“Me too.” He chuckles. “But it got a Hellman’s of a lot better a few minutes ago.”
“You said hell.” I gasp as if I think he’s naughty and gape at him. “Grandma will be so upset.”
“It’s a mayonnaise brand,” he grumbles, eyes gleaming. “I already cleared it as safe with Goldie.”
This close, I can really appreciate how handsome he is. I’m grateful he came back to me.
“I was crying because I was overwhelmed,” I whisper, eyes watering. “I didn’t want that life.”
He lifts a hand and gently strokes his thumb over my jaw. “Yeah? What kind of life did you want?”
“A slower one.” I smile at him. “I’m liking the one I’m living right now.”
If I were expecting him to crash his lips to mine, I was delusional. Just as he does with his morning coffee, he takes his time, savoring everything. Stares into the windows of my soul. Caresses my jaw with his rough thumb. Inhales my scent even though I’m sure it’s questionable at this point in the day.
And then he ghosts his lips over mine.
Soft. Gentle. Perfect.
I close my eyes, part my lips, and invite the man I’ve fallen for in for a deeper kiss.
He tastes like lemons, but it’s not sour.
Just sweet.
Oh, so sweet.
Chapter 24
Elias
Iwas wrong about Nora.
Again.
Monroe will gloat and have an “I told you so” ready for me the next time I see him.
Worth it, though.
I’d gotten off my asterisk and stopped feeling sorry for myself. My gesture wasn’t grand by any stretch of the imagination, but it was enough. Nora forgave me for running off when I misread the situation.
And then we kissed.
I’m pretty sure I’ll never get that face paint out of my beard, but again, totally worth it.
“I’ve seen that look before,” Dad says with a grunt as he hammers in a nail for the shelving idea Nora had. “You’re hopelessly in love.”
I frown at him. “I’ve never been in love before.”
“Not on your face.” He chuckles. “On mine. In the mirror. With your mom.”
We work together to hang the shelf, both of us breathing heavily because it’s not exactly light. But eventually we get it hung. After, we stop to take a break, each of us downing our fresh iced tea Nora brought us before she disappeared to paint baseboards in the back of the house.
“It’s still new,” I tell him, glad my beard covers my red cheeks. “I barely know her.”
Dad shakes his head. “You’re about as smart as that box of nails over there.”
“Gee, thanks Dad,” I deadpan.
