Lia hurried back to her house, a little later than she’d planned. Gard was supposed to get here at five. A little early for dinner, but since Sammy would be dropped off back at his place around nine, they wanted time.
Alone time.
It was already four thirty and she still had to shower the bakery day off of her. Luckily, the roast and potatoes were already in the oven, and the green beans were in the Crock-Pot, but she still needed to bake the rolls—though they were all proofed and shaped and ready to go.
She threw them in the oven after the shower, then rushed back to her bathroom to dry her hair.
Gard liked it down. Which gave her a little thrill, admittedly. Shelikedthe way his eyes darkened when she left it down. The way she’d find him staring at her intently. Of course, he did that sometimes when her hair was up. When they were at the bakery surrounded by people or in the dark making out in front of her car before she drove home from his house.
But there were no teenagers waiting for them tonight. At least, not until nine.
And who knew when that was likely to happen again, so she had to seize the day, the moment.
After she told him about her past.
And if that’s kind of a big, fat turnoff, Lia?
She didn’t have time to consider that because someone knocked on her door. Nerves jangling, she opened it to Gard standing on her porch.
Her heart justtrippedover itself every time she saw him. She’d never had that feeling before. Maybe too mired in survival mode to notice anyone else, but more likely just…him. There couldn’t be too many guys like Gard.
He was dressed casually, and he’d gotten a haircut sometime since Wednesday when she’d seen him last. His blue eyes traveled over her quickly, and his mouth curved. “Hi.”
“Hi. Um, come in.” She moved out of the way, gestured him inside. He somehow looked taller in here—like all her stuff had been made for smaller people, when she wasn’t exactlyshort.
“Something smells amazing.”
“I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I don’t cook a lot since it’s just me and I bake all day. The rolls, I can guarantee you, will be excellent.” She didn’t feel nervous very often around Gard anymore but knowing that there was this…other step they were dancing toward had her stomach absolutely jumping.
“It’s a nice place,” he said, following her deeper into the house. The kitchen was separated from the dining room by a long counter. She didn’t ever eat in her dining room, using it usually as more space to put things she was baking or experimenting with, but she’d set the table tonight so her and Gard could.
“I just have a few last touches for dinner.” She pulled the rolls out of the oven. “Did you get a lunch today?”
Sometimes he worked through lunch, usually when he forgot to make himself one in the morning because he was rushing around trying to get Sammy to school. She liked that she knew little details like that. It made her feel like a part of their lives even when she wasn’t there.
“Uh, no, I guess I didn’t,” he said. Distracted.
She looked at him over her shoulder. He was staring out the window in her dining room. He had that pensive look on his face he usually only got when he was worried about Sammy. Which she supposed made sense. The girls were at a movie without parental supervision tonight, even if the parents were giving rides.
She turned off the oven and crossed to him.
“Everything okay?” she asked, putting her hand on his back.
He turned into the touch, and she reached up to brush a hand over his hair. She liked the thickness of it, the different shades of blond. She liked feeling like she had a right to ask him if things were okay and touch him with reassurance that they would be.
He settled his hands on her waist. “Yeah, just…work stuff.”
“Can you not tell me about work stuff?” She’d understand if he couldn’t. Probably better than he could fathom.
“I can, I just… I don’t really want to think about it right now.” He pulled her closer, and his mouth curved. She could tell he was trying very hard to smile, so she leaned into him. The tall, strongwallof him and that intent way he had of looking at her. Flutters turned into full-onpangs.
The strong, sensual pull of desire mixed with something achy in her chest like wanting to fix everything in the world for him.
So she pushed onto her toes and pressed her mouth to his. Just a gentle, reassuring kiss before they sat down and ate, and talked. Because they really did need to talk. After she told him everything, he’d understand and…
But Gard’s hands tightened on her hips, and the soft, reassuring kiss turned into something…sharper. Needier. Which swept through her in an instant. That pull. Thiswantthey’d had to put on the back burner for Sammy.
A worthy cause, but not a necessary one in this moment.
