“Bringing cake a month late is a pretty easy way to surprise someone.” She whirled her fork in the air.
“It’s still nice.” He draped his arm around her shoulders.
“Speaking of birthdays, do you think it’s possible to have the mural project ready to install for Chloe’s birthday by July 25th?”
“Sure. Can’t see why not.”
“Good.” She braced herself. This was a big step, but it felt right. “We’re celebrating Chloe’s birthday that weekend at the lake house. Mom and Dad would love for you to join us.”
“What do you want?”
This was not the time to hold back. She pressed her hands together. “I want you to be there more than anything.”
“Great. I’d love that too.”
“You don’t need to check your calendar?”
“Nope. I’ll rearrange it if I have to. I’ll be there. Family first.”
He was quickly feeling like part of her forever family.
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
The following morning, Whitney’s alarm went off early. It was Wednesday. Yoga morning. She grabbed her phone to find the schedule. It took some hunting to locate the schedule for this week online, but when she did… she was so relieved.
“Yes.” She kicked her foot in the air and sprang from her bed. Dreama’s class she could do. If it had been The Stretchinator again, she’d have rolled over and gone back to sleep.
She whirled up a smoothie and then texted Matthew. Weren’t artists into yoga and stuff like that? Maybe he’d like to join them.
WHITNEY: Good morning. Do you yoga?
MATTHEW: I’m not that artsy. More the boxing type.
WHITNEY: Thought I’d check.
MATTHEW: Pass, but how about coffee with me here afterward?
WHITNEY: Absolutely.
She put on her yoga pants and tank top, then tucked a dress and the essentials into a tote bag to take with her. She could even change at Matthew’s after coffee, before she went to work instead of in the locker room.
Two hours later, she walked into his building. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number. “I’m here, but I can’t get to your floor without a fob.”
“I’ll come get you. Hang tight.”
She waited, and it was a pleasant surprise when the doors opened and he was holding a mug of coffee in her direction, smiling at her.
“Join me?”
“I’d love to, sir.” She stepped into the elevator.
He handed her the coffee mug he’d been holding. “This is for you.”
“Thank you.”
“You could be one of those people who is cranky until you have coffee. I enjoy spending time with you, and I didn’t want to take a chance on that.”
