"It's less crowded here, but we can still hear the music." Rudy settled his hands on her hips. "And here, you can hear me when I whisper sweet nothings in your ear."
"Sweet nothings, huh?" She slid her arms around his neck. "What do those sound like?"
Rudy pulled her closer and began to slowly sway. He bent his head close to her ear. "I like you, Eden DuPont. I like you a lot."
His warm breath tickled her ear and a shiver of awareness shot through her.
She pulled back a little so she could see his face. "Are we finally havingthe talknow? Here?"
"We can wait and do it later if you want." He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "Maybe under the stars, in the back of my truck." He pressed feather-light kisses to the hollow below her ear.
The thought of stargazing with him turned her insides to jelly and made her knees weak. It was tempting, but probably not a good idea, considering the electricity between them.
"No, this is as good of a time as any." She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. "The problem is, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say."
Rudy tightened his hold on her. "Me either, but I did tell you that I like you a lot. It's customary to tell the person whether you reciproc—"
"I like you too, Rudy. In fact..." She bit her bottom lip again.
"What? Please don't leave me hanging after that kind of declaration."
"I think I'm falling in love with you."
Eden thought the smile he gave her after she dunked him was big, but it was nothing compared to the one that covered his face now.
He lifted her up in his arms and swung her around. "Ditto!"
She pushed against his shoulders, and he released her, his smile fading faster than it had come. "It's not that simple though. Is it?"
He caught her hand before letting her slip away completely. "Love doesn't have to be complicated, Eden."
"Maybe not for most people, but nothing between us has been normal or easy."
"Are you still hung up on thinking God doesn't want us to be together?"
"No. Yes, maybe. I don't know." She used her free hand to flip her hair from one side of her head to the other. "You said it yourself this afternoon, I'm a city girl. Just because I like it here in Providence, that doesn't magically change who I am."
Rudy's posture stiffened as he released her hand. "Are you saying you'll never consider moving to Providence permanently?"
"Not necessarily." She flipped her hair again in an effort to curb the anxiety building in her. Even her stomach churned now. "I love it here, and I love working with Hattie, but..."
"But what?" Rudy's hands now rested on the gun belt at his hips.
"But I'm capable of so much more, Rudy. I'm smart and skilled. I have amazing talents that I've hardly used in over a month."
"The talents you used at Dupont Analytics? I thought you didn't like working for your father?"
"I didn't, but I can do so many other things too." She folded her arms across her chest. "I want to be more than a craft boutique assistant."
She bit her tongue before blurting out that she wanted to be a mother too. And maybe even own her own business.
Thanks a lot, Esmeralda.
She had so many dreams bottled up inside her, she wasn't sure she was ready to choose just one, even if that choice included Rudy. And that thought brought tears to her eyes. She wanted a future with Rudy, but she also wanted so much more.
Despite the near darkness, Rudy must have seen the moisture in her eyes, because he stepped close and pulled her into his arms again. "Hey, I know you're crazy smart and talented." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'm not trying to force you to choose something you don't want to do. I'm not like your dad."
"I want to choose Providence and you, but I worry it won't be enough."
