Me two years ago would’ve outright panicked. Me tonight apologizes, feels the embarrassment on my cheeks, and then happily continues my story when the tablecloth soaks up the water and Grant slides the empty bread bowl on top of it.
For a man I thought was uptight, he’s so relaxed. AndI’mrelaxed with him. I’ve long since forgotten to be nervous or worry about how he perceives me. I’m sharing myself and gobbling up whatever he shares with me.
“Enough about my classes. They’re all fine. Tell me about you. How’s work? How are the girls? How’s your family?”
Amazingly, we’re waiting on dessert by the time I askthis. We’ve talked nonstop, but it’s only now we’re getting around to these kinds of catching-up questions.
“Everything’s good. Well, except maybe that each of my siblings is giving me heartburn. My parents and the girls are good, though.” His brows drop, the pad of his finger tracing along the line of the table in front of him. “Actually, work is frustrating. Lots of dead ends on a few cases and we’re getting stonewalled from the county on more than one funding channel, but otherwise, fine. It was Jean’s birthday on Friday, so we got her a cake.”
He flashes his brows and I’m not sure why, but it makes me think,I think I love him.
That would be insane, though, right? I can’t possibly be in love with someone I’ve only known a few months.
I swallow hard but cover it with a grin. “How fun.”
It just doesn’t make sense. I can’t be.
Can I?
CHAPTER FORTY
Grant
Sam’s expression shifts and I can’t tell why. Before I can ask, the waiter brings our dessert.
“Cookies and cream cheesecake with, of course, our own dairy products and cookies from Honey Bun in town. Enjoy.” He bows and leaves.
It’s a little much because it’s not quite fine dining here, but the guy has pride in his work, and I can appreciate that.
“What is it?”
Her gaze shifts to me and she shoves a bite of the cheesecake in her mouth.
“Did you really just do that?” I chuckle at her blatant evasion, then get hung up when she licks her lips and hums with pleasure.
Heat and longing snap through me and I straighten in my seat. “Seriously, what’s wrong?”
“There is nothing wrong now that you’re here,” she says, gazing at the cheesecake.
This earns a loud laugh, which brings out her smile again.
“I’m good. I swear. And you have to try this.”
We’ve kissed a handful of times now and a few of them have been fairly heated, so sharing her fork shouldn’t get to me, but it does. Everything about her does, and every step we take together hits me all the more.
I’m not huge on desserts, but I don’t miss the opportunity to take her fork, which she’s already loaded with a bite. We’re just a tad too far apart for her to feed it to me. And yes, normally if I saw a couple feeding each other across a table, I’d roll my eyes to say the least. But it sounds like a great idea with Sam.
The sweet, tangy flavor is fresh, the texture perfect, and it’s a decadent bite I thoroughly enjoy. I go back for another before passing her fork back to her, and only then do I notice the dazed look on her face.
My gut clenches and I’m more than ready to be alone with this woman. I have no designs other than time and whatever she wants to give. Anything she wants from me is hers.
“Ready—”
“Yes.”
Extra tip for the waiter, who’s tuned into us enough to bring the check and get us out of there in record time.
My fingers lace with Sam’s and even this contact sends a flare of pure wanting through me. By the time we reach my car, it feels like time has slowed and we’ve got far too many miles to travel before I have her to myself the way I need.
