“Forgive our curiosity, Rose.” Sara fixes a gentle expression on me. “We’ve done our best to hold it in, but as you can see, it’s got the better of some of us.”
“Reed’s, ah, never brought a woman to family dinner before.” Russ does a better job of hiding his glee than Jovie, but not by much. “This is a first out here to the cabin, too. We’re all excited by the special occasion.”
Lucy snickers, but her smile’s genuine. That’s the thing: they’re teasing him, but it’s supportive, too. They seem truly happy for us. I can’t be offended by their questions when it so obviously comes from a place of love.
Also, I really want to know the answer to the questions.
“I’ll tell you,” Reed says, “but only because I need the heart emojis to stop filling up my phone.”
“I’ll stop!” Jovie’s bouncing in her seat, pinging with excitement.
Reed shifts, tucking me closer to him. “Rose is warm and kind, with an open heart.” He drags out his words like he’s trying to stall a dentist visit, but he still answers. And maybe most importantly, he doesn’t clarify that he’snotin love with me. Keep that light of hope alive. “She connects with people in ways I can’t imagine trying, going out of her way to make sure everyone around her feels welcome and valued. She can make me laugh on my worst day. She sees my gruff face and somehow wants to get closer.”
He’s got his whole family sighing. Yes, even Graham.
He clears his throat, hefting one giant shoulder. “She’s the best person I know.”
Is this what swooning feels like? My body’s gone all floaty, and if it weren’t for Reed’s arm across my shoulder, I’d lift up out of my chair and fly away into the clouds. I stare at him, reminding myself we’ve got a very rapt audience, and it would be completely inappropriate to throw myself into his arms.
But oh, how I want to.
“Rose,” Sara says gently. “This might be a little much. But I’d love to hear what drew you to Reed.”
She’s so sweet. I can tell it’s her motherly affection for her son that’s making her ask and not simple intrusiveness. She wants to hear all the good things I see in him because she sees them, too. But I’d probably answer the question even if she was just snooping.
Jovie and I have a lot in common, honestly.
“Well…” I’ve never quite put those thoughts into actual words and never thought I’d do it for the first time in front of his family. But if he’s willing, I am, too. “At first, it was that he respected me at work. He treats me like I’m capable, and he trusts my judgment. I’ve never really had that before.”
Reed’s quiet respect and trust shows he values me not just as an employee, but as a person. Without even knowing he wasdoing it, he created space for me to stand on my own. He made changes to Perk Me Up based on my advice and credited me for their success. It’s an exhilarating feeling, to be honest. And probably why I keep finding more projects to tackle, so I can capture it again.
“And then…it was little things. When I talk, he really listens. He drops everything when someone he cares about needs him. He can be gruff sometimes, but he’s always gentle with me.” Pretty sure my voice has gone too soft and mushy to maintain any sort of coolness here, so I might as well go for the gold. “And he looks incredible in his Perk Me Up apron.”
The table erupts in laughter again, but I mean it with my whole chest. This man is hot.
He leans in to nuzzle his nose at my temple. “Thank you,” he whispers.
Yes, we have an audience. But they’d probably love it if I gave him another kiss. Really, it’d be rude not to give the people what they want.
I brush my lips to his, and when I draw away, he’s smiling. And that’s it. I know. I’m no longer falling, falling endlessly—I’ve landed on solid ground. Right here in his arms. I am desperately, irrevocably in love with this man.
“That’s it,” Nathan says, slapping his palm on the table. “I’m buying flannel shirts.”
30
reed
BringingRose to the cabin amplifies everything I feel for her, expanding in my chest until it’s borderline uncomfortable. The affection, understanding, and genuine appreciation coalescing like controlled burns merging to create a raging inferno. They build and they build, with no place to go. I can’t very well take her into the woods, tell her how I feel, and ask her to have her way with me.
Icould. Probably shouldn’t.
Flames dance in the fire pit out back, the sky fading into ink behind the trees. We’ve gathered camp chairs and logs around the fire, everyone bundled into a second layer for the evening. Lucy and Jovie help Rose roast her marshmallow, showing her how to get it golden brown. She’s gorgeous out here, no makeup, her hair messy around her shoulders, wearing my sweatshirt and a pair of flannel pajama pants. She’s exactly how I want her.
No. I want her even more undone than this.
I toss a camp blanket over one of the logs and take a seat. When Rose comes over with her assembled s’more, I pat my thigh. Her gaze darts down to my leg, then back up, a smirk curling along her mouth. She moves closer, perching on my laplike she doesn’t want to put her full weight on me. I wrap one arm around her back, settling her against me, and she relaxes into it.
“If you start making yummy sounds, we’re going to have words,” I whisper.
