“Did he find a job?”
“Not yet, but he has several interviews lined up.” She bowed her head over her iPad and read. “He took a special course in Wyoming and received a certification for drawing blood. Phlebotomy. He’ll be able to earn better than minimum wage.”
“Does he have some place to stay?” Lacey asked.
“In my grandparents’ guest room until he finds something permanent.” Kimberley sighed happily. “Okay, enough about me and Mason. Are you dating Scott yet?”
“Yeah. Since Friday.” Wow, nothing slid past Kimberley. “How’d you know?”
Lacey snorted. “If we’d had a betting pool, I would’ve lost ‘cause I can’t believe you held out this long.”
“That’s okay. It feels so right the way we did it.” I laughed with them, but I wasn’t saying more. What I had with Scott was too new. I wasn’t ready to share. “Your turn, Lacey. How’s Eli?”
I sank back in my chair, sipped my cup of coffee, and listened as they talked about their families, their guys, and college. And I loved how it felt to be with them when we were all so happy.
There was a rap at my door around six PM Wednesday. I opened the door and let Scott in. He leaned over and kissed me softly.
“Hey,” he said, his lips moving to my cheek.
“Hey.” I tilted my head in a blatant offer of my neck.
He took the hint and then stepped aside with a reluctant groan. “I have something planned. We need to leave, like, five minutes ago.”
“Tell me what it is.”
“You’ll figure it out soon.” He reached for my coat. “We’ll be outside. Will you be warm enough?”
“Sure.” Okay, very intriguing. I wouldn’t press for information. I wanted to be surprised.
A short ride later, we pulled onto the driveway at the B&B. After helping me from his truck, he took my gloved hand in his.
“Ready?” At my nod, he led me down the trail to the gazebo.
The path had been decorated for Christmas. Thousands of multicolored lights were over and around us. When we emerged into the clearing, the gazebo shimmered. I approached it slowly, stunned into silence. In its center waited a wicker loveseat and a matching table, set for two, with a single red rose in a crystal vase.
I grabbed a pillar at the entrance and stared in awe.
Scott walked around me, lit two candles, and then turned, eyes shadowed. “Bad choice?”
I tried to smile but failed, my heart pounding so hard that it scared me.
This evening would be like nothing I’d ever experienced. I’d been taken to parties, movies, dinners, and proms. Gryphon had thrown money around like he’d had an unlimited supply. Most of our dates had devolved into big, showy, expensive productions. I’d never questioned whether I genuinely liked them. We needed the noise to mask just how little we’d had to say.
Tonight would be so different. Quiet, private, and beautiful beyond belief. Scott had designed every tiny, charming detail of this moment to delight me. I could hardly take it in.
“Sara?”
I snapped out of my reverie and closed the distance between us. “Even in my dreams, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to spend this evening with you.”
He drank in a breath and released it slowly. “So I didn’t mess up.”
“It’s amazing. You’re amazing.” I dropped my head to his shoulder. I would not cry. I wouldnotcry.
“I hear Mrs. Milton coming. She’s serving us dinner. Nothing fancy. Soup. Bread. Hot chocolate.”
“It just keeps getting better.”
“That’s the goal.” His lips brushed my hair. “Okay, time to sit and enjoy.”
