Page 97 of Take This Heart
She laughs again. God, I love her laugh. She gives it her all, the way she does everything, and in person, it’s like the sun coming out on a cloudy day—everything around her brightens.
“I want to, but I should probably stay here to help Dad in the morning. As crazy as he is about the grandmas, I think he needs a buffer after the weekend. He’s a little edgier than usual right now.”
“Okay, I understand.” I’m smiling like a smitten fool as I add, “I could also take you back before everyone wakes up in the morning.”
“How about Friday night?”
I try not to sag with disappointment.Smitten fool.“Friday night it is…unless I can talk you into sooner between now and then.”
She giggles.
“Give it your best shot,” she says in a flirty voice.
“Prepare to be wowed.”
“Your work is cut out for you. ‘Would you like to come over,’” she says in my deep voice, which makes me laugh, “while sweet, is not wow-worthy.”
“Goldie, two nights with you were not enough. Falling asleep and waking up next to you was something I didn’t even know I could miss, but now that I’ve experienced it, I don’t want to miss another day.”
It’s quiet for a beat.
“Wow,” she says softly. “That was really good.”
“It’s true.”
“We hardly slept though...so…I don’t see how it couldreallybe true.”
My laugh is husky and I move to my bed, leaning back against the headboard. I love the way this woman doesn’t let me get away with shit.
“Okay, Marigold, my literal dove. True confession. Both nights you fell asleep before me and both mornings you woke upafterme, and you know what?”
“What?” she whispers.
“I loved every second.”
I hear her quick intake of breath and smile.
“Good night, Golo. Sweet dreams,” I say, and hang up.
I work on sketches until I can’t see straight, a surprise I’ve been thinking about for Goldie taking shape.
The next morning, I’m sitting by the cafe window when I see her pull up. She gets out of her car, the wind twisting her hair around her face. The sunlight makes her hair look as if it’s spun from gold. I sit up straighter, my body on full alert. She’s wearing a short summer dress today instead of her usual work attire of a tank top or sweatshirt with jeans. She looks beautiful in everything she wears, and especially with nothing at all, buttoday…fuck me. The wind picks up and her dress whips around, giving me a glimpse of her thighs as she tries to hold it down. I adjust in my seat.
She walks in and goes straight to the counter, picking up the iced coffee and scone that’s waiting for her. Juju is speaking to a customer and stops in mid-sentence when she sees Goldie. A smile grows until she’s beaming and she points at Goldie.
Goldie holds up a hand. “Don’t say it.” She laughs.
“I can tell you had a good weekend is all I was going to say,” Juju says, as Goldie is going “Bup-bup-bup” over her, trying to silence her.
I laugh, enjoying the show from my seat.
Goldie turns and pauses when she sees me, but then she moves forward and comes to a stop at the table.
“You caught all of that, didn’t you, you smug little thing.” She crosses her arms and I lean back in my seat, taking her in.
“Oh, Goldie, you know nothing about me is small.”
She hears the women at the table next to us snickering, and her head whips around.
