It was adorable.
“Hi yourself.” I took the flower. “Where did you find a sunflower?”
“Emma’s shop. I may have called ahead and asked her to save me one.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Is that weird? Is bringing flowers to a date weird now? I haven’t done this in a while…”
I kissed him, cutting off his rambling. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“I don’t know about perfect, but I’m trying.” He offered his arm. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
We walked to his truck, and opened the door for me. Old-fashioned and sweet and so very Dex.
“So where are we going?” I asked as he pulled out of the driveway.
“Dinner at the Italian place downtown. The nice one, not the pizza joint.” He glanced at me. “Then maybe a walk through town? I thought we could hit that ice cream shop you’ve been eyeing every time we drive past.”
“You noticed that?”
“I notice everything about you.”
My heart did that flutter thing again. I was going to need to get that checked. This couldn’t be healthy.
Downtown Willowbrook was busier than usual for a Thursday evening. We had to park a block away from the restaurant, which meant walking through the center of town. Past the bookstore where Mrs. Harper was closing up. Past the coffee shop where a group of teenagers sat outside. Past Dylan’s Place, where I could see a few familiar faces through the windows.
Dex took my hand.
It was such a simple gesture, but it felt monumental. His fingers laced through mine, steady and sure, as we walked down Main Street like we had every right to be together.
Because we did.
“Dex! Leigh!”
We turned to see Emma waving from the doorway of her flower shop, a huge grin on her face.
“About time, you two!” she called, not even trying to be subtle.
Dex laughed. “Thanks, Emma.”
“You’re welcome! And Leigh, I saved some extra sunflowers for you. Come by anytime!”
“Will do!” I called back, feeling my cheeks heat.
“By tomorrow morning, literally everyone in a twenty-mile radius will know we’re official.”
“That fast?”
“Oh yes, the gossip here is the equivalent of a high-speed internet connection.”
I laughed despite my nerves. “Good to know.”
We reached a cute little restaurant a few moments later. Vittorio’s looked charming and intimate with checkered tablecloths and candles in wine bottles. The hostess, a woman in her sixties with kind eyes, lit up when she saw Dex.
“Dexter Moore! And you must be Leigh!” She pulled me into a hug before I could react. “I’m Maria. Your table’s ready. I gave you the good one in the corner.”
“Thanks, Maria,” Dex said warmly.
“Anything for you, caro. Your grandparents loved this spot. I’m glad you’re carrying on the tradition.” She winked at me. “And bringing such a pretty girl too.”
