Page 71 of Situationship
“No, I’ve watched you care for each other. Fighting aside, it’s easy to see that you love each other.”
It gave him hope that his and Maddie’s bond was strong enough to withstand her move to New York and finding her own path. He needed to let her know that no matter what, she always had a place to come home to, and a father who loved her and was proud of her. Even when she started her own life, a life separate from his, she’d always have his heart.
“Neither of you are running away from a difficult and probably painful situation. You’re meeting in the middle and showing up for each other.” He held up his glass again. “And that’s inspiring.”
Her open and honest smile and shy vulnerability made his chest thump.
“The longer she’s with us, the more I want her to stay.”
“Have you told her that?”
She shook her head. “I think I need to. She’s even taken over our search for a commercial kitchen. Calling round, getting quotes, negotiating terms, all while doing her yoga classes.”
“Commercial kitchen?”
“Delores doesn’t mind where I cook the bread but in order to sell to the Soup Stop, I have to find a commercial kitchen, or the owner won’t sign on the dotted line. And I have a feeling that if Harley starts bringing in more clients, I’ll need a big kitchen just to keep up with demand. She showed me a few that I want to look at in person. I’m going this Saturday. Harley was going to go with me, but I asked her if she’d take the girls to the beach so I can go with you.” Her cheeks went pink. “That is, if you’re not busy. And if you’re interested.”
He was so interested he almost leaned across the table to seal that date with a kiss.
“Count me in. In fact, one of my longtime clients owns a bunch of retail property. I bet he could show us some this weekend. Do you want me to give him a call?”
“Is this the one with the meth-head cat or the one who wanted to keep his dog’s family jewels?”
“The one who has a quarter horse, Sugar. Chestnut, black tail and mane. Eighteen, and has a crush on the donkey next door. The fencing around the corral acts as a bundling board.”
“Bundling board, huh?” she said. “Thank you and yes.” She leaned across the table again, this time shifting closer. He smelled the cool evening air on her skin. Her lashes fluttered closed and—surprise of fucking surprises—she kissed him. On the lips. In public. With a hundred or so witnesses. And her barely-there lip gloss with the little sparkles as proof on his mouth.
Oh, it wasn’t quite aNightcap, anyone?kiss but more than atrip down memory lanebrush of the mouth, leading him to believe that this was, indeed, a date.
If there was one thing he’d learned about females, assuming you were both on the same page was an astronomically bad idea. When in doubt, clarify, clarify, and absolutely, positively—throw out everything you thought you knew because there’s a ninety-nine percent chance it’s wrong—clarify.
“Is this a date, Bianchi?”
Colin held his breath waiting for her answer. How she responded would influence the next few hours and impact the course of their relationship. She was right. One misstep and life would get really complicated really fast.
He was in deep trouble. He’d already had a taste and, watching her watch him, he knew he wanted another. Needed another. Then he’d be so gone there was no coming back. Was it wise to let himself be caught, hook, line, and sinker, by a woman who, in the past, had proved to be a catch-and-release kind of lover?
His brain was giving him a clear sign to keep his distance. But he’d tried distance and he was tired of fighting the inevitable. Which was the only reason he could come up with for the intense anticipation that had his heart pounding out of his chest.
She bit her lip and looked up at him through her lashes. God, he loved it when she got shy. “I had hoped so.”
“Me too. So, are we taking this slow?”
“That’s what we agreed.”
“Actually, that’s what you said. I never agreed. I was too interested in the fact that your mouth was on me, proving that our chemistry is off the fucking charts.”
“There is that.”
It was like trying to decipher code with the wrong key. “Correct me if I’m jumping the lead, but usually taking it slow means waiting until we’re under the porch light.”
“We came in separate cars.”
“We live next door.”
“Private moments under porch light become common knowledge in this town.”
“I have a fix for that.”
