I’m just his chef…
“So, did you want to go to the same place?” he asks as he picks up another slice of pepper.
“Yeah, if that’s okay with you. It’s my favorite place to walk.”
“Good with me. I actually bought you something,” he says before hopping off the stool and walking to the cupboard on the other side of the room.
I watch him go, desperate to know what it is.
He pulls a bag free and then marches over with it.
“I couldn’t decide, so I got a few,” he explains as he passes it over.
I peer inside.
“What on earth?” I laugh as I pull a pack of dog treats free.
“Thought you might attract a few more if you had treats in your pocket,” he says with a shrug, as if his thinking of me and going out of his way to stop at a pet store is a totally normal thing to do.
“I…I don’t know what to say,” I stutter, emotion crawling up my throat at his thoughtfulness.
“They’re just dog treats, Whirlwind.”
“I know,” I mumble. It’s not the treats. It’s the thought. It’s that he was thinking of me and how to make our walks in the park even more enjoyable.
It must have been annoying as hell for him to keep stopping so that I could pet every one that passed us last time. Mostpeople would probably do anything to stop me from doing it again. But not Cole.
He watches me as I fight to keep my emotions in check, a baffled expression on his face.
“Are you okay?”
I force a smile on my lips. “Yeah. All good. Are you ready to head out?”
He picks up the last egg muffin and throws it into his mouth. “Yep, let’s go.”
We abandon the dishes where they are, and grab a couple of cold waters, and head out.
“So, are you driving or am I?” Cole asks once we’re in the elevator.
“All yours.”
“You don’t want to take me for a spin in your new wheels?”
“Maybe I haven’t been driving it,” I tease.
He glances over at me, a knowing look in his eyes.
“Okay, fine. I’ve been driving it, and it’s the nicest car I’ve ever driven. Happy?”
“Incredibly so,” he says quietly.
I duck my head, unwilling to let him see just how much I read into those two words.
“You’re looking good this afternoon, Whirlwind.”
My head snaps up at his compliment.
“Uh…so do you?” I don’t mean for it to come out like a question.
