Chapter 29
This is it, the moment of truth. Bess will either love the surprise or possibly hate me for it. Like I’ve said, I’m not exactly the most romantic guy ever. A candlelit dinner while watching the sun set is romantic though, at least according to my mom and sister who listened to my entire date idea with eager eyes when I told them about it. They said the dinner would be a hit, no doubt. And so far, it has been. Bess and I are a little tipsy on the wine, but not drunk. It was just enough to loosen us up and melt away the awkwardness of a first date.
Now I hope my surprise makes her happy.
I hold out the basket, which wobbles in my hand. Bess eyes it curiously, like maybe it’ll bite her or something.
“Open it,” I say. “I spent hours trying to think of a way to make our first date special and memorable. I really hope you like it.”
“You mean it’s a gift? Not food?” she says, holding the basket out from her side.
I nod. “The basket was Abigail’s idea. The surprise inside it was mine.” The anticipation is killing me. I lean over and kiss her forehead and resist the urge to tell her to hurry up and open the damn thing.
Carefully, with furrowed brows and a look like she doesn’t quite trust me, Bess opens the lid of the basket.
A tiny little six-week old kitten meows up at her.
“Oh my God,”she says, tears falling instantly. She drops to her knees on the patio, setting the basket down gingerly. The kitten walks to the edge of the basket and puts her paws up on the rim.
“Oh my God, Josh.” Bess covers her mouth with her hands while tears spill over her eyelashes. But underneath it, she’s smiling as she gazes up at me. “You got me a kitten?”
I sit down next to her, a bundle of nerves and anxiety twisting up in my chest. “Do you like her?”
Bess scoops up the little fur ball and holds it close to her chest. The kitten was the prettiest one in the shelter, solid grey with bright blue eyes. It meows and snuggles against her hands.
“I love her,” Bess says. She tilts her lips up to mine and I kiss her, then I move to sit next to her and rest my chin on her shoulder while she plays with the kitten.
“She has toys, food, and water in the basket too,” I say, lifting the other side of the lid. Abigail did an excellent job of packing everything in neatly, and the little water bowl has a lid over it for the journey. I pull off the lid, but I don’t think the kitten will be drinking anytime soon, because she seems very content to be curled up with Bess.
“Thank you,” Bess chokes out. Her voice is all muddled from the happy tears. I brush her hair behind hear ears and wipe off a tear with my thumb.
“I know you missed Missy a lot,” I say, running my finger over the kitten’s fluffy head. “And you said you were too sad to pick out a new kitten, so I thought I’d save you the heartache and bring one to you.”
“She’s perfect,” Bess says, leaning her head against my chest. In the distance, waves crash onto the shore and the sun’s golden rays cast a romantic glow over a wonderful evening.
“She’s had her shots and everything,” I say while Bess continues to cuddle and whisper to the cat. “And I asked your grandma about it and she gave me the okay.”
“You didwhat?” she says, looking up at me with wide eyes.
I shrug. “I didn’t want to get you in trouble.”
She sighs, sinking back against my chest. “You’re the greatest guy ever.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you since the day we met,” I say, and it makes her laugh. “Have you picked out a name?”
Bess holds up the kitten, its gray fur so fluffy it nearly covers her hand completely. “Blue. Because of her eyes, and the beach.”
“Blue,” I say, trying out the name on my tongue. “That’s a perfect name.”
“I love you,” she whispers to the kitten before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. After a few minutes of playing, Blue tires herself out and falls asleep in Bess’s arms. She carefully puts her back onto the pillow at the bottom of the basket, which we move to the inside of the beach house, setting it on the rug in the living room.
I settle on the couch and watch Bess croon over the kitten. When she’s satisfied that Blue will be asleep for a while, she joins me on the couch.
“I can’t think of a better date,” she says, twisting her fingers into mine.
I kiss her, letting my tongue part her lips, gliding across her cupcake flavored lip gloss. “I can,” I whisper against her mouth.
Her eyes flash with this seductive look that turns me on faster than a kiss ever could. She moves onto my lap, straddling me on the couch.
“You sure you wanna make out in front of Blue?” I say against her lips.
“She’s asleep,” she whispers back, her hands roaming down my chest. She grinds against me, sliding her hands around my neck. I groan in pleasure as her perfect boobs press against me while we kiss.
“Well then,” I say, letting my hands grab onto her ass while we make out. “Let’s have some fun.”
