Page 61 of Designing Love
I grin knowingly. “Coffee is essential. You’ve clearly learned well.”
He smiles triumphantly, sliding closer until our shoulders press together. “I had a good teacher.”
“Clearly,” I murmur, suddenly intensely aware of his closeness. My heart skips gently.
Ethan glances sideways, catching my gaze. His voice is gentle but serious. “I love this idea, Sophia.”
My cheeks heat, and my breath hitches slightly. “Good, because I’m already attached to it.”
He moves closer, turning toward me. His hands gently grip my waist, pulling me to him. I feel my heart skip a frantic beat, warmth rushing to my cheeks. I realize with a rush of surprise and delight that I’ve never felt self-conscious around him. My body naturally fits against his, like we’ve been holding each other this way for years, not mere seconds.
He leans in closer, and my breath catches softly. I close my eyes as our foreheads gently touch, sharing anticipation, our breathing softly synchronized.
“Consider me fully on board,” he whispers, his voice low and tender, the closeness sending shivers down my spine.
Before I can reply, he closes the space between us, his lips pressing gently against mine. My heart explodes into an erratic rhythm, emotions spilling over as I lean into him, deepening the kiss. His fingers tangle gently in my hair, his scent enveloping me.
Eventually, Ethan squeezes my hand gently, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he breaks into a playful smile. “OK, boss. What’s first?”
I grin back at him, my heart swelling with happiness and new possibilities. “Paint swatches, floor samples, and officially evicting our furry houseguest.”
Ethan laughs, shaking his head fondly. “Perfect. Let’s do this.”
27
HIDDEN LAYERS
Ethan
The cozy hum of chatter and laughter wraps around us as Sophia and I step inside the Old Oak. The place is packed tonight, full of familiar faces and the mouthwatering scent of greasy comfort food and freshly poured pints. Sophia brushes a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes sparkling beneath the warm glow of vintage Edison bulbs.
“Wow,” Sophia murmurs, taking in the noisy scene. “Is it trivia night or something?”
“No,” I chuckle, gently steering her toward an empty booth in the back. “Trivia nights involve much more yelling — and, sadly, fewer right answers.”
She laughs, sliding into the booth and scooting over to make room for me. Her knee brushes mine beneath the table, and my pulse jumps. The simplest touch from her sends electricity racing through my veins.
“So,” Sophia begins, her smile teasing as she picks up the menu, “are we celebrating the official eviction of our furry tenant or that we didn’t accidentally demolish the Miller House today?”
“Both. Honestly, though, I’m still shocked that the raccoon didn’t put up a fight. He seemed scrappy.”
She raises an eyebrow. “Oh, he’ll be back. That was far too easy.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
I feign a dramatic sigh. “I’ll have to beef up security.”
She leans closer, mock-serious. “You mean like putting up posters of Simon’s face? That would scare off anything with eyes.”
I laugh out loud, almost choking on air. “Now that’s just cruel. Poor raccoon.”
She giggles softly, cheeks flushed, eyes dancing. Her laughter trails into a thoughtful pause as she studies me curiously. “Ethan, can I… ask you something?”
“Shoot,” I say lightly, though her sudden seriousness sends a nervous ripple down my spine.
She hesitates, fingertips absently tracing the rim of her water glass. “Things between us — they’ve happened pretty fast. And I realize I still don’t know much about you. Like your work. Your life before this.”
