Oh God. He wants to see where this goes.
You need to be honest with him, Vienna—about everything.
“But the other reason I haven’t dated is because I hated the idea that Ellis would think I was trying to replace her mom,” Rhonan continues as my thoughts start to spiral.
“You—you were worried that Ellis would think that? Or was that another worst-case thought?”
He drags his free hand over his mouth. “Both, I guess. Moving on is something I’m not familiar with at all, baby.”
He just called me“baby.”
Oh God, I’m so doomed.
“Moving on doesn’t mean we’re forgetting about people, Rhonan. At least I know for me, it helps me remember Lydia even more, like she’s still with me for every decision that I make. Hell, I wouldn’t be here with you if it weren’t for her.”
He nods. “And I’m grateful for that. I just have a hard time believing that everything happens for a reason. I used to, but then…”
“Something bad happened,” I finish for him.
Nodding, he exhales heavily. “But seeing you with my daughter?” He toys with my bottom lip. “It’s making me think maybe the entire reason I haven’t moved on since Sarah is because I was waiting for you.”
“You’re laying it on thick tonight, Rhonan Hart.”
He chuckles as he brushes my hair from my face. “I think you’re the only person who could show me that it’s okay to be happy again. I don’t think I would have believed it if it were anyone else.”
Before I start sobbing in the middle of this restaurant, I crash my mouth into his, kissing him and savoring every second of his touch because I never knew that I could feel this way about another human.
The lack of experience I have in love threatens to disturb my happiness, but every second I spend with Rhonan is rewiring my brain.
I’m such a fool.
I’ve wasted so much time.
No, time is never wasted, Vienna. It’s spent learning lessons and using your newfound knowledge to live with purpose moving forward.
I swirl my tongue against his as we swallow each other’s moans.
“You’d better stop that before I hoist you up on this table and eatyoufor dinner,” Rhonan growls against my lips.
A throat clears behind us.
When we part, we find our waiter and two other servers standing there.
“Your—your meal is ready,” the waiter says, clearly uncomfortable.
Rhonan adjusts himself under the table and I fix my hair as they set our plates in front of us.
Right after they leave, Rhonan mutters, “I think we were just judged really hard by those people.”
My chest shakes with laughter. “I don’t even care.”
He leans over to me and presses one more chaste kiss to my mouth. “Good, me neither.”
After we sample each element of our dishes, Rhonan wipes his mouth. “Okay, so I’ve told you about my past. What about yours?”
“Oh. I, uh…”
“Vienna,” he cuts in. “I want to know. You know about all of my scars—it’s time you show me a few of your own. What made you run off to Blossom Peak?”
