“You won’t regret this. Take a seat in the corner booth. I’ll grab you some hot chocolate then get our food.”
Mikey shuffles over to the booth and slides in, immediately looking out the window and watching the rain run in tracks down the glass.
I watch her for too long, in disbelief she’sheresitting inmycafé. Fate was really looking out for me today.
When I shake myself free from staring at her, I get to work on her drink. I take extra care in mixing the chocolate and milk, adding a chocolate syrup heart on top of the whip cream before I deliver it to her.
She takes a tentative sip, my gaze tracking the way her tongue swipes away the leftover whip cream on her upper lip. My stomach clenches with arousal when a small hum of delight vibrates in her throat.
I want her so badly it hurts.
“Good?” My voice comes out husky, and satisfaction rolls through me as she nods. “Good. I’ll be right back.”
I practically sprint to the kitchen, trying to put a bit of space between us before I do something stupid like ask her if I can lick whip cream off her lips.
Ruby’s still in the kitchen, carefully assembling the very meal I was coming in here to make.
“How the hell did you convince her to come back with you? Am I finally getting a sister-in-law?” Ruby’s dark blonde eyebrows bounce as she lays the crispy prosciutto on top of the caesar salad mix.
I groan, washing my hands at the designated sink. “I messed up Slater’s instructions and completely broke the van. Instead of just fixing a screw, they have to replace a few parts, and one of them won’t get there until Tuesday, so she offered to drive me home.”
Ruby cackles. “Oh, Saint. You’re in so much deeper than I thought. You barely know her, and she’s driving you home? What will you do if she doesn’t feel the same way? You can’t will someone into loving you.”
She’s right. I can’t force Mikey’s feelings to be something they’re not, but I’m still hopeful she can feel the way I do. “I don’tknow how to explain this feeling, Ruby. I know it sounds like I’ve lost my mind?—”
“You’ve been purposely breaking your vehicle for a year just to see her! Tell me how youhaven’tlost your mind.”
“I haven’t, I swear! We have a connection. Something waiting to surface and bloom. She’s gone through a lot, Rubes. I think she’s guarding her heart with a million walls, but… I think she wants to let me in. She’s been opening up to me. I’m so close, I can taste it.”
Ruby’s eyes soften. She knows how long I’ve waited to find someone I’ve felt this type of connection with. She knows how deeply I want the kind of love Mom talked about. She’s watched me pair people up year after year, hoping to find a match of my own, only to be disappointed.
“I’m worried about your heart, S. But… I haven’t seen you this excited about someone in… ever. So tell me how to help.”
“Just give me the sandwiches and hope the way to her heart is through her stomach like you said.” I grin, nodding at the plate.
Ruby shakes her head but cuts them in half and slides me the plates. “Go get her, then.”
10
While Saint is grabbing food—how fucking embarrassing of my stomach to grumble like that again—I check the weather. According to the National Weather Service, the rain is supposed to stop in an hour.
I let out a breath of relief that I won’t have to call in tomorrow and?—
My phone buzzes, and Merv’s contact flashes on my screen. “Hello?” I don’t expect an answer because Merv is a frequent butt-dialer.
“Mikey, tell me you and your baker are safely in Cupid’s Cove,” Merv grunts.
“Yes. We got here about twenty minutes ago, why?”
“Just got a weather alert. The pass isn’t safe to drive through because of the rain, and I forbid you from driving home when the roads are wet and it’s dark. Looks like you’re trapped there for the night, girlie. I’ll see ya Monday. Enjoy your weekend!” Before I can respond, the line goes dead.
Sure enough, a weather alert pops up on my phone. Well… I guess I should have listened to Merv. Maybe he’s not as crazy as I thought if he was able to predict this.
I have spare coveralls and a change of clothes in case of an emergency at work, but I don’t have toiletries or even spare underwear. I could fork out the money for a room at the motel we passed. What was it called? Sweetheart something.
I look up lodging around Cupid’s Cove and frown when every place says there’s no availability.
“All right, Mikey, here’s your—what’s wrong?” Saint’s voice pulls my attention from my phone, and the aroma of whatever he’s brought makes my stomach rumble again.
