In these circumstances... in this dress... I’m just anticipating an awkward Middle-earth goodbye.
It’s taking a lot of effort not to look at Miles’s apartment, and eventually, my willpower fails. I’m part disappointed, part relieved to see that it’s dark.
We reach my door, and I pull my key out of my bag, then look at Duffy. “Thank you for a very unique date.”
He doesn’t respond.
“Are you okay?”
“I want to kiss you.” His eyes are locked onto mine. “I really like you and you’re beautiful and you’re the perfect Arwen to my Aragorn.”
I smile. “Thank you, Duffy. I like you too.” Though, maybe not romantically. Still, when he steps closer, I don’t move away. Maybe there is something here? Maybe I should at least see?
Or maybe I just need Miles to not be the last man I kissed.
I can tell when I look at him that he’s waiting for my permission, and while that’s incredibly sweet, it does nothing to stir any kind of swoony feelings inside me.
He reaches for my hand. “Thank you for the honor of escorting you out this evening.”
I press my lips together to hold back a smile. I’m not sure if I’m horrified or charmed by Duffy’s quirks. I decide to roll with it. “The honor was all mine.”
He reaches up and touches my cheek, then leans in and presses his lips softly against mine. He holds the kiss for three short seconds and then pulls back, smiling. “I’ll call you.”
I didn’t even close my eyes.
It turns out a chaste, end-of-the-Hallmark-movie kind of kiss does nothing to erase the memory of a toe-curling, stomach-swooping, makes-you-forget-your-name kind of kiss.
Darn.
I signed up to have a booth at a farmers’ market!
My first public business outing. My debutante ball.
I’m going to crush it.
I’ve been working with Zoey on social media photos and videos, something strange and uncomfortable but, according to her, necessary.
Inspections, permits, checking that things are built to code, all underway at The Porch. Now that I have a logo (it’s so cute!), I’ve been able to order paper products, the sign for the window, and T-shirts for our staff. (I have a staff!)
I’ve been so busy I’ve hardly been able to think about Miles at all.
Which is a lie.
I do wonder what’s been keeping him busy. I haven’t seen him in days.
Chapter 26
“Okay, why are you with this guy again?” Lennon closes the door of my Jeep and meets me at the back of it.
I’m parked in the alley behind the bakery after purchasing all the groceries I need to make samples from my menu for the farmers’ market this weekend.
And I just told her about my date with Duffy. And the good-night kiss.
In retrospect, I could’ve made it all sound a little better than it was, but I didn’t have the energy.
Since the comic convention, we’ve been texting back and forth, and while Duffy might not be an obvious choice, I really do like him. Which is what I tell Lennon as I slip plastic bags onto my arms. “He’s really nice. He makes going to the dentist fun. I know, because yesterday, he invited me to his office for a teeth cleaning.”
She stops moving and stares at me. “He cleaned your teeth.”
