“I’ll send a car tonight. Eight o’clock.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I’m sending a car.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Be ready at eight.”
“You’re very bossy.”
“You like it.”
She did. That was the problem.
He kissed her goodbye, slow and thorough. She held it together until the elevator doors closed. Then the laugh she’d been swallowing broke free, giddy and disbelieving, and she pressed a hand over her mouth. Back in last night’s dress, his T-shirt and shorts folded in her bag to wash and return, she stepped onto the street at nine fifteen.
She went home long enough to trade the dress for work clothes that felt almost too ordinary for the morning she’d had, then let the day pull her back into itself.
The tasting went well. The site visit went better. By six o’clock, she was back in her apartment, staring at her closet.
Her phone had been buzzing all day.
Lucy: I KNOW you saw my messages
Lucy: You can’t avoid me forever
Lucy: Spill or I’m coming over
She sighed and hit call.
“FINALLY.” Lucy’s voice exploded through the speaker. “I’ve been dying. Literally dying. Tell me everything.”
“I’m good. We’re good. Everything’s good.”
“You said ‘good’ three times. That means it’s better than good.” A pause. “Did you sleep with him?”
“Lucy.”
“That’s a yes. Oh my God. How was it?”
“I’m not giving you a play-by-play.”
“Highlights. General star rating.”
Tessa laughed. “It was ... good.”
“Good. She says good.” Lucy’s voice dripped with frustration. “That’s like describing the Mona Lisa as ‘a painting.’ Details, Tess.”
“He made me breakfast.”
There was a silence.
“He what?” Lucy repeated slowly. “Gabriel Sterling made you breakfast?”
“Eggs. They were actually good.”
“Marry him.”
“We’ve been together for a few weeks.”
“But you’ve wanted him forever.” Lucy’s voice softened. “How do you feel?”
