“No way. I think I’m going to burn it.” I slid on a scarlet sweater and decided to go with black jeans and boots. Simple, sophisticated, butflattering.
“Here. This came for you.” Avery handed me a postal box addressed to Zoey Dixon in Edward’s perfect script. Inside I found my purse and a note with a poem I recognized. I slid it into my backpack with the others and put it out of mymind.
“You still going toKevin’s?”
“Yep. I have to help him pick out paper and paint for his house. Did you know he was restoring that historic plantation home off thesquare?”
“I heard that. The man is here to stay, I’d say.” Avery flounced out of the room, and I fussed with my makeup some more. Deep down, I knew she was right about Edward. I understood why we couldn’t tell anyone at the university about our relationship, but something told me he was never going to fully commit to me, and I was tired of the secrets. He made me feel like I was the only person that existed when we were alone together, but when others were around, I was lost and forgotten. Not that I disagreed with how we handled it, but knowing why and living with it were two different things. All I knew for sure was that Kevin was alwaysthere.
After a short drive, I reached Kevin’s a few minutes early. He greeted me at the door. “Come in and sit by the fire while I finish updinner.”
“Can I help with anything?” Iasked.
He took my coat and hung it on a hook near the door. “No, you have a job to do. I have the wallpaper books and paint swatches all over the floor by the fire for you to look through. I’ve put Post-it notes on the ones that I thought I might like. I’d love your opinion,though.”
The kitchen and fireplace near the dining room were warm and cozy. He’d even put up some holiday greenery on the hearth. The two leather chairs were gone, and the molding was taped for painting. Candles lit the room since the ceiling lights weren’t in yet. It was such a romantic scene. Something straight out of a storybook.
I sat on the floor near the fire on a soft, plush area rug and flipped through the wallpaper book. “I like the monochromatic ivory with a shimmer pattern in it. There’s texture, but it isn’t overpowering.” I lifted the book for him tosee.
He put a small wooden spoon to his lips and tasted a vegetable. “That was my favorite for the mainhall.”
“That would be perfect.” I flipped through some more until he brought two plates over and sat next to me. “Here. Sorry, but no table in here yet. I hope to finish up this room nextweek.”
“That’s okay. This is nice. Sort of an indoor Christmas picnic.” I took the plate and could smell the aroma of stir-fried vegetables and steak. “This looksamazing.”
“Almost as amazing as you, friend,” he said in a sexytone.
I balanced my plate on my lap and cut into the steak. One bite filled my mouth with hearty, peppery flavor. “Wow, you’re a goodcook.”
“You sound surprised.” He dug into his own food but turned the wallpaper book around, flipping to anotherpage.
“Maybe a little. Is there anything you can’t do? You help at the center, you restore old homes, get degrees fast, and now you cancook.”
“What can I say? I’m a man of many talents.” He stopped on a page with red, velvet-looking paper. “Do you think this is too much for the powder room on the mainfloor?”
“Maybe a little.” I reached for the book, covering his hand with mine, and I didn’t want to let go. We sat there looking at each other, the firelight glowing, candles flickering. I moved my hand finally, but the edge of the paper sliced my finger. I yanked it away, and a droplet of bloodformed.
He took my hand, pressed his napkin to it, and kissed my knuckles. “Careful.”
My breath got lost somewhere between my lungs and my mouth, as if it was gorilla-glued to myheart.
He analyzed my finger until he noticed there was no more blood oozing from the wound and then allowed me to take thebook.
I bought some time to recover by turning the page. After a full breath, I pointed to the gold-and-sage paper. “What about this? It’s still elegant but notoverboard.”
He waved his fork. “Yes, that’sperfect.”
We spent the next hour choosing colors and paper as if we were working together on our home instead of his. Each opinion I gave mattered, and he valuedit.
He returned the plates to the kitchen and then settled by my side, watching the fire. “Thanks for your help. All these choices were too much for a bachelor like me, and it was holding up the rest of thework.”
“I’m happy tohelp.”
Kevin put his palm to my cheek. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Edward, but all I know is I’m not going to waste my chance again. Zoey Dixon, I’ve had a crush on you since we were in middle school. I’d be late for class so I could catch a glimpse of you before first period. Yes, I dated other women because I was a fool. It took me so long to get the courage to tell you how I feel. And more than anything, I want to kiss you. I’ve waited for years, and I can’t wait anothersecond.”
“Yes,” Iwhispered.
“Yes?”
I looked at his shining silver eyes that showed so much compassion. Felt the roughness of his palm with his soft touch. Smelled his mix of wood and leather. “Kissme.”
