She gasped, shoving the sheet into her purse, wrinkling it in the process as she faced Tate. He was holding a cardboard cup carrier with her drinks. Apparently, she’d been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard the barista call her name. “Thanks,” she murmured, pointedly avoiding Tate’s question. “See you around, Tate.”
With those parting words, she took off. Her hands didn’t stop trembling until she arrived back at the cabin. It had been a few days since she’d been able to run to town for groceries. She’d picked up a new puzzle and the pumpkin lattes after she got everything else Jacob needed. It was getting late and she almost regretted picking up the drinks. But they could have them with dinner. It was the thought that counted, right?
She gathered the bags then reached for the drinks and shut the car door with her hip. Then she headed for the house. Upon getting closer, she realized she could hear the faint sound of music. A window was open somewhere in the house which wasn’t the strange part. Being fall, it was nice to let some fresh air into the cabin to help circulate things.
Nope, the window being open wasn’t strange at all.
The music was a little odd. Jacob didn’t usually listen to music. Or he hadn’t since she’d moved in to help him.
But then the weirdest thing happened. The distinct blaring of a smoke alarm interrupted the music playing.
She fumbled with the bags and reached for the doorknob. It took a moment to push her way into the cabin and when she did, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Jacob, still wearing his neck brace and cast was also clad in a white dress shirt, slacks and an apron. His hair was getting alittle long and it was clear he’d attempted to style it but had gotten frustrated because there were still parts of it that hadn’t been tamed. He’d shaved, too, and there were little white tissue bits clinging to where he’d nicked himself.
She drank in the whole sight of him at the stove attempting to fan out the smoke from whatever it was he’d been trying to cook. The alarm still blared, and Jacob was muttering curses.
Hallie shifted her attention to the small table that had been set up with a tablecloth she didn’t even know Jacob owned. It had a candle that had already been lit, but it was melting too fast and it looked to be nearly halfway gone. Wax dripped out of the candle holder onto the table cloth and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a small scorch mark on the linen as well.
Despite the smoke, something smelled good.
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry but ended up doing the former as she let the bags slide out of her arms and rest on the floor.
This had Jacob freezing in place. He must not have noticed her coming in. He spun around but it wasn’t nearly graceful enough and he had to catch himself with a hand to the counter. Unfortunately, right where he’d put his hand was a bowl of salad and the dish went tumbling to the ground.
Lettuce, shredded carrots, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers went flying.
Hallie brought her free hand to her mouth to stifle another laugh while Jacob scowled. Then he looked around the room at the disaster he’d created and sighed.
She shook her head, her giggles continuing. “Don’t get frustrated. This has to be the best surprise I’ve ever been given.” She put the drinks on the counter and moved closer to Jacob. “You did all this for me?”
His jaw was tense but the moment she slipped her arms around his waist, she felt him relax. “It wasn’t supposed to go this way. I was supposed to…” He sighed his head tipping back as much as it could. “I was supposed to show you that I’m a catch.”
“Jacob,” she breathed out his name like a prayer, “you don’t have to prove anything. I already know you’re a catch.”
He snorted derisively then gestured around them. “This is a disaster.”
“This? Is perfect.” She rose up on her toes and pressed a kiss to the tip of his nose. “Now, tell me what’s burning so I can figure out if we can salvage any of it.”
Jacob sighed again. “Dinner is fine. You’re smelling the soufflé.”
Her eyes widened. “You made us asoufflé?”
“Clearly not, as it’s burnt.”
She laughed again, earning a flat look from Jacob.
“This isn’t funny,” he muttered with exasperation, but there was a hint of amusement in his own eyes that he couldn’t hide from her. Not anymore. She was getting to know him so much better than she’d ever thought possible.
“Well, I think that just means that we should eat our dinner then we’ll have a different kind of dessert.”
He peered at her, unsure. “You don’t seem upset.”
She laughed again. “How could I possibly be mad. This?” She pulled back and gestured to everything. “I couldn’t have asked for a better first date with the guy of my dreams.”
That got a smile from him, and it felt like the biggest win of her life. She’d gotten Jacob to give her a genuine smile. One that showcased his dimples and the twinkle in his eye.
Hallie feathered her fingers through his hair, taming the parts of it that had refused when Jacob had made his attempts. She tilted her head and met his eyes. “Would you like me to trim this for you?”
