Page 63 of Summer Kisses

Or at least I hoped it would be. I didn't have much time to plan something. Not with the engagement party this weekend.

Hazel: I’m excited for what you have planned.

Brady: See you tonight. And no guesses.

Hazel ignored the last part because she sent me a string of guesses every so often throughout the afternoon. Each message heightened my anticipation for the evening. I wanted her to remember it fondly. What librarian wouldn't enjoy a romantic dinner in a historic library? With the man she was hopefully falling in love with?

I'd successfully blurred the lines between friends and lovers, but I didn't have much time to win her over. Did she think of us as just friends with benefits? Or was she coming around to the idea of us as a real couple?

The rest of the day passed quickly. For the first time in my life, I was nervous for a date. I worked it up in my head even though a company was handling the entire evening for me. I only had to pick out the flowers and the food that would be served.

I got ready at Hudson's house, having grabbed my suit from mine earlier in the day. I sent a picture of me standing in front of the mirror so she'd know what I was wearing.

Hazel: You're so handsome.

Brady: If you think I'm so good looking, how did you resist me for so long?

Hazel: Mmm. I think it was that pesky friend situation.

I liked how we could text like this, banter back and forth. It was easy and fun. I took one last glance in the mirror to make sure my tie was straight, and then I grabbed my keys. I'd evenarranged to borrow Shep's prized Mustang for the evening. I didn't want to pick up Hazel in a truck.

I drove over to Shep’s to grab his key. Shep answered when I knocked. "What's the occasion?"

"A special evening with my fiancée."

He frowned. "Yeah, but didn't you already lock her down? Your ring is on her finger."

There were a lot of untruths in that sentence, but I wasn't going to enlighten him. "You never stop dating the woman you love."

Shep nodded. "Dad says that."

"I like to think something he said over the years got through."

Shep nodded as he turned to grab the keys from the hook. "Yeah, he sure said it a lot."

When I reached for the keys in his outstretched hand, he held them away from me. "Take care of my baby."

"I assume you're referring to the car," I said dryly.

"Obviously, I'm talking about the car, and it's not just any car."

I rolled my eyes. "It's your baby. Got it."

"It's special to me, and I'd like it to remain in one piece," he said emphatically.

"I'm taking my girl to dinner, not a monster truck show."

His brow furrowed. "Were you seriously considering doing that?"

I snatched the keys from his hand. "You're so easy to tease."

Shep followed me out to the car he'd pulled out of the garage for me. The blue paint and silver chrome gleamed in the evening light. He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You're happy?"

I thought about the night ahead and how I felt when I was with Hazel, even the text exchanges this afternoon. "Yeah. I am."

It was a quiet realization. One that snuck up on me. This thing with Hazel was a slow progression, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"How did you make your first move?" Shep asked quietly.

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