And I’m suddenly grateful Grandpa suggested that I dress up. Because standing in front of her now, I look like the one who didn’t try hard enough.
A burgundy dress stops just below her knees, hugging every single curve along the way, and I remind myself this dinner isn’t about dragging her upstairs first chance I get. The thin straps leave her shoulders exposed and her hair rests on them in soft waves. The pendant of the gold necklace I bought her on our second anniversary rests at the hollow of her throat, and the way her pulse drums there tells me she may be a little anxious, too.
“You look nice, too,” she says, and I tear my eyes away from the length of her legs to meet her gaze.
Her heels click across the marble of the foyer until she slips them off, and I take note of how the black polish on her toes matches her fingernails.
“I brought wine.” She holds up a bottle, and I smile at the gesture.
“Perfect. That’s the one thing I forgot.”
A soft laugh rolls off her lips, and I’m caught off guard when she latches onto my arm as we head toward the kitchen. It’s a soft gesture I wasn’t expecting, but it’s definitely one I appreciate.
The oven timer goes off, but I pull out Blue’s chair and get her seated before grabbing an oven mitt. I feel her eyes on me as I take the rolls out and set them on the counter. Grandpa was adamant about letting them cool before serving them, so I pop the cork on the wine first.
Blue watches intently as I pour us both a glass, making a note that she sprung for the good stuff. Maybe that means she feels it, too. That tonight is important, a big deal for so many reasons.
She looks around before meeting my gaze again. “You pulled out all the stops,” she says.
I even sprung for fresh flowers to put in the vase because she pays attention to little things like that, the fine details, the extra mile.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect.”
A warm smile flashes my way, and I feel unbelievably grateful that she’s here tonight. She could’ve turned me down, could’ve said I’d done too much, could’ve said our time had passed, but none of those things happened.
She’s here.
“Ready to eat?”
Her face lights up with the question. “I am, actually, but I’m in serious shock right now. Did you actually cook for me?”
“I did. With Grandpa’s help, of course. Had to make sure it’s edible.”
We both laugh, then her gaze follows me to the cabinet. “What’d you make?”
I reach for two plates while answering. “Seared ribeye with garlic butter, mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus.”
Her eyes widen with surprise. “Wow, that’s pretty impressive.”
I hold back another smile when she says that, because that wasdefinitelythe reaction I hoped for. Now, here’s hoping she still feels that way after she tastes it.
I plate her food first, then mine. She eyes it as I set hers down, and I lower into my seat. She cuts a small piece, then tastes it while I wait for a response.
“West, this is amazing.”
My heart settles a bit, and I can finally try the food for myself now that I know she thinks it’s decent.
We start off eating in silence, but I refuse to let things get awkward. My first thought is to mention Pandora’s post about Reed from a few days ago, but I pivot. Bringing up anything having to do with the Lawsons feels like a mistake.
“How’d it go at the center the other day? Did the guys seem okay with the changes?”
We’ve texted every day since she stayed over, but we kept things light, avoiding anything that felt like a potential landmine. I saw the pics of her and Scar handing Seth his ass on the sidewalk, but I made it a point not to press her about it. Besides, it looked like she handled it on her own, and I couldn’t be prouder.
She finishes a bite of steak, then dabs the corner of her mouth with a napkin. “It went fine, I guess. Most of the guys were surprised to hear that we’re changing things up so late in the project, but those who follow Pandora seemed to be expecting it.”
I let that sink in, that the men who work for her are tuned in to her life, consuming the details. I don’t have to imagine what that feels like, because I deal with it at the training facility, on the field. But I guess I hadn’t considered that she faces that kind of exposure, too.
“Well, at least it’s handled and you can move forward.”
