His hand passed over hers as he gave her the money. Their fingers overlapping for the briefest of moments, but igniting and fueling a years worth of yearning in him. Even though it was a slight exchange the lingering feeling of the softness of her skin caused him to falter as he pulled his hand away. He clenched the bag holding his new to him antique collectors box and for a moment, just an infinitesimal second he thought he recognized the same light in her eyes that he felt in his heart.

Max wasn’t sure why he mulled over the feeling and poured so much energy replaying the moment in his mind. But the touch, ever so slight as it was, felt intoxicating.

He knew Sandra only in passing. They talked often, their conversations may not have only been surface level; however, they never quite passed into an understanding of one another more than to hardly even be called acquaintances. It didn’t matter, Max felt drawn to her. He wasn’t sure if it was her zest for life, her irritatingly infectious sarcasm, her beauty, or the mystery of not knowing more about her, but he wanted her. All of her. He’d felt this way for months and never had the courage to admit it, although he made a point to come to her shop and purchase something, even if he didn’t need anything, just to get the chance to talk with her and waste a few minutes.

Max had never seen this light in her eyes until today, however. As he turned out of the antique shop, passing old war memorabilia piled on an isles end cap on his left and a glass case of trading cards on his right and reached for the door with black tint crawling from the corners he heard something. ‘I wish he would finally just ask me for my number or to meet outside of my shop…’ Max stopped as his hand grasped the handle of the door, already starting to pull the door a mere few inches. He screwed up his face in confusion, looking back, ‘play it cool, there’s no way she actually just said that out loud’ … and he was right, he knew from seeing her at the other end of the shop he couldn’t hear her as clearly as he just had in his head. He heard her thought as a whisper, but it was as crisp and clear as if he were wearing noise canceling headphones talking to her on the phone. She looked at him as he looked back, a slight blush in her tanned cheeks that might not be noticed by a stranger but Max could recognize the difference from a mile away.

He let go of the door, fingers sweating so much he wasn’t sure if it slipped from his grasp or he truly meant to let go, the door chimed as it shut. Inhaling deeply, Max stood a little straighter as he walked back towards Sandra’s counter.

“You know, Sandra, I’ve been buying cards here for awhile and I never really have actually used any of them. I just love to hear about your favorite one of the day. The way they make your eyes light up, how you get so excited your words run together and when you almost bounce with each step. I would love to actually learn how to play though, if you wouldn’t mind teaching me?”

“You’re kidding! You’ve spent way too much money on these cards to not even know how to play! I would love to teach you. But I’m warning you, I won’t take it easy even if you are new.” She said with a mischievous grin growing on her delicate lips.

“That’s fine with me, I love a good challenge, and would like even more if that means I get to spend some time with you outside of your store… not that it isn’t a nice store!” Max blurted out, starting to lose his bravado as he talked.

Sandra giggled, the skin around her eyes growing tighter as her smile widened and she teased, “Sir, I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave if you are going to insult my life’s work now!”

“But of course, ma’am, I must insist on getting the owners number first before leaving. So I can leave a formal complaint, of course.” He said, eyebrows furrowing in the facade of a stern face.

“Of course, sir.” She replied, winking as she ripped a piece of paper out from a nearby notepad. She grabbed a burgundy pen from a cup covered in stickers next to the cash register. She slid the paper over the counter and Max reached out, smile burning his cheeks as their fingers touched again. They both lingered intentionally this time, Max put his thumb over the paper into her palm and clasped the rest of his fingers behind the back of her hand and she closed her fingers around his for a moment, her thumb rubbing the back of his as he slowly pulled the sheet away. Their gazes met, slow heart-pounding seconds passed before they said their goodbyes and Max walked away. He vowed to himself to never be afraid to speak his mind again, afraid of how much time he may have lost in not saying something to her sooner, but grateful for that momentary glimpse into Sandra’s thoughts.