Page 42 of Healing You
A jolt froze his heart. Up until then, their relationship had been behind closed doors. Up until this second, they were theoretical, and either of them could walk away without the town getting involved. Without anyone being the wiser. Sure, people might make assumptions and gossip, but nothing would be confirmed.
Christ, the idea of going public was scary. But the good kind of scary. Like how he felt right before his first class in veterinary school. Or how he felt right before he saw his first patient in his own practice. That sort of unease that comes with a new experience that you know will forever change who you are and shape who you will be in the future.
“Would you object to me kissing you? Here... in public?” He stepped even closer, but waited for the answer. Because once they entered this relationship openly, everything would change.
“No, I wouldn't object to that.” The words rushed out in a near gasp.
Even though the cafe was crowded, the noise seemed to drift away as though they were being submerged underwater, the noise around them merely muffled murmurings. People could have been staring. Reporters could have been flashing pictures in their faces for all he cared. Right then, in that moment, he just desperately needed to feel her lips on his. To know that she was in this as deep as he was. As Steve took the final step, dropping his hands to her waist, the front door burst open and Benny came tearing through the cafe, Lila trailing after him.
“Benny! No! Heel! Heel!!”
Yvonne sighed, pulling back from him before turning and giving a loud whistle, stopping Benny in his tracks.
Steve groaned, shoving his hands into his hair. “Are all the dogs in the world conspiring against us?”
Yvonne gripped Benny's leash, guiding the dog toward the door. “What do they know that we don't?”
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they reached his mailbox. He flashed a heart-stopping smile as he got out with to-go bags in hand. A fter getting Steve's address, despite the fact that she absolutely knew his exact house... a fact that she would never admit to him (or at least not on their second date), she clipped the leashes to all three dogs and walked to his house. He was just pulling into his driveway as “Veggie burger with cheese for you sound good?
“Sounds perfect.” She let the dogs loose in his backyard as Molly jumped to greet them at the fence. She followed him inside, taking note of the black leather couch and matching black furniture. The kitchen was mostly white—white marble, white cabinets. The house had a modern feel to it that was completely unexpected.
“This is where you live,” she said, walking around, noting the simple décor. The lack of knick-knacks. The giant flat screen TV and sound system speakers at every corner of the living room—how typically male of him. A small table beside a tall bookshelf held a record player—how typically not male of him—and what looked like a whiskey decanter. And Yvonne made her way over to it, running her finger along the glass etchings. “Whiskey?”
Steve's jaw tightened. “Scotch. The decanter was my father's.”
Yvonne immediately pulled her hand back as though the glass could slice her open. She hadn't known Steve when his dad died. But she'd heard of Mike Tripp's death when they moved to town. The gruesome motorcycle accident he'd had was talked about in the high school for years. It had rocked the whole town. “I bet he'd be happy you have it.”
“I was ten when he gave me my first sip of scotch.” Steve chuckled at the memory. “It burned so damn bad. He told me it was an acquired taste, but... I don't know. I was always more of a beer guy, I guess.”
Yvonne slowly turned to face him. He was purposefully not looking at her—or so it seemed; he busied himself by pulling out the food from the to-go bag. “I bet he'd be proud of you.”
For a moment, he lifted his gaze to hers. It seemed like he was going to open up to her. Reveal his emotions. But as quickly as the moment came, it also faded, replaced by the same hardened indifference she was so used to with Steve. “Proud that I'm a beer guy? Maybe. He did love his Rolling Rock.” Yep, there it was. That light-hearted humor he used to mask his pain and vulnerability.
“That's not what I meant and you know it.”
“I do.” His gaze drifted out the back window into the yard. “Gatsby seems to be feeling a lot better,” Steve said in a clear effort to change the subject.
Yvonne crossed back to him, grabbing a french fry and nibbling the end. She swallowed the salty fry, buying herself an extra couple of seconds to switch gears. “Gatsby's feeling a lot better, yeah. I did what you said and made a ton of food in the crock pot for him and froze it into meal portions. He scarfs that down no matter what now.”
“Good.” Steve slid down to the floor, leaning against the couch and Yvonne did the same, nestling her body against his. She unwrapped the veggie burger, inhaling the smell of melted, gooey cheese and a freshly cooked patty. Elsa's food was damn incredible, she thought with a smile. On top of the white paper to-go bag, she saw a note scribbled to her in Sharpie: Yvonne: If you give my daughter any more animals from that rescue, I'll make sure you're only ever served oatmeal from here on out! Love, Elsa
She chuckled and held up the note as Steve looked on. “You see this?”
“Oh yeah. There was no stopping her once she learned that the meal was for you.”
Yvonne crumpled the bag and tossed it to the side. “Benny's a good dog. He just needs to settle into the new home and he'll be fine.”
They each took a few bites. Yvonne turned her face into the soft cotton button down shirt and inhaled deeply. He smelled amazing, like fresh cut grass and a hint of lemon.
“I have something to ask you,” he said, breaking her thoughts.
Uh-oh. But instead of answering him, she simply put down her burger, turning to face him straight on.
“My brother and Lydia are having an engagement party. Typically I don't bring anyone to these things, but I was thinking it could be fun—”
The tension slid away and Yvonne smiled, interrupting him. “I'd love to come.” A little flutter wriggled against her ribcage and she relished that feeling. It had been so long since a man had made her feel something so sweet.
