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“Inside where?” I glanced around for a coffee shop. I could use a cup. Driving almost two hours in the spring sunshine had made me sleepy.
“My building.” Sean came around to open my door but I was already out. He shut it behind me. “I bought this one.” He pointed to the storefront in red brick with two floors above. “For my future restaurant.”
“What?” I was astonished. “You bought a building? Here?”
He nodded, looking pleased with himself. “Yep. The prices here are much more affordable, obviously, but some day in the not-so-distant future I want to move here. Hopefully start a family.”
Oh, God, now I was really warm on the inside. I shoved my hands in my back pocket so I didn’t loop my arm through his and melt against him like a stick of butter. “That’s amazing, Sean. I’m so happy for you.”
“Yeah, because you can have my job once I leave,” he said, giving me a smile.
That made me laugh. “I know this is hard to believe, but I wasn’t even thinking about that. I was thinking it’s very cool you get to live out your dream.”
Sean found the key on his fob and opened the front door. It was hushed and chilly inside the building. He flicked on the lights. “Welcome to Sadie’s.”
“Sadie’s?”
He nodded. “My grandmother.”
Of course. I was astonished to feel tears pricking in the back of my eyes. What the hell? I never cried. I hadn’t cried since my parents funeral. In thirteen years not one tear had formed in either eye.
But I was standing in an empty storefront, a self-proclaimed cynic, a wall built around my emotions, and here Sean had an actual brick building that was a representation of sentiment and dreams. It made me feel like I’d been emotionally frozen for a decade, whereas he had embraced his love for his grandmother.
So there it was– moisture behind my lids. The tears didn’t fall. I was able to blink them away quickly but that they had even attempted an appearance took my breath away. I felt lightheaded and I dropped down into a squat, concentrating on breathing in and out.
“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding alarmed. Sean dropped down beside me and rubbed my arms. “Isla?”
I just nodded. Then when I spoke, my voice was tight. “It’s just… that’s a very sweet gesture. To name it after your grandmother. And I guess I just realized that I run away from my grief. I try to pretend it doesn’t hurt.” I forced myself to look up at him. “But by doing that, I ignore them. It’s like they didn’t exist.”
The tears reappeared. A drop rolled down each cheek, astonishing me. “I never meant to do that.”
There was nothing but compassion and understanding in his green eyes. Sean put his arms around me and pulled me close into a hug. His lips brushed over my lips and it was nice to lean into him, to have him hold me up.
“They know that,” he said. “Trust me, they know. You were trying to be strong in a tough world and you succeeded. You’re a very strong woman.” He pulled back, using the backs of his thumbs to wipe the two stray tears. “But you don’t have to always be strong. You’re not fifteen anymore. You can let people in. Ask for help.”
My throat was tight. “I’m not sure I know how to do that.”
“I’m no expert on letting people in. I hold everyone at arm’s length and blame it on my work hours.”
“Same.” I gave a small, strangled laugh.
Sean stood up, pulling me to my feet. He cupped my cheeks with his palms in a way that almost made me panic, it was so tender. But I wanted to stay in his embrace. Hell, I needed to stay. His voice was soothing, his expression concerned and caring.
“But I want to be with you, Isla, for real. I want to give this, us, a real shot. I don’t want this to be casual. I want to build something with you. Am I way off-base here that maybe you and I could be a pretty damn good fit?”
“No. You’re not off-base.” We were a good fit. Hell, we were an amazing fit. I stared into his eyes. “I think we’re actually a lot alike.” Then because I felt vulnerable I did my usual cover-up. “Besides, I think I’m the only woman who can handle you.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “True. Likewise. You’re a ballbuster but I can deal with it.”
Sean gave me a soft kiss that turned my insides to oatmeal.
I was mildly embarrassed about breaking down but mostly I was just feeling giddy, like we were on the cusp of something momentous. Together, and for me, personally. It felt like I’d turned a corner in my life. “Show me around Sadie’s,” I said. “I want to hear your whole game plan.”
He stepped back, and took my hand, a smile lighting up his handsome face. I wanted to eat him with a spoon, he was so damn good-looking. I wanted to crawl into a bed with him and spend a whole weekend. I wanted to explore every inch of his body and I wanted to hold his hand.
I wanted to fall in love with Sean.
Maybe I already had.
