“Why would that be?”
“Your words are too potent.”
“Do you need sugar and creamer to help them go down more smoothly?”
“Maybe.” I smile up at him for remembering my coffee preference.
It’s a small thing. But to me, it’s not.
He leans in and brushes his lips across mine. “There. Some sugar.”
He smells like coffee and clean linen. I want to snuggle up in his arms and spend the morning wrapped in his embrace.
He smiles and then he laughs at himself. “That line was so corny.”
“I kind of liked it.” I grab his free hand and give it a squeeze.
“You make me into someone I barely recognize,” he says.
“I recognize you.”
“That’s all that matters.”
This tingling warmth starts in my head and sort of trickles down until I feel like I could float up the stairs. I don’t know how he does that—just says things like that, so bluntly and absolutely devastatingly sweet.
“Speaking of coffee …” He smiles, taking a sip of his. “Have you had yours yet?”
“No.”
He glances at his wrist as if checking a watch. “You’ve been up this long without coffee?”
“I wanted you to make it for me,” I confess.
“Gladly.” He drops my hand and holds the front door open. “So, how long do I have you for?”
“I pick Mia up at two. Mom’s out running errands. I told her I had plans.”
“And she settled for that?” He walks into the kitchen and points to a stool indicating I should take a seat.
“No. Not at all. She poked and teased. Asking if I was seeing myfriend.”
“Mm hmm. Moms always know.”
“She doesn’t know it’s you. But she knows something’s up. She literally told me, ‘You have no friends. Who is this friend?’”
“You just moved here. I give you a month longer and you’re going to be swarmed with friends.” He pulls a mug down and pops a pod in his coffee maker. “People can’t resist you.”
“Speak for yourself,” I say.
“Fine. I can’t resist you.” He walks over shamelessly and pulls me into an embrace, then he kisses me soft and slow.
“I’m so glad I brushed my teeth,” I say, giggling when we pull apart.
“Not as glad as I am,” he says with a wink.
“I’ve got an invite to book club,” I tell him.
It meant the world to me that the wives and girlfriends of my crew and their friends are including me.
