Page 106 of Make Me Swoon

Harvey is the sweetest man that I’ve ever met and I know that he would rather die than hurt me. He’s funny and goofy, and so supportive.

He’s not my father. He’s not going to make me miserable.

I think he might just be the man of my dreams.

ELEVEN

Harvey

It’sa week after our first date and while I’ve been going to The Culinerdy Cruiser almost every night to grab dinner and see her, it’s not the same as getting to be with her one on one.

I worked an earlier shift today, so I’m leaving Eye Candy Ink to head to her place. I park outside of Coraline’s apartment and head up to her floor. She must be waiting for me because she opens the door a few seconds after I knock.

“Hey, you look beautiful,” I tell her and she grins up at me.

“Thanks,” she says, rising up on her tiptoes and brushing a kiss across my lips.

It’s over far too quick for my liking and I promise myself that I’ll rectify that later in the night.

We’re both dressed casually which fits perfectly for what I planned for our date tonight. I take Coraline’s hand and lead her down the stairs and out to my car.

As soon as we’re both buckled up and I’m headed across the river to Allegheny Commons Park, I ask her more about how her interview with Max went.

“I think it went well. He seemed to like what I cooked,” she says and she seems excited about it.

I ask her more about what she cooked and what her plans would be for the menu if she got the position. She’s so happy, so animated, as she describes everything that she wants to do. I love seeing her so excited and I relax and let me tell her all about her big plans as we drive.

I park close to the entrance of Allegheny Commons Park and hurry to get Coraline’s door. We’re going to get dinner later, but for right now, since the weather is so nice, I thought that we would grab some shaved ice from the cart by the entrance and take a stroll through the park.

We both choose cherry and I take her hand once more as we start to walk.

“I’ve never been here before. This place is beautiful,” Coraline says and I’m glad that I could experience another first with her.

We walk over a little pedestrian bridge and take in the view of the Pittsburgh skyline as we finish off our shaved ice.

“How was work today?” she asks after we toss out our trash.

“Good. Busy, but we’re always busy.”

“Yeah, I heard that you guys book like a few months out,” she says, letting me intertwine my fingers with hers.

“I don’t keep up with the schedule. Maxine handles all of that and just hands us a list each week with our clients on it and what they want done.”

“Good system, I guess,” Coraline says with a smile and I grin.

“Yeah, I don’t really want to be in charge of the admin stuff but Maxine excels at it. Plus, she’s Zeke’s daughter and he owns the shop, so it’s nice that it’s all been kind of kept in the family.”

I tell her more about my family and extended family. She asks how I got into tattooing and I tell her that it’s kind of a family thing. She asks more about tattooing and the process and I love that she’s taking an interest in what I do and what I love.

“Ready for some dinner?” I ask as we make it back to the entrance to the park and she nods.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Pizza,” Coraline says right away and I’m surprised that she didn’t say something more upscale or fancier.

“From Basic Kneads?” I ask, naming a local favorite pizzeria.

“Duh,” she says with a laugh as I open her car door and I laugh too, falling a little more in love with her.

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