Page 36 of Designing Love
Without hesitation, Ethan pulls me into his arms. My resistance crumbles instantly, and I bury my face against his chest, absorbing his comforting warmth. He holds me securely, not saying anything, just letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat soothe away my anxiety.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble after a moment, reluctantly pulling back and wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. “I guess I’m still a little on edge after meeting with Daniel earlier.”
Ethan’s eyes darken slightly. “You don’t need to apologize, Sophia. Honestly, throwing a cushion at my face was probably therapeutic.”
“It was, actually,” I confess sheepishly. “Highly recommend.”
He chuckles softly, rubbing my arm in gentle reassurance. “How about I make us some coffee?”
“Coffee?” I raise an eyebrow skeptically. “In Sage’s house? You do realize whose kitchen you’re in, right?”
He groans lightly, realization dawning. “Right. The great caffeine embargo. I blocked that trauma from my memory.”
I laugh, tension draining further. “There’s lemonade in the fridge. It’s the best comfort drink I could manage in this caffeine-free zone.”
“Perfect.” He smiles. “I’ll pour us a glass.”
Watching Ethan navigate Sage’s kitchen is equally adorable and comedic. He opens one cabinet after another, each revealing increasingly bizarre items — teacups, paint tubes, crystals, something that looks suspiciously like a dried starfish — before finally discovering the lemonade pitcher.
“You know,” he announces seriously, pouring two glasses, “Sage might actually be a wizard.”
“You’re just realizing this now?” I tease, accepting my drink and following him out onto the porch. We sink into two rocking chairs overlooking the lake, the morning sun shimmering across the water, the air fresh and calming.
Silence settles between us, comfortable and peaceful, until Daniel’s lingering words begin gnawing at my thoughts again. I set down my lemonade, turning hesitantly toward Ethan.
“So… how old are you?” I ask bluntly, instantly cringing at how abrupt it sounds.
He nearly chokes on his lemonade, coughing lightly and glancing at me in surprise. “Uh, how is that... relevant?”
I flush, feeling suddenly awkward. “Just trying to get to know the man with whom I’m partnering.”
Ethan’s lips quirk upward. “What did Daniel say? Let me guess. He implied I’m too young and entirely untrustworthy?”
“Something like that,” I admit sheepishly, fiddling with my glass. “He made me second-guess a lot of things.”
He’s quiet for a moment, gazing thoughtfully toward the water. Eventually, he sighs softly. “I’m thirty-six, Sophia. It’s just a number, you know.”
“Thirty-six. Wow.” That makes him 11 years younger than me.Am I a cradle robber?
He shakes his head. “Glad you approve,” he teases.
“It’s not that…” I trail off.
“How old are you?” he quips.
I exhale loudly. “It’s not important.”
“I’m just trying to get to know the woman I roped into helping me with my crazy project…” he retaliates with a smirk.
“I’m a forty-seven-year-old divorcee…” I bury my face in my hands.
He leans in and whispers, “You don’t look a day over thirty-six. Must be because of what you were able to leave behind.”
I laugh and bite my lip, still unsure about my growing feelings.
“But what about the house? I mean, you didn’t exactly strike me as the ‘fixer-upper’ type when I first met you.”
Ethan’s eyes flicker briefly away, a blush creeping up his neck. I take a breath before continuing. “Honestly? I didn’t buy it because I needed another property. You mentioned loving restoring old houses. I thought it would be something you enjoyed, and that it would give you a reason to stick around so I could get to know you.”
