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I dug my fork into them and closed my eyes as I held them on my tongue. “All right. You have to teach me how to make them,” I said once I swallowed.
The way he looked at me melted my insides. “I’d be glad to. On one condition.”
“Uh-oh,” I said as he slid onto the stool beside me. “What is it?”
“You promise to see me again?”
“Is that all?” I stuffed another bite of potatoes into my mouth. “I think that’s fair.”
“Fair?” He cut off a piece of steak. “I was hoping for a little more enthusiasm than that.”
“I’m a slow learner.” I nudged his shin with my foot. “Might take a couple of lessons.”
The smile that turned the corner of his mouth up flipped me upside down. “I’ll willing for as many as it takes.”
“This whole meal needs to go on my menu as a special. We’ll name it after your dad.”
He looked so pleased that I thought he would explode with pride. “You’re going to inflate his ego.”
“I think it’s worth the risk.”
Andrew studied me for a moment. His scrutiny didn’t make me uncomfortable. The opposite, actually. To feel desire to be closer to another person was terrifying, but welcome at the same time.Odd.
I reached across the island for his hand. He blinked at it a few times before placing his palm in mine. His warmth enveloped me, coasting up my arm and spreading throughout.
A sharp gasp escaped me.
“I’m supposed to be going slow here,” he said hoarsely. “I’m finding that exceedingly difficult.”
“Thank you for trying.” I squeezed his fingers. “Just this,” I lifted our hands and then gestured around the room, “is huge for me.”
He didn’t force me to elaborate. “It is for me too,” he admitted. “I-I know we haven’t known each other very long, but there’s something here. Something I don’t want to let go of.”
“I feel it. But—”
“We can go at your pace. I don’t want to see anyone else. And I really don’t want you to.” He brushed his thumb across my cheek. “You’ve got me all tongue-tied, Bright Side.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“I want to find out everything.”
If only he knew. He really, really didn’t. I wanted to keep him from the truth too. The ugliest parts. Some of it, he’d have to know. I wished I could keep the worst of it from him.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
He appeared disappointed yet pleased by my honesty. “How about this? I’m only going to be with you. If you don’t want to call us exclusive or label it, I’ll live with it.”
“I won’t see anyone else, either,” I said softly. “But I need to go slow.”
“As slow as you want.” He kissed the back of my hand. “Your dinner’s getting cold.”
I smiled down at my plate. “I forgot about the food.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
After a few minutes of eating,I broke the comfortable silence.
“What happened to your dad? He seems like such a terrific man. I figured someone would snap him up in a heartbeat.”
