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“I have a different idea.”
Her brows pulled together, forming a crease between them. “You do?”
“Come to my house—for dinner. I’ll make you something delicious and we can spend some quality time together.”
Eloise pressed her lips into a thin line and tilted her head as she studied him. He shifted beneath her penetrating gaze. He wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if she could see right through him. Shane only hoped that she would look past the totally obvious fact that he was changing the subject. If she took the bait, maybe he’d have a shot at keeping this relationship under wraps a little while longer.
The ironic thing was that he’d never brought a woman to his place before. Brielle was the closest he thought he’d ever get to a woman, and she hadn’t been interested. Her strict policy of keeping everything casual kept them from taking that step.
Now his stomach hurt just thinking about the reason for extending this offer. Was he ready to bring Eloise to his place?
Immediately he knew the answer.
Yes.
Shane wanted more with Eloise. He just wished the circumstances were different. If only he’d met and started dating Eloise before his cousins had arrived. Then everything would have been different. Madeline wouldn’t be this sliver of glass in his finger that had been embedded beneath the surface.
He blinked when Eloise waved her hand in front of his face. She wore a worried smile. “Is everything okay?”
Nodding, he shifted again and looked away. “I was just thinking.”
“Yeah, I could tell.” She nibbled on her cheek, pursing her lips to the side. “You don’t really want me to come to your place, do you?”
His whole body went stiff and that swirling sensation in his stomach cramped up. “What? Of course I want you to come to my place. I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure.”
Eloise shook her head. “No, you don’t. I can tell. The thought of it makes you nervous or something.”
Shane reached forward and took both her hands into his. He fought to keep his voice steady as his gaze locked on her. “I could not be more certain of anything. I’m ready to share my life with you in whatever way I can.”
She gave him a flat look. “Anything except announcing to everyone that we’re an item.”
As much as he didn’t want to, he grimaced. She’d caught him again. Yes, he wanted to shout about their relationship from the rooftops. But hecouldn’t. If they both survived this situation, he made a mental note that he would be upfront abouteverythingregarding his past and his family. He just needed to get through this thing with Madeline and then he could move forward.
Eloise squeezed his hand. “There you go again.”
“Hmm?”
“You get all distant and zone out like you’re floating in some interdimensional timeline or something.”
His lips quirked upward at the corners. “I wasn’t aware that a cowgirl such as yourself would even know those vocabulary words.”
She snorted, rolling her eyes at him. “I readandI watch the occasional sci-fi movie.”
Shane took this opportunity to slip his hands around her waist and pull her into him. He stared at her, memorizing every plane and dimple her face had to offer. She was something special, and already he could feel her slipping through his fingertips even though their relationship had only recently started.
Was this what it felt to be in love—to feel so much anguish over the possibility of losing her?
It wasn’t just that. Whenever he saw her—caught a glimpse of her in the hallway—the tightness in his chest was almost unbearable. He found himself longing to spend every waking moment with her. Heneededher.
“Come to my place. Let me cook for you and we can talk about our plans for the future,” he said.
“You cook?”
“I cook,” he said, then added, “not as good as the chef and probably not as good as you, but I can put together a mean plate of spaghetti.”
For the first time since she arrived, he noticed her expression relax. Her walls had come down. He’d made progress.
Eloise placed her hands on either side of his face. “It’s a date. But the next one is riding and it’s gonna be at my place.”
