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“Sure.” Dad harrumphed, then he and Mom left the office to get ready for their date.
I flopped onto the small sofa beside a basket of bows with a sigh. Sure, living with my parents had perks. And like I’d told Thatcher, with the hours I worked and the fact that they could barely afford to pay me most months, it just made sense.
But the fact that they seemed to forget I wasn’t a teenager anymore was a hard pill to swallow. I yearned for independence, but at the same time, I’d never ask for a raise or cut my hours so I could supplement my income.
So, for now, it was what it was.
Someday, when our efforts paid off, and the shop was thriving, I’d finally get my own place. It would be a cute little house, surrounded by trees, with a wraparound porch and two rocking chairs. One for me, and one for my future husband.
You know, the one I probably wouldn’t find until after business was better and we could afford to hire more employees.
My mind flashed to Thatcher. Couldhebe the one? What if this stranger actually did turn out to be the man of my dreams?
I closed my eyes, shutting that line of thinking down before I could get carried away. I didn’t even know this man. And he didn’t know me. Once he did, I was sure he’d decide I worked too much, and he didn’t like how I never had time for him.
They always did.
Speaking of time, I jumped off the couch and grabbed my purse. Thatcher might not be willing to be with me long-term after learning how dedicated I was to this shop, but like my parents, I deserved a night of fun.
And if I didn’t get my butt in gear and find a dress, that wasn’t going to happen.
* * *
Three hours later, at exactly four o’clock, Thatcher knocked on the door of my family’s apartment.
With a nervous sigh, I smoothed my hands down the front of my simple dark-pink cocktail dress, hoping I’d chosen the right one. It had been between this and a blue one, but pink was kind of my color. I’d paired the dress with a simple pair of wedge sandals that I’d gotten on clearance and a timeless clutch from my mom’s closet.
I went to the door, holding my breath as I opened it. Thatcher stood on my doorstep with his hands in his pockets, wearing a dark-blue button-down shirt that he’d cuffed up to reveal his strong forearms. He wore khaki slacks with a brown belt, and matching brown shoes.
When my gaze landed back on his face, I found a warm smile. He looked just as good all dressed up as he had in a simple T-shirt and jeans. But I had a feeling the butterflies in my stomach would’ve been there no matter what he was wearing, as long as he was also wearing that smile.
“Hi,” I said shyly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ears.
“Hi. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
He stood there for a moment, just staring at me, then shook his head with a quiet laugh that shook his shoulders. “You ready?”
I nodded, stepping out and locking the door behind me.
The whole time I’d been getting ready, I’d been nervous. And I’d expected to feel nervous for the rest of the night. It was a date with a stranger, after all.
But instead, when Thatcher offered me the crook of his arm, I slid my hand in place without a second thought.
My skin tingled as I held his arm, and I grinned at the sight of his shy smile. Maybe there was some truth to what he’d said earlier. He’d seemed incredibly outgoing and confident on the surface—I mean, the man invited me to be his wedding date, and we’d only just met—but now that I was looking closely, I could see the more reserved side.
And it was adorable.
Thatcher escorted me to the parking lot, and we rounded his car to the passenger side. Without hesitation, he opened my door and released my arm. But when I looked inside, I froze.
“Oh, sorry,” he said, reaching in and grabbing a pair of black boots from the floorboard and tossing them into the backseat. Then he stepped back and held out his hand to help me in.
I blinked at the spot where the boots had been, then at his hand, and finally at his face. “Were thosefirefighterboots?”
I figured I already knew the answer unless they were part of a Halloween costume. Though, that wasn’t likely, considering it was March.
He chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with the lift of his cheeks. “Yeah, they were.”
