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“Last time we were here we had your favorite. This is mine,” Ethan smiles.
I look at him suspiciously. There isn’t a world where I could imagine Ethan tucking into a key lime pie.
“I suspect there’s a story here,” I prompt.
“Not really,” Ethan shrugs. “It was served at dinner the evening I signed a really big deal and I’ve just associated it with success since then.”
Even in this casual setting Ethan still seems closed off, unwilling to share things about himself. I want to know him, get in his head and understand what it is that has him chasing after a simple waitress like me.
“You really aren’t saying much,” I say, hoping he’ll tell me more.
Ethan smiles, a full smile that tells me all the mystery is intentional.
“I think you’re far more interesting than I am,” he says, a twinkle of mischief in his eye.
I blush. “Hardly. I’m just a waitress.”
Ethan stares at me as if trying to look through me, and we sit slowly eating our pies. The bakery is quiet and we are completely alone. It must have taken some doing to have the entire bakery open so late just for two slices of pie.
“At first glance, someone could stupidly say you're just a waitress, but I know better. How did you end up at the club?” Ethan asked.
I sigh. “It’s a long story, but after I had to close Sweet Dreams, I just lost it and I struggled to put myself together. Nothing made me happy anymore,” I say.
I feel the tears burning behind my eyes and take comfort in Ethan’s hand over mine on the table.
“It really did break me and I’m trying to put myself back together again and working at the club is a big part of it,” I manage a smile. “It’s not my dream job, but it’s a start. I’m off my best friend's couch,” I laugh.
Ethan smiles back, his finger draws circles on the back of my hand and I squirm.
“You must be exhausted,” he whispers, intensifying the feeling of intimacy between us. “Let me take you home.”
We climb into the car and in the warm darkness I fall asleep leaning against Ethan. He feels like a safe place. Like home.
“Sleeping beauty, you’re home,” Ethan whispers, gently waking me.
“Oh, sorry. I guess I didn’t realize just how tired I was,” I apologize.
Then, like he had done every time we had gone out before, Ethan climbs out of the car and walks around to open the door for me.
“Thank you for giving me a happy ending to this awful day,” I smile, walking to the door with Ethan’s hand in mine.
“Actually, it was you that made my day,” Ethan smiles.
We stand at the door smiling at each other for a moment. I know what’s coming and it makes my knees weak. Ethan leans in and I’m frozen in place, my stomach fluttering. I feel my eyes close the moment our lips touch.
His warm, soft mouth presses against mine and I feel like I’ll explode like a glitter bomb and cover him in sparkles. His tongue strokes against my lips and meets mine through a small, weak parting.
I fall into his open arms and feel his firm body against mine, his hands tightly around my waist. I’m breathless. Engulfed in the passion of the moment, I forget myself and where we are until my downstairs neighbor brushes past me to get to their door.
We break our kiss and for a moment I wonder if my legs will hold me.
“Goodnight beautiful,” Ethan smiles.
I can hardly speak.
9
Cassidy
