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Standing, I hold my hand out for her, and she takes it. When she’s eye level with me, she grins. “So what’re we gonna do with Big Daddy?”
“Several painted ones are placed at the entrance of the pumpkin patch. Maybe we should put it there until we leave? Then we can pick it up on the way out,” I say, and she nods.
“You’re so smart,” she says as I bend over to lift him, careful not to touch the paint. Carrying him to the front, I place it with the spider side showing.
“Oh no, turn it around.” She twirls her finger. “I want everyone in this damn town to see what you did.”
With a wink, I do what she says, making sure our initials are on full display.
“Best damn pumpkin ever.” She claps her hands together, and I stand beside her, smiling.
“I agree.”
We look over the other decorated ones, then we head back to the square. Members of the city council give the announcement that the bonfire will be lit in ten minutes. In the meanwhile, they pass out metal skewers and set up a table with ingredients for s’mores. I can’t remember the last time I had one.
Once the crowd disperses, Gemma and I head over and stuff fluffy marshmallows on the ends of our sticks. After the fire is roaring and the kids have gotten their fill, we step up and roast our mallows.
“The trick is not to let it catch on fire,” she explains, twirling hers carefully as I hold a plate with graham crackers and chocolate stacked. When it’s to her specification, she puts the gooey whiteness between and squishes it together. “You eat this one.”
“No, you go first,” I insist.
“How about we share? They always seem like a great idea until you eat half and realize it’s too much.” She chuckles, and I agree, taking the other side.
We sit on a bench and eat our messy dessert. “You might not be able to cook grilled cheese, but you’re the queen of s’mores,” I say around a mouthful.
When Gemma looks at me, there’s a bit of marshmallow on the corner of her mouth. I smirk.
“It’s on my face, isn’t it?”
Nodding, I lean over and scoop it off with my thumb, then lick it from my finger. She watches me intensely as the underlying current streaming between us nearly takes me under. “I’ll get some napkins.”
Gemma keeps her eyes on me as I get up and stalk across the way to grab a few, then bring them back. Once finished, we sit enjoying the evening breeze until the band begins and the twinkle lights come on. Couples move to the dance floor, and I stand and hold out my hand.
“Will you dance with me?”
She nods, and I lead her to the middle, then wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her close. Our bodies move together as we rock back and forth. I’m ready to swoop her into my arms and carry her home. Gemma hums the melody of the song, and listening to her tugs at my heartstrings. This woman is everything I’ve ever wanted, and I can’t believe she’s actually mine.
The beat picks up, and I twirl her around, then dip her down. When she’s face-to-face with me, she moves forward, allowing her lips to crash against mine. We lose ourselves in the music, and she’s so ravenous for me that my control slips when she tugs on the hem of my shirt. The song fades off and “Cotton Eye Joe” starts playing, which is a crowd pleaser. Children rush to the center as we laugh and get out of the way.
“Let’s get out of here,” I suggest, and her cheeks flush. I grab her hand and lead her away from the crowd. The music echoes off the buildings as we walk toward the patch to get our pumpkin. I hoist it up on my shoulder, and Gemma chuckles at the size of it. Before we leave, we stop at the booth and pick up the envelope with our pictures waiting for us.
Gemma opens it, and I see her emotions bubble when she pulls them out.
“Look at us,” she says, showing me the prints.
“T&G,” I whisper. “Forever.”
“Forever,” she repeats. “I’d like that.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE
GEMMA
The last weekwith Tyler has been unreal, and I question if I’m living in one of my favorite romance movies. It’s different to be in a relationship where my partner actually cares. Tyler is different and wants to spend every free moment with me.
Every day after work, we’ve had dinner together and hung out. Most of the time, he cooks, and I watch, but I’m happy to learn a few things in the kitchen. Our night typically ends with us watching a movie, and even though I want more, we still haven’t had sex. Although I just ended a long-term relationship, when I’m with Tyler, it doesn’t feel like we’re moving too quick. He’s not a rebound and has always meant much more to me than that.
When I think about Tyler and our past, and liken it to what I had with Robert, there’s no comparison. The feelings I have when I’m with Tyler run deeper than the surface level and nearly cut to the bone. While I haven’t voiced that to him because the thought is scary, I can’t deny I’m falling head over heels in love.
