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Whip!
Whirl.
Wheee!
I’m not prepared for that reaction. And though it’s thrilling and feels good—it’s great to feel something besides regret or the million other things that come with a breakup and a rebound kiss—I don’t know what to do with it.
Theo has a shy smile as he gazes at the floor, scuffing his shoe along it.
What? Theo, shy? This is too much, and I pause, wiping down the mint green display case to give him a grin.
“Well, hello,” I say. I don’t mean it to sound flirtatious, but it probably does. I’m so glad Danene’s gone home, Camilla and Merre are in the kitchen, and Elijah’s at the post office with today’s mailings.
“How’ve you been?” He approaches the counter, his closely trimmed, barely-there facial hair drawing attention to his strong jaw, and his hair, glossy and the perfect shade of dark brown, almost falling over one eye.
Almost. Which is so picture perfect I have to squeal a little inside.
Hopefully I didn’t squeal aloud.
“I’ve been great. And you?”
Please don’t mention the kiss.
I’m saying this to both of us. Internally only, of course. Because it felt like, the other day, we were seconds away from a disastrous bringing up of The Kissing Event of the Year. Like the subject was on the tips of our tongues.
Great. Now I’m thinking of Theo’s tongue.
“Better now.” He lets out a big sigh. “I see you’ve been doing your magic with the cheesecakes.” He indicates the white boxes and Styrofoam sauce containers on the butcher block behind me.
I toss a glance back at the boxes. “They’re cool and ready to go. Let’s hope we’re incident-free taking them over to the dinner.”
Nerves twist my stomach. It’s the event we’ve been working hard on, and it’s finally here. I can’t believe we’re this close to pulling it off.
“You ready for this?” he asks, his gaze flitting over me.
“No. I’m sorta cursing Carl and Amanda right now. But ask me in three hours how I’m feeling and hopefully it will be a one-eighty.”
“It’s going to be amazing. We’ve dotted everyIand crossed everyT, Aria.” He leans forward on the counter, his hands splayed against it, and I’m lost in the brilliant blue of his eyes.
I offer a brief smile, my only way of saying thanks right now. He can praise me all he wants in a few hours.
“We’ve done a good job so far,” I tell him. “And you’ve done a lot of the tedious stuff. You drove all the way over to Colorado Springs to get the exact right sprigs of holly for the place settings.”
“I don’t question the methods behind your madness. I only wish you could have driven over with me.”
Even as my chest burns at him wanting to be around me, I shrug, placing my hands near his on the counter and leaning even closer, willing my voice to stay neutral, casual. “Maybe we should drive to Colorado Springs another time, just for fun.”
“There’s a lot we could do for funsies. I think reading the obituaries with you would be fun.”
“Wow.” I tip my head back and peer at him through narrowed eyes.
“I meant that as a compliment.” His gaze rakes over me. “You have a way of making random things exciting. And maybe the only reason I’m dreading the dinner tonight is because that’s one step closer to not being a co-host with you.”
I feel my lips twitch. This is dangerous. But so good. So thrilling.
I nod, as if to say, me too, but take a half step back. “So, how’s work been for you today.”
He blows a little raspberry. “I have to represent someone I don’t want to represent. I feel dirty just thinking about it.”
