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“Food’s here,” she whispered against his mouth.
“Sure is.” He sighed, and neither of them moved. She could lay in this recliner with him all night, starving, and she’d be happy.
“Why did you never get married?” she asked.
“For a while there,” he said. “I didn’t try. I was so focused on the agency. Then, when I thought I had a little breathing room, I went out with the wrong women.”
“Mm.”
“I want to get married,” he murmured against her ear, his lips catching there. “If there’s anything I’ve learned in the past few years of watching all my closest friends, it’s that I want that. I want to have someone safe to come home to at night. Someone who loves me, forgives me, champions me. But mostly, I just want someone—besides Sherman and Brother—to spend my downtime with.”
Sage’s stomach growled, and Ty chuckled. “Come on, pretty girl. Let’s get dinner off the porch and eat.”
“I only shaved half your face.”
“I’ll fix it up,” he said as he gently lowered the footrest so as to not throw Sage onto the floor.
She got to her feet and went around the couch, her goal to get the food. Ty came with her, his hand landing on her hip as she opened the door and bent to get the bags of food. When she turned back, he flicked the door closed but didn’t give her any extra room.
“You kiss me like you’re falling in love with me too,” he whispered. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not wrong.”
That seemed to satisfy him, and he backed up a step or two, took one of the food bags, and turned to go into the kitchen. She watched the drape that was still around his neck flutter as he walked, a smile filling her whole soul.
When faced with the question of:Would you rather eat on your deck alone or here with Ty?the answer was clear.
Crystal clear.
Now Sage just had to figure out how to get the blasted lump of fear out of her throat—and then step out of her own way.
25
Sage smiled as she threw the butter yellow tablecloth across the table and then started to straighten it. She was hosting Supper Club tonight, and it was the first time she’d have it in her new house. She hadn’t thrown Bessie a bridal shower here as she’d wanted to, because Bessie’s sister had come into town, and they’d done it at Bessie’s house.
But tonight, everyone would be coming, and Sage had been in the kitchen since lunchtime, putting together a fantastic summer menu for her and her friends. Watermelon granita. Potato salad. Corn on the cob. Fried chicken. She even had some red eye gravy to go with, and while she almost always used paper products for Supper Club, tonight she set out her Thanksgiving Day dishes.
Colorful glasses went on the table next, and then Sage started folding napkins. She had some things to talk about tonight, as Bea would be leaving for her National Parks road trip soon, and she wouldn’t be at Supper Club in July.
“They’ll know what to do,” she told herself. She’d invited Thelma too, and her sister had said she’d plan on coming. Wyn had wedding things to do tonight, but Sage had invited her too, and she liked it when Bessie’s daughter came.
She hummed to herself so her thoughts wouldn’t get away from her, but it didn’t really work. She and Ty had found a nice holding pattern for now, but she knew that was all it was. A holding pattern.
He wouldn’t stay in it for long, and Sage needed to be able to move faster. If only she knew how.
Her doorbell rang, and she turned away from the table. “Come in,” she called, because she didn’t get many drop-by visitors. Sure enough, Bessie entered the house, and for the first time in a year, she wasn’t carrying copious amounts of bread.
“Hey,” Bessie said as she moved into the back of the house. She took in the table and looked at Sage. “I like the yellow.”
“It’s cheery,” Sage said. She turned away from her friend to start setting out the napkins.
“You’re not very cheery,” Bessie said.
“I’m fine.” Sage didn’t mean to get her hackles raised, but she also didn’t want to be told she wasn’t happy. The truth was, she was happier than she’d ever been, so why couldn’t anyone see that?
“Did you and Oliver still want Ty and I to come to the movie this weekend?”
“Of course,” Bessie said, following Sage’s every move. Thankfully, Bea arrived next, and she brought Lauren and Joy with her.
