“This is absolutely breathtaking,” she coos after many long moments of silence. “I can tell why you love it here so much.”
“One of the many reasons.” The view from here never gets old, but a tinge of jealousy buds in my chest, as I can’t help but wish I could see it for the first time again. Yet, I’m so grateful I can share it with her. “I grew up on the top of this same mountain. When I was a kid, I used to imagine that the stars would start to fall, and since I was so close, I’d be able to just reach up and catch one.”
“I can see why. It does feel like we’re right there with them. You’re really lucky to live here.” She turns her head, scanning in all directions, while pulling in a deep inhalation. “The air out here is so clean and crisp. I’m going to miss that too.”
“I’m assuming it’s completely different than what you have in Boston.”
She answers me by squeezing my hands tighter, and I can feel her body slouch even more onto mine, creating a oneness that feels flawless. I would call this perfection. If there is anything I can do to get her to stay, even just a little while longer, I’m going to do it. I’m not the smartest guy on the planet, but I know a woman like Arielle is rare. Chemistry like ours is even rarer. “El,” I rasp over the top of her head when my emotions bubble up so much, I can no longer contain them.
“Yeah.” Her voice is soft and dreamy, like she’s dreaming the things I refuse to let myself dream about. Like how I don’t want her to leave, ever. In my head I see this play out like a movie. She leaves her place in Boston to stay here with me. It doesn’t take me more than a second to make her my entire world, and it’s not more than a month or two before we get married. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a little one on the way this time next year. That’s the life I want so badly, but I don’t dare to tell her that much.
“One thing I’ve learned in life is sometimes you have to take chances.” I stall, take a deep breath, but that inhalation only pulls her sweet scent into my lungs, and it makes my kneesshake. I risk another kiss, just ghosting my lips over the crown of her head, and I pray it’s not the last time I get to do that. Swallowing, I say one mere sentence, but it’s so powerful I feel as if I’m pouring my whole heart out to her, and my heart slams against my chest. “I hope this doesn’t scare you, because we’ve haven’t known each other very long, but I’m falling for you.”
I hold my breath, expecting a long pause and maybe even a little squirming, because I know I can come on strong, but I won’t dance around for what I want. She does nothing of the sort. Instead, she turns around, her head tipped back so she can look all the way up at me, and she says with bold confidence, “I’m falling for you too.”
I wouldn’t believe something like this could happen so fast, but at that moment a seal is created in my heart, locking it off from anyone else but her.
sixteen
Arielle
The next morning, I’m still in a haze of overflowing emotions from my date with Stallone, but I make it to the coffee shop right on time. While flipping the closed sign to open, a royal-blue streak running down the sidewalk catches my attention.
Christian.
In a blue warm-up suit, like the kind that was popular in the eighties.
Not his best look.
Pushing the door open a crack, I call out, “Hey, the eighties called. They want their clothes back.”
“Funny.” He gives me a pointed look and continues to stride forward.
“I told you I don’t need a babysitter.” My lips curl against my will, because even though he’s here to take me home, it’s still good to see him.
His knees rise to a ridiculously high angle as he marches forward until he grabs the door from my hand, pushing his way inside. “I’m not here to babysit you. I did a bunch of phone interviews for the manager’s job. One of them is coming in for a second interview in person today. I think he’s going to work out perfectly.”
Christian’s gangly legs cross over the threshold before I do, and he scans the place. “Graham never came back to work?”
“He’s been coming in for an hour or two in the late mornings to check on things. He says he won’t be returning full time until next week.”
Continuing to make his way back to the coffee bar, Christian’s gaze freezes on my roses, still soaking in the coffeepot. “What’s going on with this decorating monstrosity?”
I quicken my steps and slide in front of the vase, hiding them from his view. “It’s not decorating. They were a gift, and I didn’t have a vase.”
“Oh, no!” He sidesteps, reaching his hand around me, trying to get to the vase, but I push him back with my palm while he rants, “That dirty rotten Tom is not going to have his cursed flowers in my shop—”
“They are not from Tom!” I use both hands to hold him back. “I met someone.”
His body goes stiff, no longer pushing forward while his gaze slides to me, a suspicious gleam sparkling out of the corner of his eye. “Tell me he’s not a giant loser.”
“He’s not a loser at all.” My brows furrow together, and anger bubbles in my gut. I hate Christian treats me like I don’t know how to make my own decisions. “He’s a perfect gentleman, and you met him already.”
“I met him?” he echoes, his hands planting on his hips. “Who are you even talking about?”
“You saw him here. That man who came in with the flannel shirt and beard.”
Christian’s jaw dramatically flops down. “Tell me you’re kidding.”
