I cleared my throat and whispered into her ear. “But in all fairness, I think I should warn you.” She shivered, her face inches from mine. “If you let me in, I’m wanting more than the word friend with you.”
Her eyes shot up to mine, and she pushed hair behind her ear and blushed. “In that case, come on in.” She turned, walking farther into the house.
It took all the restraint I possessed not to scoop her up in my arms and kiss her right there. What was this madness that consumed me?
Take it easy, I reminded my heart and mind.
“So help me, if you are only here for cookies and you hurt Faith, I will slash your tires. Mkay…” Rose’s dark brown eyes and raised brows met mine from down the hall, and she left no room for argument.
“Rose…” Faith groaned and leaned away from me. “Stop. Please.”
Rose stood her ground. It was clear she wouldn’t be moving until I gave her an answer.
“Consider my tires warned.” I nodded in agreement, and Rose lost her sharp edge as she turned and disappeared down the hall.
“But…I mean, have you tried her cookies?”
Rose whipped around and glared at me. I couldn’t hold back my laugh.
She shook her head and turned back around. “Christmas movie is starting.”
We followed Rose into the kitchen and living room, and a plate of gingerbread cookies was placed on the island counter. I looked at Faith with raised eyebrows and pointed to the plate. “Can I?”
She chuckled. “Oh, just grab some.”
“Yes!” I fist-pumped and went to the plate. “Want me to grab some for you guys too?” I picked up three cookies.
“Oh, I’m good, thanks.” Faith waved off the cookie. “And Rose has sworn she won’t eat any more of my treats till after Christmas.”
I stared at Rose in horror. “Why would you do that?”
She rolled her eyes. “Look, not all of us are built like Superman. If I ate all the cookies I wanted all the time, I would need life support getting off this couch.”
I shrugged and kept all three cookies for myself. “More for me.”
I was glad that Rose had taken the far side of the couch, leaving space for me to sit by Faith. I wasn’t sure if Rose would make me pass some tribal friend tests first.
Faith sat in the middle of the couch. She held up the gray plush blanket and gestured for me to come sit beside her. I all but ran to her.
Chill out.
I forced my steps to seem normal.
I sat next to her, and I mean right next to her.
Dating as an adult in my thirties was not something I was exactly skilled at. Not that we were dating, per se…
But it was the first time I had wanted to spend time (almost) alone with a woman, and whenever I left her I wanted to see her more, wanted to know her more. I’d been on several dates since the divorce to appease Mom or someone else, but with all of them I couldn’t wait until I could leave.
Maybe I had finally been single long enough to work through it, or maybe it was Faith.
Her blue eyes glanced up at me, with a soft smile. I put my arm along the top of the couch, and Faith leaned into my side, her head resting on my chest. I had to fight the urge to flex my chest muscles.
Faith looked up. “You have some crumbs.” She brushed her finger along the bottom of my lip.
My stomach tightened, my pulse raced, and I lost all coherent thought. I tried to form words, but I couldn’t make sense of anything. I replayed the feeling of her smooth finger tracing my lip over and over.
“Sorry, what?” I blinked rapidly.
