Page 58 of That Thing You Brew
I’m on my way.
My heartbeat kicked up a notch as I read Xavier’s text. He was early today.
Be careful,I replied. It’s raining pretty hard.
“Is that him?” Gabby asked.
I nodded. “I’m going to make his coffee now and sneak him into the kitchen for a minute when he gets here. Cover for me?”
She grinned. “You bet.”
I’d brought my calligraphy marker with me and took my time writing today’s message on the cup.Lady Lucky Penny??’s Sir Zavey 4-eva
I quickly covered the message with my palm and set to work.Coffee ice cream, butterscotch chips, light roast, whipped cream, sea salt caramel drizzle, toffee crunch bites.Done.
I’d also packed him a little red box with some of our toffee sugar cookie fudge for his road trip. My hands full, I scooted behind Gabby toward the kitchen.
The outside door opened, and Xavier ducked his head in. The troubles of being six feet five. His feet must hang off the bed, poor guy.
Don’t go there.
I took him in from head to toe before he noticed me. His newsboy hat was perched on his head, and the collar of his overcoat was turned up to keep his neck dry. A convention of hummingbirds fluttered in my stomach, stealing my breath as his gaze swept the counter and finally found me.
I nodded towards the door behind me and backed into it, indicating he should enter the kitchen.
He grinned and was through the door in a few giant steps.
“I remember this place.” He leaned toward me and then caught himself. My shoulders sagged. I must have done quite a number on him last night if he was scared to kiss me in private.
“I…” My breath whooshed from my lungs. Where were the words I wanted to say? They were in my head last night. I willed them to come back.
Frustrated at myself, I handed him the coffee. “Read.”
The eyebrows did their lifty-magic, and the hummingbirds turned to lava. Why did he affect me like this?
Because you love him!
And he loves you!
The voices in my head taunted me as Xavier turned the cup to read the message.
His eyes widened, and thenhesucked in a breath. “You love me?”
I nodded. “I do. I love you. It feels so right to say that out loud. I—I’m sorry it took me so long to say. I wanted to say it ages ago.”
“You did?”
“I did. I am madly in love with you, Xavier, and it scares me a little.”
He took the coffee and package from me and set them on the counter. Then he cupped my face in his hands and pressed his lips to mine. His hat slid to the side and off his head, but as per our usual fashion, neither of us made an attempt to catch it.
I wasn’t in charge of my hands anymore. My fingers found his silky black hair and laced themselves deep within it.So soft.
When I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore, I turned my head and burrowed into his chest, not caring that his scratchy wool coat was rough like sandpaper on my cheek. I needed to breathe and I needed to be in his arms and I needed to tell him I loved him again.
Our breathing synced, then slowed.
“Five days,” he said thickly. “In five days, we can kiss as long as we want to. You should up your cardio so you can keep up. I can skate a forty-minute game, you know. Once we’re alone, I promise to kiss you formuchlonger than that.”
