He reached out for her hand.“Come on.”
She placed her hand in his and walked with him into the kitchen area, where Carrie normally created her delicious chocolate creations.The overhead lights were out, but there was a soft glow illuminating the room.She walked toward the light and came to a stop.
There were at least a dozen little candles around the room.And off to the side of the kitchen was a little table set up with a red and white gingham tablecloth, a vase with a red rose, two tapered candles sending a warm glow over the table, and two place settings.She blinked to make sure she hadn’t dreamed it.But when she opened her eyes, this romantic setting was still there.
She turned to him.“You did all of this?”
“I’d love to take credit for it, but your friends helped me out.”
She couldn’t say she was surprised.Now that her friends had found the loves of their lives, they wanted the same for her.She wasn’t sure Brad was that for her, but she wouldn’t mind finding out.
The next thing she knew there was a country ballad playing in the background.If he meant to sweep her off her feet, he was doing a good job.
She turned to him.“No one ever did something like this for me.”
“So, you approve?”
She smiled and nodded.“Definitely.”
A timer went off.She watched as he wordlessly moved to one of the ovens.He turned off the timer and opened the oven.
It took a moment for the aroma to reach her nose.She inhaled the scent of tomatoes and oregano.Mm...
She stepped closer.“You made us dinner?”
He placed the hot pizza on the counter.“No.I brought you a deep-dish pizza.”
Her mouth gaped.It took her a moment to gather herself.“You mean this pizza came all the way from Chicago?”When he nodded, she asked, “But how?”
“Lots of dry ice.”
She was deeply touched by his very sweet gesture.She supposed for someone to go so far out of their way for her meant he must have feelings for her too.The thought sent her heart beating faster.
And so, with the music playing in the background, they ate pizza together.They talked about his journey with the pizza and how he’d worried it wouldn’t reach her in one piece.Thankfully, it had, and it was beyond delicious.
And when she thought the evening couldn’t get any better, Brad got to his feet.He held his hand out to her.“May I have this dance?”
She placed her hand in his, and he helped her to her feet.The next thing she knew, she was in his very capable arms.With him holding her close, she inhaled the spicy scent of his cologne.She breathed in deeper, trying to remember it.She wanted to remember every moment of this evening because it felt like a dream.And in her experience, dreams were never repeated.
He was light on his feet as he moved around the small amount of open floor space.She only stepped on his toes a couple of times.She apologized, but he never made a big deal of it.
When the love song came to an end, they stopped dancing, but he didn’t let her go.He stared deep into her eyes.She felt as though she were drowning in his blue eyes.She should say something, but the words wouldn’t come to her.
She should turn away and head back to the table, but her feet refused to cooperate.Apparently, Brad was having the same problem, because he didn’t move either.
His gaze dipped to her lips.Was he going to kiss her?The breath hitched in her lungs as she mentally willed him to do it.
And then he lowered his head.She lifted up on her tiptoes.As his head neared hers, her eyes fluttered shut.And then his lips were pressed to hers.
The rest of the world fell away.Time no longer mattered.It was just the two of them in this blissful moment.
His touch was gentle, and it made her heart feel as though it were going to beat its way out of her chest.She knew in that moment that his kiss was different from anyone else’s.It made her feel things that no one else had ever made her feel.And she doubted anyone would ever make her feel this way again.
When he pulled back, his questioning gaze searched hers.He was looking to see if he’d overstepped.He hadn’t.Not at all.
She leaned forward and hugged him.“Thank you for a perfect evening.”
She wanted to stay right there in his arms, but she didn’t want to make the moment awkward.She reluctantly pulled back and made her way back to the table.The whole time she was aware of how her lips still tingled.He was quite the kisser.She hoped that she’d experience it again.
