Page 14 of Slice

Faith had been nervous about dancing, so he was going to get it out of the way, and then they could enjoy their evening. With darts, pool, or just hanging out, he wanted to make this date special for Faith.

He pulled Faith close to him, one hand holding her and the other around her back. He started with them just swaying to the music. And he might have slipped some money and a note to Ryanne, one of the bartenders, with a song to have the jukebox play. He’d heard it on the radio the other day, and he’d loved it.

As the strains of Cooper Alan’sI Gotchaplayed, Slice wished he had a good singing voice because he’d love to sing this to Faith. Once Faith’s frame wasn’t stiff, he started leading her through a two-step around the floor. Faith might have beenapprehensive, but she was graceful as they danced around the floor.

When Ed Sheeran’sPerfectcame after, he glanced toward the bar. Ryanne had a huge smile on her face and was giving him a thumbs-up. He danced with Faith and turned so she could see Ryanne.

“It looks like Ryanne can see how special you are to me because she picked this song for us to dance to,” Slice said.

“Oh, that’s so sweet. I love dancing with you. You make it a dream.”

Slice pulled back a little and led Faith through a twirl, then brought her back to him. The grin on her face had an answering one on his. He could feel all sad that he’d missed out on knowing Faith earlier when he delivered her car, but he was choosing to believe they’d found each other exactly when they were supposed to.

Just like the song said, he didn’t deserve her, but he was going to spend the rest of his life trying to prove to her how much she meant to him. He tugged her closer until he could feel her tummy and breasts against him. He tilted her head up and placed a kiss on her lips as they danced to the end of the song. He led Faith back to their table because he’d seen Crewe bringing their dinner out. It must be because he was curious. Crewe was the chef and one of the cousins who owned the bar, but he didn’t usually deliver the food.

Slice pulled out Faith’s chair and then helped her scoot in before turning to Crewe.

“Crewe, have you met my woman, Faith?” Slice decided he could have asked Faith if she knew Crewe, but he wanted to stake his claim just in case Crewe was getting any ideas about the luscious woman who Slice couldn’t imagine life without.

“I haven’t. Crewe Nelson. It’s nice to meet you. I manage the kitchen. Is this y’all’s first date?” Crewe asked.

Slice hid a smile because the Nelson cousins were some of the biggest gossips, and Slice was positive Crewe wanted all the details so he could share.

“It is. It’s my first time here, too,” Faith said.

“Well, glad to have you both, and enjoy your food. It was nice to meet you,” Crewe said, then walked back toward the kitchen, stopping by Ryanne to chat.

“Oh, this looks good,” Faith said, motioning toward her plate of the medium KC strip steak, baked potato, green beans, and rolls. Slice had ordered the same thing.

Nelson’s had added some theme food nights, and he’d chosen Saturday because it was their steak night. Slice could grill a good steak, but he hadn’t grown up in a state with such a cold winter as Kansas, and he didn’t want to freeze while he tried to grill. In January, he’d let Nelson’s grill his steak for him.

He and Faith enjoyed their steaks and the sides. He had two rolls to Faith’s one, and when the waitress came by, Faith asked if they could have some more for him. When the waitress brought the basket filled with a dozen rolls, he immediately told her he didn’t need that many. She told him Crewe had sent plenty so he could take some home.

“I have a question about the sheet of questions,” Faith said.

“Okay.”

“Are they going to follow up with you about them?” she asked.

“I don’t plan on telling them anything about our answers, but I’m sure they will grill me and make sure I gave you the option to use them. Did you like them? I grabbed them before we walked in,” Slice said.

“There were a couple I was interested in,” Faith replied.

Slice reached into his pocket and pulled out the list, handing it to Faith. She opened it up and smoothed it flat out on the table. Now he was getting a little worried about the questions. He hadn’t read them before he brought them to Faith beyondglancing at them because he didn’t think it was fair for him to have time to think of answers when she didn’t.

“Where do you see yourself in three years?” she asked softly.

He reached his hand across and took hers when she started tapping her fingers on the table.

“If you would have asked me that in November, I would have told you I don’t know. I was content at Bluff Creek but missing something. Now, in three years, I see myself with you, wherever and however you want me. Besides falling head over heels for you, those boys have carved a place in my heart too. So ideally, with all five of us for sure,” Slice said, pausing and wondering how he was going to bring up kids and his inability to have them.

“Do you want more children?” she asked.

Faith had a strange look in her eyes that he couldn’t decipher. He’d hoped to get to know her better before having to bare his inadequacies, but he wasn’t going to lie.

“If more children came our way, I would cherish them, but I have to tell you that I can’t father children, Faith. You’re such an amazing mother that I would love to give you that dream, but I was sick as a kid and am sterile.”

He waited to see what she said because he’d heard stories of things like this breaking couples apart. He wasn’t sure how he’d survive if she booted him, but if he survived being thrown away, he’d survive this. But Faith was smiling at him with tears in her eyes.

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