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Perfect. “So what you’re saying is that you want to be alone with me for dinner?”
“What I’m saying is I’m exhausted Miles and I don’t want to get dressed and go out to eat.”
I nodded and let a slow smile spread across my face. “Fine. Dinner at your place, I’ll cook. Clothing optional.”
Shannon gasped and then laughed when she realized what she’d said. “Fine. I have to go over a few things with Mara after we close up and then I’ll come to your place.”
“Don’t worry, I know how to pick a lock.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t mess up my locks, I just got them.”
“Did I say I know how? I meant that I am an expert lock picker. You won’t even know how I got in, but when you walk in you’ll know that I have been.”
“Oh my god!” She dug in her pockets and flung her keyring in my direction. “This doesn’t mean anything. Just don’t burn down my house, okay?”
“No worries. I’ll pick you up when you’re done here.” I didn’t give Shannon a chance to argue with me, I captured her mouth in a hot but much too short kiss and strolled from the bakery with a big ass smile on my face.
Tonight was the night.
The night.
Shannon
“So, Miles is gonna be your birth partner?” Mara’s tone was even, too even for her, and I looked up from my table, brows arched in question. “What? I think it’s a good idea.”
Okay, now I knew something was up. I set my tablet down and stared at her. “But?”
“No buts. I’m just curious if this means you both have finally gotten your heads out of your asses.”
I sighed. “I’m not sure if that’s what this means at all. Miles has feelings for me that he’s not ready to define, whatever that means.” I rolled my eyes, still feeling hurt and slighted by those words. “But if nothing else, I think we’re getting our friendship back and like you keep saying, he deserves a chance to see his kid being born. Right?”
“What do you think?”
“That’s the problem, Mara. I don’t know. I think I might be setting myself up for more heartbreak. Miles deserves a shot at being there but it feels too intimate, you know? Like this is something for couples, but how can I deny him this?”
“You could deny him easily, if you weren’t in love,” she shot back, singing the last two words very childishly.
“And therein lies my problem. I’m too soft. Too weak.”
Mara sighed. “There’s nothing wrong with admitting you want him to love you back, Shannon. I spent decades being angry instead of just admitting that I wanted Xander. Correction, I wasted decades being angry and then I wasted years we could have had together.”
“What does that mean for me?”
“It means stop being scared.” She laughed when I flipped her the bird and pushed away from the table where we’d gone over all the details for the other businesses. “Give yourself over to the possibility.”
“Of what?”
“Of…anything.” She smiled at my confused look and then pointed at the front door. “Lover boy is here. Enjoy your evening.”
“At least I’ll be well fed,” I told her as I gathered my things and left the bakery. “Hey. Were you waiting long?”
“Just got here.” Miles flashed a smile and took my hand, tangling our fingers together as he led me to his car, parked around the corner from the bakery. “Good day?”
I nodded. “Tiring but good. There were no leftovers today, can you believe it?”
“Absolutely, I can. Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” I sighed, unable to stop smiling at how much better the bakery was doing now that Mara and I were a team. As excited as I was, the short drive home was just long enough for me to sneak in a short nap. A much too short nap. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay. Want me to carry you inside?”
Yes. Totally. “My feet work just fine, Miles.”
“So do my arms, Shannon.” He didn’t bother to hide his amusement, taking my hand and pulling me in close as we climbed the stairs and stepped inside the Victorian, smelling like twenty different flavors of heaven.
“My goodness, what smells so good?” I toed off my heels and hung up my purse, determined that tonight would be a work-free evening, my first in a long time.
“That would be dinner. Come on.”
When he wore that smile, I realized, I would follow Miles anywhere. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” Miles kept hold of my hand, guiding me down the hall opposite the living room where there would, eventually, be an office, a playroom and the formal dining room. He stopped in front of the formal dining room and turned to me with a smile. “Ready?”
Suddenly I wasn’t ready. I was apprehensive. I was scared. But I nodded and tried for a smile. “Yep.”
