Page 113 of Now or Never

Maybe he’d give it fifteen dates?

Ten was probably plenty.

Five, at least.

“Hi,” she said with a little laugh.

“Hi. You’re so beautiful. Here,” he said, handing her a gigantic bouquet of peach-coloured roses. He’d bought every single one the florist had.

Once she’d taken them, he pulled a jewellery box from his pocket and handed it to her as well.

“What’s this?” she asked, staring at the box in her hand.

“Open it.”

She flipped open the lid and smiled.

Then laughed.

“Did you get me macaroni earrings?” she asked, sliding them from the velvet.

“To go with your bracelet,” he said, happy that she seemed to like them. They were custom made, with a diamond stud and a 24K gold macaroni dropping from each lobe. She quickly replaced her earrings with the new ones.

“How do they look?” she asked, giving her head a little shake so they’d dance around.

“Not as beautiful as your eyes, but nothing is.”

He looked at the earrings and the bouquet, but it didn’t feel like enough. Maybe he should have got her a cheesecake, too.

And a new car.

And the PIN to his credit card.

And a key to his house.

Her smile grew, and so did his heart. He couldn’t believe he was getting a second chance. This time, he wouldn’t mess it up.

“Ready?” she asked, stepping onto the porch and closing the door behind her.

Adam leaned down, kissed her lips. When he pulled back, her beautiful eyes had gone all dreamy, and her dimples were flashing.

“I’m ready,” he said.

They walked to his truck hand in hand, finally on their way to their first date.

thirty-seven

Twenty Dates Later

Chelsea sat in the front seat of Adam’s truck as he pulled to a stop on the street in front of Keller’s Pub.

“Wow,” she said, looking up at the brand new sign above the door with sconce lights illuminating it from above. “This looks amazing, Adam.”

Adam nodded. “It really came together.”

“I can’t believe you guys are going to be opening soon.”

She hopped out of the truck, and he and Ben followed, meeting on the sidewalk. Adam took their hands in his and they made their way to the front door.

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