Page 15 of Slice

She grasped his hand tighter. “I was so scared to bring kids up because I didn’t want to be disappointed if you wanted your own. Slice, I was in an accident when I was younger. It’s why I became a foster parent, because I can’t bear children.”

Slice could almost feel the weight sliding off him that he’d been carrying, worried about how Faith would react. It was almost as if they were meant to find each other. Each with their own inability to have children naturally.

“Faith, maybe our road to a family is providing a place for children who need it. I know it’s a heavy topic for a first date, but let’s face it, we’re not in our twenties, and our future life deserves some time discussing our hopes and dreams. If you want to continue fostering, I’ll get approved, and we can have as many kids as you want,” Slice said.

“I think Micah and Isaiah’s mom is going to end up surrendering custody, and they were taken away from their grandmother. LB, who I would love to get to call him a real name, has taken a place in my heart. I’d love to adopt them all, but there is such a need, especially for emergency foster care. I think we need to spend some time talking about exactly what we want, but is it crazy we’re talking about kids this early?” she asked.

Slice brought Faith’s hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I think nothing is crazy when I’m with the woman I can’t imagine life without.”

“Slice, I heard you were here on a date. Are you going to introduce me?”

Slice smiled. “Faith, this lovely lady is Vivi, the saint who married Whiskey, the oldest cousin in the Nelson family of nine male cousins. How she puts up with all of them is amazing.”

His words had Faith smiling and shaking Vivi’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Faith.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. Bluff Creek helped me when I first met my husband,” Vivi said.

“Oh, they helped me too. They delivered presents Christmas Eve for my foster boys,” Faith replied.

“How wonderful. Well, I just wanted to say hi. I don’t want to horn in on your date, and my littlest one is going to need to eat soon, and her daddy doesn’t have the right equipment to feed her.”

“It was nice to meet you,” Faith said.

Slice waited until Vivi walked off and then ate the last bite of his baked potato. He was pleasantly full, and if he ate any more of the rolls that were in the basket, he might need to unbutton his jeans on the way home, and he didn’t want that.

“Any more questions?” he asked after Faith finished her steak and took a drink.

She looked down at the paper. “What’s one thing on your bucket list?”

“I’ve always wanted to visit the Eastern coast and eat fresh seafood that was caught that day. What about you?”

“I love romance books, and I’d like to meet some of the authors I read sometime.”

Slice grinned because he’d heard enough from the women at Bluff Creek about Sarah and Scoop’s trip when they got together that he was sure Sarah could help him mark that item off Faith’s bucket list this year or next. Slice glanced at his watch.

“Shall we get one more dance in before heading back? You mentioned you wanted to be home to kiss the boys goodnight. Are they staying up later?” Slice asked.

“I’d love one more dance, and they are staying up a little later. If we leave before eight-thirty, we should be good. I know they probably don’t need me there, but this is the first time anyone has kept them besides Hope,” Faith said, placing her hand in his as he held his out to lead her to the dance floor.

He tugged Faith close as another slow song started. He’d noticed Ryanne putting more money in the jukebox and selecting songs. He listened to one of Luke Combs’ songs. He hadn’t been into country music at all until he’d listened to Speedy playing it when Slice had helped in the garage. He’d added a lot of the songs to his music he listened to when he ran or worked out. Faith was tall but just enough shorter than him that her hair was even with his nose. The faint smell of berries drifted to his nose. He was guessing it was her shampoo, but he’dcome to associate the smell with her, and anytime he smelled berries, he thought of Faith.

Dancing around the floor with her, he couldn’t imagine any better first date. He was thrilled to think this was only the beginning.

Chapter Ten

Faith sat beside Slice in the truck, listening to the music. They’d asked some questions of each other on the way back, and she’d gotten to know him better. She’d never been around a man before where silence felt comfortable too. She usually got nervous and felt like she needed to fill the dead space, which was a trial for an introvert like her. But with Slice, driving down the road and listening to the music had her feeling content. She was happy with Slice.

“I’ve been thinking that the last thing I want to do is try to kiss you good night when we get back to your house with War, Remi, Locks, and whoever else has decided to show up. I know this sounds like high school but the place that Whiskey built to commemorate where he and his wife met is coming up. There’s a space to pull off the road. What do you say I pull off and we get a couple kisses in before I return you home?”

Faith nodded. She had to admit she’d been a little worried that she wouldn’t get a kiss with the kids still awake and everyone there.

“I think it sounds perfect. You left pretty quickly after our last kiss.”

Slice sighed and glanced up. “I know. I promise to make it up to you.”

She giggled and thought about how much fun she’d have tonight. With Slice, she felt like she could tease him and not worry he’d take it wrong.

“Maybe you could explore second base a little,” Faith teased.

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