We focused on the rich green trees with the deep, Christmassy scent.
“Over here!” I shouted to Cade, when I found the perfect tree—perfect height, perfect fullness, rich green color, and that intoxicating smell.
I jumped up and down in excitement at my find as Cade approached behind me. Just as he reached my back, my duck boots slipped on the wet grass. My balance faltered, and I began to fall, when suddenly firm hands once again found my waist.
“Slow down, Champ,” he whispered from behind me, sending me into a giggling fit.
“Champ? Really?” I wheezed, doubled over in laughter. Of all the pet names... I was definitely not expecting “champ.”
“Well you are a champion varsity volleyball player,” he insisted.
“Was,” I corrected, sobering.
“You’ll always be a champ in my book,” Cade said affectionately. I swear I felt his lips brush my hair.
Realizing his hands were still firmly clamped around my waist, I slid out of his grasp. “Mr. Williams!” I called. “We’ll take this one.”
Keeping my emotional—andphysical—distance from Cade got harder and harder as the week progressed. We’d hug, or he’d put his arm around me, and he’d even hold my hand if I initiated it. He gave me gentle acts of friendly affection, but he never took it too far.
Cade was respecting my boundaries, boundaries that I was ready to take a bulldozer to. On our last night, I gave him a mischievous wink as I held my movie choice behind my back. I started it up, and it was an adaptation of Jane Austen’sEmma.Cade let out a faux groan but quickly settled into watching Gwyneth Paltrow and her fake British accent on screen. I’d seen it several times, so I found myself watching Cade instead of themovie. I snuck glance after glance at him, trying to gauge his mood.
Could I make a move? Would he want me to? Did he even see me like that?
He caught me staring.
“Man, this girl is into everyone’s business. I swear, I feel like I’ve seen this movie before... or maybe a different version. Something is familiar, anyway. We never watched this?” he questioned.
I chuckled. “I’ll let you in on a little secret—it’s the same plot as the movieClueless. Ya know, Alicia Silverstone, Paul Rudd.”
Recognition flashed across his face. “Ahhh, that’s what it is. Man, they really get you with that. Sneaky.”
“Yep. And10 Things I Hate About Youis based on a Shakespeare play.”
“Get out.”
“Hundred percent real. Look it up.”
He tapped on his phone, verifying my information.
“Well I’ll be. Damn, you’re quite a movie buff, B.”
I loved when he called me that. I leaned my body against him and brushed a quick kiss on his cheek.
“What was that for?” He looked genuinely surprised as I pulled back to my spot on the couch.
“This whole week. You’ve been amazing. Cooking for me, helping me with Maple, showing me Birch Hollow again...”
He swallowed. “It’s been my pleasure. Really, B. I needed this just as much as you.”
His eyes fell to my lips.
He wants to kiss me, I realized. I leaned in towards him again, this time focusing on his lips rather than his cheek.
His eyes darted like a wild deer.
After a moment’s hesitation, though, his lips were on mine. The taste of him lit me up inside like a long-dead spark comingback to life. My hands frantically roamed across his shirt, feeling the planes of muscle underneath.
“Oh my god . . .” I whispered.
