Page 108 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

“He did,” I say as I hold the note to my chest.

“Oh girl, you’ve got it bad,” Maeve says.

“In my defense, the man sends me ice cream. Wouldn’t you?”

Maeve laughs and gives me a reassuring hug. “If a man sent me ice cream, not only would I actually start dating, I’d marry him on the spot.”

31

emmett

There isno reason why I should be as nervous as I am.

Yet here I am, standing in my dining room, staring at a fully set table with Winnie looking up at me like I’ve lost my mind. All because I’ve set up a date night for my girlfriend so I can tell her that I love her.

Officially. And not in front of her brother.

Bark!

“I know girl,” I say to my golden. “I never thought I’d be doing this either.”

My dog is so confused. I don’t think she’s ever seen my dining table used for anything except a place to put the mail and the occasional blueprints I roll out. Yet, here it is, filled with candles, an array of pastas, sauces, and breadsticks, and a chilled bottle of wine. She also probably is wondering why her father, who she’s only ever seen wear blue jeans or sweatpants, is wearing black dress pants, a white button down, and a watch that has special meaning simply because of when I bought it.

Oh, the things we do for love.

A few times today as I was setting this up, I wondered how I made it thirty-seven years of my life and never did something like this for a woman. Well, I know how I didn’t, but it’s alsoinsane that I never wanted to. That I was so content living a solo life that I never even had the inkling to leave what I knew.

Apparently it does just take the right person to show you what you’ve been missing. Even if I would’ve been open to love in the past, I doubt I would’ve tried this with anyone else. No, I was waiting for Stella to come into my life. I firmly believe that.

Now I can’t imagine my life without her.

Since Stella and I got caught last week—though she prefers the phrase ‘went public’—there hasn’t been a night we’ve spent apart. Well, until last night. She has quickly started taking over drawers and parts of my closet. Which is fine. They were empty anyway. And I’d be lying if I said it didn’t do something to me seeing her clothes next to mine. Though if any more shoes make their way over, I’m going to have to build her a new closet.

Oh…I need to remember that for later…

Now that Simon is in the know, and is still taking full credit, we carpool to the office on days I work in Rolling Hills. The days that I stay in Nashville and she goes down to the office, she’ll usually come here straight from work and pick up dinner along the way. Neither of us are much of a cook, so the arrangement has worked well.

Except this morning. This morning has been the first day I haven’t woken up with Stella in my arms.

I’m not a fan.

Things popped up in the office last night that kept her in Rolling Hills until well after eight. And because she had to be back in the office early this morning because electricians were coming in to fix a wiring issue, it didn’t make sense for her to drive back and forth. Since I had to be in Nashville yesterday and today, that means it’s been two full days since I’ve seen my girl.

And that’s two days too long.

I hear a car door shut, which sends Winnie frantically racing to the door to greet Stella. I turn back to the dining table one more time to make sure everything is where it’s supposed to be.Just as I’m moving one pan two inches to the left to evenly space them out, I hear Stella’s voice at the entryway.

“Hey, girl.” Stella’s laugh and Winnie’s pants are all I hear as I walk to greet her. “Oh, I missed you too.”

I can’t help but smile as I lean against the wall and watch Stella love on my dog. I mean, Winnie loves everyone. You show her attention, and you’re her new best friend. But there’s something about seeing the love of my life play with my first best girl that hits me square in the heart.

“That’s enough,” I say as I walk over to them, gently moving Winnie out of the way. “Quit hogging my girl.”

I take Stella’s hand and pull her into me so I can kiss her properly. Her hands finding the back of my neck sends a shot to my cock and I dip her down, kissing her so intensely that I’m about ready to say fuck dinner and go straight to dessert.

Which is an ice cream sundae bar.

“Good to see you too,” she says as I slowly bring her back up. “Why are the lights dimmed?”

---