He smoothed a gentle hand over my head and cupped the back of my neck. I wanted to lean into his hand and close my eyes, but the waiter appeared with our plates and announced our orders. He set down my salad, and then he put Tim’s steak and frites in front of him.
Inhaling the buttery, rich smell, I wished I’d ordered that now.
“It’s half yours,” Tim said, clearly knowing me well.
I loved this man who encouraged me to eat what I wanted.Loved?No…liked.
“Another drink, madam? Sir?” the waiter asked.
I ordered another glass of fizz. I’d bared the worst of myself and my life, and somehow, I knew I could eat, drink, and enjoy the evening now.
“I’m not driving back home tonight,” Tim said. “I’ll have a glass of red, thanks.”
I wondered briefly if he was hoping to stay at my place, but I shouldn’t assume that. I knew he’d be fine with sleeping in the spare room, but what was I thinking? Of course he wasn’t staying with me—he had his sister.
“You’re staying with Amy?” I asked, feeling safe in his answer.
He froze, knife and fork poised over his meat. “No, I booked a room here.”
“Here?” I looked toward the circular staircase.
He put down his utensils and flung one hand through his hair. “Shit, I know how that looks. I didn’t want to stay with Amy this time. It doesn’t mean I expected anything. That wasn’t why I asked you out to dinner.”
Our thighs were pressed against each other, my face so close we were breathing the same air.
“Oh?” I bit my bottom lip. “Why did you invite me out to dinner, then?”
The forward woman in me made an appearance again, because I was so comfortable with him. He gave me a half smile, draped his arm along the booth behind me, and held me captive with his dark-honey eyes.
“Because I like talking to you, when we’re not fighting. Well, when we’re fighting too. I like talking to you about the house, about your thoughts on architecture, about your old horses, and your newspaper job. I like hearing you laugh. I like how kind you are to everyone on set, how you ask each person about their jobs and their family, and you notice when someone’s not being nice to them and you just quietly move in beside them and support them that way. I like how good you are at designing. It’s like you always say, it’s all about movement of people within the house. You see people talking, cooking, sleeping, and bathing. Having friends and families over for potluck parties…and nights when there’s just one person home and they might be reading in a corner.”
I shifted toward him, alight with wonder. I had no idea he’d come to this realization about me or my work.
“And it’s all going to look so beautiful and light and warm,” he went on. “You had a vision. I didn’t see it, and now I do.”
My heart was pumping so hard I thought I’d explode. But wait… None of this had anything to do with whether he was attracted to me.
“So, it seems you esteem my good character?” I teased and bit into my bottom lip.
His eyelids dropped halfway, heavy. “And when you bite your lip like that, it drives me absolutely fucking wild.”
My breath caught, and my fingertips flew to my mouth. His jaw twitched.
“I like how you smell, like those little daffodils in spring. I like looking at you, your beautiful blue eyes and your shiny hair.”He paused. “I probably haven’t said any of that very well. No one pays me for my words like they do you. I’m an uncomplicated guy. I don’t ruminate on things too much, but trying to figure out why I was always so agitated when I caught sight of you gnawed away at me for a long time. Until I came to a realization, one that was surprisingly simple. Wherever you are—whether it’s across the room or ten feet away—I want to be closer to you. I just like being around you.”
My cheeks blazed hot, and all my words, even the usual ridiculous ones, left my brain.
“I like being around you too.” My voice cracked.
“Good.” He rested his eyes on my lips, and I thought about our last kiss by the river, deep and heavy and…interrupted. I thought about picking up where we left off.
I widened my eyes. “There is a lot of agreeing. It’s unnerving.”
His face moved even closer to mine until I could see that his thick lashes were blond-tipped from being outside so much. “Maybe we should quit talking while we’re ahead.”
“Yes.” I said it in a dazed dream, my brain fixed on his lips and how much I wanted them on mine right now. I needed to say those words and make it clear.
“What should we do instead?” His lips were almost touching mine.
