Page 22 of Hard Hearts

I swallow. “We’re going to The Gilded Teapot?” I search his face.

“We are.” A slow, sexy smile spreads across his face.

There is no way this is really happening. This is the nicest gesture anyone has ever done for me. Who would have thought that Kaden Gunner would be the one extending it to me?

I was little when my grandma passed away, but she’d left me a set of teacups and pots. We always pretended to have tea. It's one of my favorite childhood memories.

It turned into a hobby, I suppose. I collect teacups and pots, but that’s my secret.

Kaden tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear. His hand drops to rest on the column of my neck. "You don't have to hide from me." Kaden's thumb brushes back and forth over my pulse. "When you're with me, I take care of you."

"I—"

"I know you can take care of yourself. That's not the point. I need to take care of you."

"Need?"

"As crazy as it sounds, yeah, I need to."

"Well, ah." I lick my lips. "If you need to, who am I to stop you?"

"That's my girl."

I really do want to be his girl…. and I hate that as strong as I present myself to the world, I can't bring myself to tell him that.

Chapter Sixteen

KADEN

“Would you like a few more sandwiches, Mr. Gunner? The refills are free, although I’m sure you can afford all the sandwiches you want.” The waiter trips over his words in his eagerness to serve me, but I appreciate the service. He must’ve noticed how I inhaled the little slivers of bread and cheese spread that filled the second level of the three-tiered serving dish.

The top has desserts, and the bottom is filled with scones. I went straight for the middle section, which had four different kinds of sandwiches: a roast beef one, a tuna one, one with only cucumbers and some white spread, and a salmon one. They were all good, although the cucumber one kind of just tasted like I was eating the bagel and cream cheese without the bagel.

“Can you just make me one big roast beef sandwich instead of like twenty small ones?”

Ryan, the waiter, grimaces. “I’m sorry. All the items are pre-made, but no one is going to blink an eye if you eat twenty little sandwiches. Honestly, I don’t think we’ve ever had an athlete here before. When we saw your name on the reservation sheet, we thought it was your mom or sister.”

The poor man wrings his hands. I think if I press the issue, he might start crying. “It’s all good. Fill her up.” I point to the empty tier. He nods and hustles off.

Frankie watches this whole exchange with amusement. “Did you look at the menu online or is this all a surprise?”

“I couldn’t really understand it. When it said finger sandwiches I thought it meant we’d eat sandwiches with our fingers, not that the slices would be a finger’s width.” I hook my finger around the delicate handle of the teacup and take a sip. It’s more flavorful than I thought it would be.

“We can leave if you want.”

“No way. This is cool. The sandwiches are tasty, and these scones and jam are the bomb. It’s just smaller servings than I’m used to. It’s pretty here.” I stretch out my legs under the marble-topped table. The soft booths are all covered in a faded mint-green velvet, and a lighter green floral pattern is papered onto the walls.

The carpet is a plush, deep brown, giving almost a woodland feel to the place. Three massive crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and golden sconces placed between the arched windows provide the light. Frankie looks like a pink jewel in the midst of the greenery, like a flower blooming in the forest.

Her suit coat and skirt cost almost as much as a car, but her face glowed when Mrs. Metzer brought it out. I’d have paid more than what the ring cost to see that expression on her face.

“Not as pretty as you, though.” I nudge her leg under the table.

“Not gonna lie, I love this suit.” She runs a hand over the fabric. It’s tweed, Mrs. Metzer explained. Large pink yarns woven with white and gray, and even real gold threads throughout. “It’s actually so comfortable. Luna is always saying how it’s like wearing a sweater, but I didn’t believe her.”

That is because the lining is made of silk and stitched to the tweed, also per Mrs. Metzer.

“What made you think of this?”

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