Mercer nodded.“Thanks to both of you.It was great.”
“I’m so glad you had a good time,” Darcy said.
After they said goodbye to the couple, Darcy waved at Reagan and sat behind the wheel of her car and turned on the engine.
She couldn’t have asked for a better day.
Once she was home, she kicked off her shoes and walked into the kitchen to see what she had on hand to cook for dinner Sunday night.She hadn’t cooked for a guy in her apartment in forever, and she wanted it to be perfect.
A warm, hopeful feeling settled in her chest.
For the first time in a very long time, Darcy felt certain that something good was on the horizon.
Darcy looked at the kitchen table and adjusted the candlesticks.Was it too much?Not enough?
Ah!
She needed to stop fussing.
But she couldn’t help herself.She wanted the dinner with Ford to go well.
They’d texted throughout the day, starting with a good morning text from him that had made her smile so hard her cheeks hurt.She was pretty sure she’d dreamed about him too, because she’d woken up smiling and looking forward to the night ahead.
She smoothed her hands down the front of her dark green slacks and took a step away from the table to look at it.Glancing at her watch, she saw that Ford was due in just ten minutes, so she lit the candles and blew out the match.
Perfect.
Turning from the table, she walked out into the family room to give it a once-over.She had tucked Cruz’s things away as much as she could, and although the one corner looked cluttered, at least they could use the couch and TV if they wanted.
The scent of garlic bread filled the space, mingling with the sauce that simmered on the stove.She was making spaghetti because it was her favorite meal and an easy one to put together.
A door closed and Cruz strode out from the bathroom, adjusting the belt to his uniform.
“Are you sure about this?”he asked.
She rolled her eyes.“You’ve asked me three times.”
“You’ve invited a stranger over when no one else is going to be home.You hardly know him.Why didn’t you suggest a restaurant for a first date?”
She hummed.
Cruz was right.Shedidn’tknow Ford.Heck, they’d only spent a little while together in the park before he’d left to get back to his friends because the shower was about to start.But despite that, she felt like shedidknow him.
“I feel like I’ve known him long enough to make the choice to bring him here.Rhomi’s husband, Mercer, knows him and said he’s a good guy.”
Cruz made a face.“I don’t like it.I can call off, stick around.”
“Absolutely not, you loon.”
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt.You’re all I’ve got.”
She sighed.Even before their parents died, Cruz had been overprotective of her.He’d taken on a lot after their deaths too.It was Cruz and Darcy against the world.And she loved him for it.But tonight she just wanted space from all that smothering, brotherly love.
“I promise I’ll be fine.Now get to work before you’re late.”
He didn’t look convinced.“Just keep your phone close and call me if anything seems off.”
“I will.I love you.”
