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I look down at the box of cards and wonder if my daughter is right. I’ve always used the cards to help me make important decisions in my life, but my ability to interpret what they were saying was shaken after my relationship with Ian. I shuffle the deck of cards in my hands, trying to think of the exact question to ask that will set my nerves at ease but come up empty.
I’ve been so focused on all the bad things that have happened in my life that maybe this time, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, I should try and focus on what could go right. Things with Connor and me might crash and burn, but what if they don’t? What if he really is the man that I’ve been looking for my entire life, and I miss my opportunity to find out?
“You know what? I’m good,” I say with conviction before placing the deck of cards on the top of my dresser and turning toward Love.
“I’m proud of you, Mom.” Love wraps her arms around my waist and gives me a quick squeeze.
“You know what? I’m proud of myself, too.”
“Hurry or we will be late,” Love calls, pulling me toward the stairs.
“It’s now or never,” I whisper to myself. I don’t needa deck of cards to tell me Connor and I are attracted to each other; I know that deep down in my soul. Maybe, just maybe, this time, my heart and the cards are in agreement.
Chapter 14
Connor
Ipull the steaks and asparagus off the grill and head back inside. As I enter the kitchen, Jade comes barreling down the stairs. “Do you need any help with anything?”
“I think I have everything covered, Squirt.”
“Can you please—you know what? Never mind. You’re going to call me Squirt no matter what. I might as well embrace it.”
“That’s the spirit.” I chuckle, planting a kiss on her cheek before placing the plate of food into the oven.
“Dinner is ready. I grabbed beer, wine, and soda from the store earlier. Am I missing anything?” I mutter to myself as I go over the checklist in my head.
The moment Audrey said she’d have dinner with us tonight, I was beyond excited. Thankfully, I had almost everything I needed to make an amazing meal. After dropping Vance off at his truck, I made a quick stop at the store for beer and a good wine before heading home and getting started on dinner.
“Everything is going to be perfect.” Jade wraps herarms around my waist from behind. “But you might want to shower before she gets here.”
“Yeah, that would be a good idea.” I give her arm a squeeze before unwrapping them from around my waist. “There’s no way I’m going to win Audrey over if I smell as if I’ve been at work all day.”
I look down at myself. I have on a simple pair of jeans, a white T-shirt, and a button-up flannel shirt over the top. I rolled the sleeves up just above my elbows while I was grilling, but the last thing I want to do is look like a slob. I want this date to be perfect, or as perfect as it can be, with our two teenage daughters joining us.
“Can you set the table while I run upstairs and take a quick shower?”
“You got it.” Jade gives me a mock salute before opening the cabinet and pulling out a stack of plates. “Everything is going to be okay, Dad. There’s no need for you to be so nervous.”
“Am I that obvious?” I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck.
Everything seems to be riding on this dinner with Audrey and Love. This might be my only chance to prove to her that I’m not like the men she’s dated in the past, and I’m in it for the long haul. If I ruin this date, it could also sink any chance of Audrey wanting to become more than friends.
“Only a smidge.” Jade snickers. “I’ve never seen you go on a date or even look at another woman before Audrey moved here. She’s special, isn’t she?”
“She is.” I wrap my arms around her, pulling her to my chest. “I feared letting someone into our lives before meeting Audrey. Your mom left a big set of shoes to fill.”
“Is that why you took off your wedding ring?”
“Yes and no,” I pull back slightly, gripping her chin between my fingers and forcing her to look at me. “I took it off because it was time.”
“Time to move on and find love again?”
“Exactly.” I wink at her before smiling brightly.
“Audrey is good for you. For both of us. You seem lighter and smile more, too.”
“Ifeellighter if I’m being honest. I used to believe that I’d never find someone who I felt as strongly about as your mother. Until recently, I believed she was the only woman I’d ever love—besides you, of course—but then I met Audrey, and suddenly, falling in love again didn’t seem so impossible.”
