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Juniper nodded. “That would explain it.”
He pulled his hands from hers and sat back. “Iwasshopping for a ring. But when I couldn’t find the perfect one, I started thinking maybe I’m not the perfect man. Not for you anyway, Juniper, and you deserve the best. Only the best. You deserve someone that will be there when you wake in the morning and someone to hold you as you sleep.”
His admission had her brows pinching together in confusion.
“The last time I visited your shop I stumbled across a little something in your planner. It was wide open on your desk.” He threw his hands up, palms out. “At first I didn’t think anything of it.” He scratched his jaw before making eye contact with her. “It took me a while to digest what I had read and realized I couldn’t be what you wanted. I hope you understand.”
It took a moment for realization to dawn.
Sting with a side order of burn. Ouch!
“Err…Yeah, I’m sorry. No one is really supposed to read that. It’s—” What? She never had to explain her list before. “It’s just something for fun that I did…do.” She scrunched her nose. Her heart picked up and she suddenly wanted the ground to swallow her whole.
“You’re right,” she continued. “We both are. Maybe it’s best we part ways after all. So you can find that perfect someone too.” With that thought came another. “Is there someone else? Someone that does that for you?”
“Not yet. But I’m hoping. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from you and yourlistis that there’s a perfect someone out there for me too. Maybe.”
When she met his gaze, it was swimming with heart and hope of what the future could bring. Her own heart swelled with happiness for him even if it did deflate that the thought of missing out on that happiness. Boy, she was one walking, talking contradiction.
“According to your list I think I’m a solid eight out of twelve?” He gave her a side-eye that had her sinking back in her chair.
Fuuuck.
She needed to be more careful with where she left her planner.
“Ya know, I have to admit. I’m wondering about those other four that I failed.”
“You didn’t fail anything, Eric. You shouldn’t change at all. You’ll find that special someone and I would be honored to help with that wedding someday.”
“I would like that.”
“Friends.”
He stuck a hand out and she took the offer. “Friends.”
The rest of the meal passed in easy conversation and as they pulled up to her shop later that evening, Eric helped her from the car. They walked to the door in silence and he gathered her in his arms for a long, warm hug.
“I meant what I said.” She pulled back and smiled up at him. She would miss the crisp, clean smell of his cologne and the way he ruffled his hair from time to time.
“What’s that?”
“Toss your list. It won’t help you find the happiness you deserve, sweetheart.”
She stared into his deep gaze and saw he only meant to help.
She offered a tight-lipped smile and nodded.
“All right then. I better go. If I can ever do anything for you, call me anytime.”
“Thank you, Eric. Take care, okay.” He leaned in and placed, tilted her chin up and claimed her lips in a warm, slow kiss and then he was gone, leaving her to find her way.
Saved again, Jun.But the small pain in her chest told her another story. She shrugged it away. Nothing a pint of vanilla and chocolate chip and a long conversation with Callie wouldn’t heal.
But damn that man could kiss.
There went a great man, just not her perfect man. She would find him. He was out there and God, fate, or destiny would see to it he fit every item on her perfect man list.
She hoped.
