I swallowed then... "Promise?"
Tolliver leaned forward, and I couldn't believe I'd just said that. Couldn't believe he was closing the distance. He was only inches away when we heard footsteps in the hall. We broke apart, putting some much-needed distance between the two of us, and only seconds later, my dad stepped into the room.
"Just checking on the progress," he said, wearing a tight smile before it relaxed into something genuine.
I got the sneaking suspicion that he was checking up on me and Tolliver, but I couldn't be sure. Also, I was grateful. I'd almost kissed Tolliver again, and I wanted that far more than I should.
"I'm glad," I said, and Tolliver shot me a quick look.
"The shelves look good," Dad said.
"Yeah, but I think I'm going with option one."
He lifted a brow. "What option was this?"
"Two," Tolliver said, rolling his shoulders, with a small smile. "She wasn't sure what she wanted."
While I searched Tolliver's face for a deeper meaning to those words, Dad gave a low whistle. "That's a lot of books to move, Freya."
"Hey," I said defensively, "I don't have as many as Lottie."
"I wasn't judging, just commenting."
"Sounded kind of judge-y."
He lifted his hands and looked to Tolliver. "Glad it's you, not me. Good luck."
"Thanks," Tolliver said.
"Love you, daughter."
I rolled my eyes and said, "Yeah, love you too," as he left. Once we were alone again, Tolliver met my gaze.
"So, do you know what you want?" he asked.
I nodded with certainty.
I knew what I wanted for my bookshelves.
But my love life?
That was a whole other story.
* * *
The next day, Tolliver showed up wearing a fitted black t-shirt, dark wash jeans, and a white apron with lace trim that perfectlymatched the little white lace choker around his neck. When I opened the door, I nearly died with laughter.
"And you said they don't make these in my size," he said.
"You...you..."
I couldn't catch my breath.
Tolliver arched a brow, crossed his arms, making the duster in his hand flutter, and I lost it again, laughing until tears ran down my cheeks.
"It's okay, Kent. I know I look good."
"You're gorgeous," I managed to choke out.
