A slow smile spread over her face.
"What do you say we grab some dinner, then head home?" I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"That sounds perfect."
At the door, I helped her put on her coat. Then we headed into the cold night. It was the first time that we'd been out by ourselves, without Ayla as a buffer. I could touch and kiss her whenever I wanted. It was a heady feeling.
I didn't want to drive anywhere unless it was home, so we went to the only restaurant that was a little nicer in Christmas Town, the one inside the inn.
The hostess gave us a seat by the window that faced the street. The lampposts were lined with lights and wreaths. The Christmas decorations were up year-round here, which was good because I wasn't ready to let the holiday season go.
It had brought us together, and I didn't want to lose the magic. There was something about the season that gave me hope for a future with her.
We ordered, and the waiter took our menus.
"I still can't believe you reenacted the photo shoot."
Her lips quirked. "I'm glad you liked it."
"I'm never going to forget it. Maybe we can schedule another date there, and you can model the products for me. I can help you decide what to sell in the store," I teased, not expecting her to agree.
"I do need to make decisions about the spring line. Maybe you could help me decide what patterns and fabrics to stock."
"Are you serious?" I asked, not quite believing her.
She touched the rim of the water glass. "You'd be helping me."
My mouth was suddenly dry. All I could think about was her leaving that dressing room and walking toward me in stilettos, a tiny thong, and a see-through bra. "I would love to assist you with that."
Her cheeks flushed. "I've never felt this way with anyone. So free."
"That's a good thing, though, right?" My voice was gravelly.
She nodded. "It's a very good thing."
Right now, it didn't feel like anything could burst our little bubble. I was feeling high from the photo shoot, and excited about what we'd do tonight in an actual bed. Then there was Ayla, who I was becoming closer to each day. "Right now, I feel lucky."
Her lips quirked. "That my pipe burst?"
I chuckled. "Not that. But that we spent more time together and realized what we had."
"It was unexpected."
"But very much appreciated." I reached across the table and flipped my hand over so that it was palm up.
Her gaze flickered from my outstretched hand to me. Then she carefully placed her hand in mine. I wrapped my hand around hers, feeling the warmth of her skin. A tingle shot from our joined hands to my heart, and then it contracted. There was something about this woman. I thought she was the one for me.
But I didn't want to share my thoughts and feelings with her yet. We were still new, and she was gun-shy about dating, especially because of Ayla. She wanted to protect her, and she'd been burned in the past.
The server brought bread to the table, and I removed my hand from Angela's.
She looked out the window. "It's nice to be out. I can't remember the last time I ate anywhere besides the diner or take-out pizza."
"I'll take you out all the time," I vowed, wanting her to feel special.
Her brow furrowed. "This is— What I mean is— What are we doing? Are we seeing each other? Hooking up?"
I winced at her word choice. "We're seeing each other. Dating. Not hooking up. That sounds cheap compared to what we shared."
