"What do you mean? Do you like somebody else?" he asked, looking genuinely confused.
"No. Goodness. I'm just, it's just that—was your mom okay with—did she know about Luna?"
He pulled me closer and smelled my neck before letting out a little moan and then kissing my cheek, twice. "Of course she knows about Luna, Audrey. She's met her twice."
"What did she say?"
"She said a lot. I've told her a lot about Lu, and you, and your life."
"That makes me so nervous."
"About what?"
"Rejection," I said.
"If you were rejected, she wouldn't have been at the play or at dinner. She's the one who bought the tickets. She had to get them through a reseller."
I took in a breath, not even telling him what a gigantic relief that felt like to me. He put his face near my neck.
"I can't get close enough," he said, gripping onto me with his big arms.
"You can't get any closer. I'm on your lap. I need to hear about Hollywood."
"It was good. I want to go back there with you and Lu this summer. Just for a few days. Judd's got plenty of room. You could see Josie and Alex. I want to show you the house where we'll be shooting the movie. Why are you closing your eyes?"
"I'm concentrating on your voice," I said. "It sounds different in person than on the phone."
"Keep them closed," he said, causing me to open them immediately.
He made a face at me, and I laughed and closed them again.
"I’m sorry, but when you say to keep them closed, it makes me curio—" I couldn’t finish the word, because his mouth was on mine. He just put it there, unmoving, his lips touching mine. I kissed him first. I moved, touching his mouth slowly, softly. Our touch was torturously light. Ash let me lead the kiss. He sat there with me on his lap, sweetly responding to me but never pushing the pace.
We were in his truck until almost eleven, and then we went into my restaurant and shared a midnight snack. I didn't have to work in the morning, but he did, and I had told Josie I would be back at midnight.
He parked in front of my house at 11:58.
"Okay, my mystery Cinderella, I got you back before midnight, just like you said."
I smiled and put on my hat. "Lu's got school in the morning, and I'll be in the restaurant even though I'm technically not working.
"You don't have to cook for me again, but if that's what you're offering, yes, please. What time do you want me there?"
I grinned. "Any time after eight-thirty."
"Yes. I'll be there."
"Thank you, Ash," I said, leaning over to give him a quick kiss.
"Thank you," he said.
"Night," I said.
I leaned over to open the door. "Night, love you," he said at my back.
He was casual and cool when he said it, and my body reacted. I felt a jolting, electric feeling, and a bit like I wanted to cry.
"Night, love you too," I said quickly while I was in motion. I stared back at him for a second once I got out. I waved at him and smiled and closed the door. I was trying to be so cool, and on the inside, I was melting like a pool of warm honey.
