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I have no idea where we are or what we’re doing here until I see the gigantic screen hanging across a large building.
“A drive-in?” I ask in excitement. I didn’t know something like this even existed in New York.
“Yep.” He turns off the car, and we get out. I follow him to the back of the vehicle where he pops the trunk and pulls out two lawn chairs and a cooler that I assume is filled with food and drinks. I expected him to take me out to eat, maybe to a movie, but this is so thoughtful and different.
“I brought dinner and snacks,” he says once we’ve set up our chairs. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I brought a variety.”
“What movie is playing?” I ask as the commercials start.
“Pretty Woman.”
I can’t help the grin that spreads across my face. “That’s one of my all-time favorites. I haven’t seen it in years.”
Brody pulls out a bunch of finger foods, a bottle of wine, and a couple of bottles of water, and we spend the movie eating, drinking, and softly talking. The movie is as good as I remember, and his company is perfect. When the credits roll, I wish the night wasn’t over.
“I was thinking we could go for a walk,” Brody says as if he can read my mind.
“I’d like that.”
We pack up and head out, and Brody drives us to a park along the water. As we walk, he holds my hand, and my stomach tightens at the gesture—something that keeps happening every time he touches me. I think about how he was right: this is the best first date I’ve ever been on.
“Tell me about your kids,” he says, shocking me. The truth is, I only brought them up at Heart’s to shock him. I thought if I dropped the kids bomb, he would run—but he didn’t.
“They’re with my in-laws in Florida for the summer,” I tell him. “First time they’ve been away from me. It hasn’t even been a week, and I already miss them like crazy. They’re twins, eight years old and going into the fourth grade. Miles is four minutes older than Evie and takes his job as her big brother seriously.”
Brody laughs. “I love that. I was an only child until my brother and sister came along years later. Olivier is fourteen and about to start high school. He’s a huge techy and is currently working on making some gaming app. Penelope is the same age as your kids, and she’s girly as hell. Loves everything pink and sparkly. I take being their older brother very seriously.”
As I listen to him talk about his family, I can feel how much he loves and adores them.
“I stay busy with work,” he continues, “but I try to have dinner with my family at least once a week. Everyone loved your treats the other day. I wouldn’t be surprised if Savy stops in and buys everything you make.”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said about selling my products to other stores. Would you be able to point me in the right direction? With those assholes trying to take away my livelihood, I feel like maybe I should have a backup.”
Brody nods. “I can definitely help you. We can schedule a day and time to meet at my office. When—”
“Oh, no,” I cut him off. “I couldn’t afford you.” I laugh nervously, not wanting him to think I’m trying to take advantage. “If you could just maybe give me a starting point, I would be so grateful.”
“How much is the company who’s trying to buy you out of your lease offering you?”
“Not enough to start over,” I say honestly. “Leases in New York have gone up. What I pay a month is almost embarrassing. I’ll never find another location anywhere in my price range. And even if it was enough, you can’t put a price on Heart’s. It’s where I grew up. When my parents didn’t want me, my grandparents took me in. I was raised in that coffeehouse. It’s where I felt safe and loved and learned of my passion for baking. It’s where I found out I got into culinary school. Where Pete proposed. Where my kids had their first birthday.”
I swipe the fresh tears from my face, hating that I keep getting so emotional around this guy. “I’m sorry,” I say not for the first time. “Dating should be fun, and I keep making it not fun.”
“Stop,” he says, pulling me toward him until our bodies are almost flush. “I’m having a great time. And I love that you already feel comfortable enough to talk to me, to confide in me. I’ve had plenty of superficial, but with you, I see something beyond the surface, something deeper.”
His eyes lock with mine and then glide slowly down my face, landing on my lips, and I know what he’s thinking because I’m thinking the same thing. He wants to kiss me. But he’s not sure if he should since I’m all over the place and this is our first date. And had someone asked me if I would be okay kissing on the first date, I would’ve said no, but now, my answer is yes.
