Page 15 of Love at First Slice
“Timing had a lot to do with it, but I would have met her eventually,” Brew said out of nowhere, his tone confident beyond reason. My eyes strayed towards the kitchen with one thing in mind.
Timing is everything.
Suddenly, it felt like I had to hurry the fuck up, get my shit together. I was old enough to know this feeling; this connection didn’t happen often. Hell, I had been certain it would never happen to me.
I had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with Abby.
I knew in my gut this was important, life changing. Hell, I already felt like a different man than the one who had stepped out of his car. I wasn’t going to fuck it up.
“Hey, Brew, you think I could get your help with something?” I asked, unable to take my eyes off Abby despite her back being turned to me. Jesus, the woman had an ass that would stop traffic.
“Sure. What’s up?” he asked, and when I told him my idea, he grinned and told me he had a better one.
8.Mark
Brewster hadn’t been kidding when he said he’d help. As I stared out at the ambience he’d suggested, there was no doubt about it—Brew’s idea was so much better than mine. I still couldn’t believe how fast we did everything with Austin’s help.
“I don’t think you need more than this. I’ll go make sure the ladies are all entertained.” Austin smiled, wagging his brows. I wasn’t stupid. Austin was a good-looking guy who oozed charm. Charm I sure didn’t have. Yet, somehow, Abby had looked at me and found me interesting for some reason.
Grateful doesn’t begin to cut it.
I wasn’t going to waste a moment overthinking it or try to talk myself out of pursuing her. It would be stupid to waste a moment.When you know, you know,my mom used to tell me and my brothers. It had been a long time since I’d thought of her words. The way she used to say them and the way my dad would look at her like she was the only one who existed when she said them.
But now?
Shit, now I knew.
“Good luck, man.” Brewster patted my shoulder. “I’ll tell your girl to meet you out here.” He winked and then followed Austin back inside.
I looked out at the roaring fire Brew had helped me get going. The firepit overlooked a line of huge trees that surrounded his property. I turned to look at the couch almost overflowing with pillows and plush throw blankets Brewster said Tab liked using when they hung out outside. Not only that, but he had brought out some LED candles that flickered like they were real and had set them on the side tables.
I had to admit it looked cozy. Inviting.
Two wine glasses sat empty on the side table with a bottle next to a plate that held a variety of slices of pie because I didn’t know what she liked. Next year, I would. I’d know all her favorites because I would make it my mission in life to get to know everything I possibly could about Abby. My eyes dropped to the wine again, and I scratched the back of my neck, wondering if I should have grabbed coffee instead. Shit. I didn’t want her to think I was trying to get her drunk.
“Mark?” her voice called out. When I looked behind me, time stood still.
She stood at the end of the patio scanning to the setup I had waiting for her. I watched as she soaked it in. I didn’t know how I knew, but there wasn’t a detail she missed. I walked over, willing my body to slow the fuck down and not run towards her and toss her over my shoulder like some kind of caveman. I didn’t want to overwhelm and pounce on her, but I didn’t want to play it too cool, either, where my intentions weren’t crystal clear to her.
“You did this?” she asked, her eyes on the fire and then back on me. “All of this?”
“I had some help.” I shrugged.
“For me?” she asked, so softly I almost wondered if I’d imagined the words. Her hazel eyes sparkled up at me, glassy with emotion.
“For you,” I confirmed and watched her thorat work up and down. I’d had enough with space.
Having almost kissed her twice and being interrupted both times drove me crazy. I wanted nothing more than to taste her lips, feel them dance with mine. I closed the distance between us, but for some damn reason, I held off. I didn’t kiss her like everything in my body was yelling at me to do. Not when there were so many people just a few feet away from us inside the cabin. Hell, I had a feeling if I tore my eyes away from Abby and looked at the windows, there would be at least three people standing there watching. So, I reached for her hand instead. Ecstatic that she let me, I tangled our fingers together. It shocked me just how well they fit, like two pieces of a puzzle coming together.
“Here.” I led her to the couch, and she sat down, bringing a throw blanket over her legs.
“I love these kinds of blankets.” She sighed happily as I took the seat next to her. “They’re so soft.” She stroked the material. I touched it; the material was soft as hell. I made a mental note to order one for her first thing tomorrow morning. That way, I’d have something at my place for when she came over.
“What’s that look mean?” she asked, her hazel eyes curious. I swallowed, unsure of how to answer. To buy me some time, I settled in next to her, carefully wrapping one arm around the back of the couch behind her and leaning in close enough to smell the soft almost cinnamon scent that seemed to cling to her to gain a few moments to get my words just right.
“It means that this night just got a lot more interesting.” Her brow rose, and she leaned in closer, her hand covering the top of mine.
“Because of the kind of throw blanket I like?”
