looking up and down the street she closed the door and once again locked it behind them.
"Fiona, I was wondering if you would have dinner with me tomorrow evening." Lucas blurted out the words, not wanting to lose the courage or risk another interruption.
"Like a date?" she asked, feeling breathless.
"A date," he replied, his voice soft but confident. He smiled and reached for her hand.
"Yes. I'd love that." Fiona was entirely lost in his eyes. She interlaced her fingers with his.
Lucas stepped closer to Fiona, closing the space between them. He slid one arm around her waist to hold her close and whispered, "Oh and I didn't get a chance to do this earlier before we were interrupted." And with that he leaned in and placed a gentle yet lingering kiss on her lips.