His lips lift into the first true smile I’ve seen on his face today. That smile used to be the thing that brought me more joy than anything else. I would’ve traded every smile from every other person in the world if I could just have one more of them. The only smile that rivals it is Lennox’s, and as I think about it now, it’s because it’s always reminded me of Jamie.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Jamie – Now
Deciding I wanted to take Avi on a date was the easy part…
The challenging part? Actually making the date happen.
She’s been hard at work all week—refusing to take a night off because of her unexpected trip down to Glasgow last weekend. Her fear of failing my grandfather, or the kitchen, has had her nose to the grindstone from breakfast through dinner for eight straight days.
We’ve sought out quiet moments together—sitting on the garden swing when she takes her breaks mainly—but it’s not enough. We’ve had more than enough time to think about things, now we just need the time to discuss them. I’m ready to put into words the many thoughts I have in my head… and tonight I finally get to.
Not that this week’s been a complete loss. While Avi has been busy in the kitchen, I’ve been immersed inWith Love, From Skye.It’s taking shape in a way I’ve never experienced with my writing before, the storyline and characters filling the pages with thousands of words I didn’t know were possible for me to write. It’s nothing like I expected it to be—writing a love story—but I wonder if I should’ve listened to Avi all those years ago and given it a shot. I might be in a very different place right now—professionally and personally.
Even after learning of the role they played in it all, I can’t regret my other books. Those stories were the escape I needed during a time of my life when I felt dangerously unsettled. They’re a part of my soul in a different way than this book will be. Assuming I can get my agent on board to pitch it to the publisher.
But none of that could be further from my mind as I check my collar in the mirror. Tonight I get to take Avi out on a real date—something I stopped imagining would happen a long time ago. Even the downpour outside can’t dampen my spirits, but it is going to put a literal damper on my plan to walk to the high street for dinner.
In the lobby, I see Gran at the front desk talking with Freya, the town’s caffeine slinger. I swing around the front desk and plant a kiss on the side of Gran’s head. Her answering smile is bright and only grows wider as she takes me in. I’m in a pair of dark jeans, cuffed at the hems above my brown leather Chelsea boots, and a dark green button-down.
“That shirt brings out your eyes,” she says. “Doesn’t it, Freya?”
Freya does a long perusal of my body that would make me blush if she wasn’t nearly eighty. “Aye, it does, and it definitely brings out your muscles too,” she says with a wink in my direction. “Hot date?”
Okay… well, now I’m definitely blushing.
“Matter of fact, yes,” I say just as Avi walks in the front door, making my heart stop.
Sweet Jesus.
Her head is braced against the rain when she steps inside and she’s focused on brushing the wet from her boots on the mat, giving me a glorious minute to absorb every inch of her.
The navy-blue dress she’s wearing fits her body like a glove from her exposed collarbone—due to the off-the-shoulder cut—to where it dips in at her waist then flares out again over her hips.
I’ve never wanted my hands on those hips more than I do right now. Gone is her teenage-girl physique, and I don’t miss it even a little bit. This is a woman’s body, and there has never been a body I’ve been more drawn to. The dress hits her mid-thigh and her over-the-knee boots make my own knees want to buckle.
Fucking hell, is she trying to kill me?
She turns from the coat rack and catches me gawking, mouth open, eyes wide.
“Hi,” she says on a breathy sigh.
“Good evening, Avonlea,” Gran says, covering for my inability to speak. Her eyes twinkle and she exchanges a knowing look with Freya.
“Looks like I was indeed correct,” Freya says. “You’re smokin’ hot in those boots.”
Avi’s cheeks flush scarlet, and when she ducks her head in embarrassment, her hair falls forward to hide them.
“Alright, I think that’s enough of that,” I say, walking around the desk to greet her. With my hand on her elbow, I lean in to brush my lips against her cheek. The rush of having them against her skin is euphoric. “You ready?” I husk into her ear.
She shivers and looks up at me with those wide brown eyes I love so much. Our lips are only inches apart. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
Reaching behind her for her jacket, my fingers brush her back and she steps just slightly closer.
“Goodnight, Gran. Freya.” I shoot them a glance and Gran’s smug expression makes me want to roll my eyes.
“Goodnight, Jameson. Avonlea. Have fun.” She winks and I turn away, not needing to see the looks she’s exchanging with Freya right now or hear the words they’ll be speaking as soon as we walk out the door. I slide Avi’s jacket into place, letting my hands linger a moment too long on the nape of her neck under her hair where she holds it aside. Then I grab my own and slip it on.
