“I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now. I’m a loner. I like it that way.”
“Could’ve fooled me.” I teased. “But hey, to each is own. If you’re happy, then you do you.”
Briggs stopped chewing and focused on me for a moment. And then he said something I hadn’t expected. “Thank you.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“For understanding. For accepting. Most people, when they don’t understand something, they judge it.”
“I would never. I had a teacher in elementary school once tell me you never really know what someone has going on in their life. We shouldn’t judge but offer kindness. It just may be the thing that gets them through to see another day. It stuck with me ever since I was a little girl.” I popped a piece of lobster into my mouth. The buttery flavor mixed with the lemon and garlic was delicious.
“Smart teacher. I haven’t had the kindest path in life, so sometimes it’s easier just to check out.” Briggs said, and my heart picked up speed. It felt like a confession, but I didn’t want to ask more in case he clammed up.
“It can be a lot easier to check out. Believe it or not, even us social butterflies need a break. Some days, I refuse to open my planner.”
Briggs chuckled.
Yes! Finally! A laugh!
“That book seemed pretty damn important. I’d make a bet you check it every day.”
My cheeks flamed red. “Okay fine, I’ll confess. I check every day. Sometimes just a tiny peek.”
Briggs smiled, and I wanted to take a picture. The grumpy man smiled! He really did! Not only that, but God was hehandsome. A handsome smile I could stare at for the rest of my life.
I watched him for a moment too long and he caught me. “Dinner is great, thank you,” he said with a knowing grin.
I wanted to kiss him. So badly.
But I couldn’t make the first move. I only just got the guy smiling.
So I hoped and prayed he would. Because deep down inside, I was ignoring the truth.
I was falling hard for the man and there was no way to stop it.
CHAPTER FIVE
Briggs
That wasthe best damn dinner I’d had in a long time.
From the scrumptious seafood to the woman growing on me, I enjoyed every second.
After we finished eating, I helped her clean and then we sat on our back patio and talked more. It was like I could open up to her in ways I couldn’t with anyone else.
And that scared the fuck out of me.
Shyla opened me up and made me smile when I hadn’t smiled in who knows how long. She pulled me out of my shell and wrapped me in a comforting warmth, in the same way my grandmother used to do. I felt secure, safe, and not judged.
Sunshine radiated out of her, so bright and loud, she made me go blind. I didn’t realize it in that moment, but I was falling hard and fast for her.
I no longer wanted to hold back.
We lounged on her back patio, our chairs side by side, as we watched the sun set in the distance.
She looked illuminated in the glowing oranges, pinks, and purples, her tank top hugging her curves in all the right places, and her long skirt fluttering in the cool, evening breeze.
“My parents worked constantly. I spent most of my time with my nanny. She became like a mom to me. As soon as I was a teenager, I threw myself into my friends so I wouldn’t have to be home and wondering where my parents were. Now I hardly talk to them, a cordial hello or how are you from time to time, and it sucks. I wish I had a sibling to commiserate with.”
