Chapter 23
Jo
My dad squeezed me tight and released me. “Thanks for holding things together while I was gone.”
“Happy to do it whenever you need. You shouldn’t retire from one job and get stressed out doing your next one.”
We’d talked about this, and he’d eased up a bit after the first year went well enough that he didn’t need to worry about the store going under. He’d worked hard to set up partnerships with the school district and the homeschool community, as well as a bunch of other businesses that supported each other.
“The joy far outweighs the stress here, but I love you for worrying about me. I hope you’ll find what you love far sooner than I did.”
He gave me one of his signature dad smiles, and I hugged him again. I’d missed him while he and Jane were gone.
And I ached to tell him I had found what I loved. Working here at the store, writing my own books, and living this quiet but lovely life felt like a miracle to me.
If that’s true, then why won’t you let yourself fully embrace it? Tell him. Tell Elizabeth.
I wasn’t quite there yet. Not just yet.
“I’m looking forward to family dinner. Why don’t you bring Adam with you?” Jane asked, looping her arm through my dad’s.
My eyes must’ve been huge, because she grinned Cheshire-cat big.
“You thought I hadn’t heard? Oh, sweet Jo. Just because I was out of town doesn’t mean I didn’t keep up with the latest. Anything involving my sweet stepdaughter is absolutely front-page news for me.”
I chuckled, marveling at her. Adam and I had been dating for about five seconds—okay, technically three days—but we hadn’t even been out on a date. Those three days had started the night he’d come over and I’d ended up falling asleep during the movie. Then we’d only managed to text since then, so I was very eager for the day to wrap up and finally set eyes on him at Craic tonight.
The bell jingled as my dad and Jane left, but they stopped just outside to talk with someone. They were essentially Silverton royalty, since Jane always had been and as the beloved bookstore owner, my dad fit right in. The solitary life he’d imagined for himself when he’d moved here had been stripped away, and now he had more joy and beauty than he’d ever imagined. I knew this because he told me often, and it was a relief to see him embrace it after so many years of living in a grayscale version of life.
In some ways, Adam reminded me of my dad. Maybe I was the Jane Saint in the situation, a woman who had to show the man she wanted that it was okay to want her.
Chuckling to myself as I clicked through screens on the computer, I acknowledged I’d certainly done that. First with the kissing last weekend and then with challenging him to think beyond his past.
I wasn’t sure how far he’d let that go—was he sold on the idea of trying but would eventually throw on the brakes when we got closer? Or would he let things ride and see where this chance we’d agreed to take took us?
I hated the idea that we’d date towards a dead end, but the worry lingered in the back of my mind. I wouldn’t dwell on it, though, because I wanted to move forward in good faith. Maybe we weren’t chugging along toward marriage and babies, but not every relationship had these as end goals. Even though I could see the doubt and concern on his face when we talked, I could also sense the hope—and it matched my own.
While it would be great if we were both certain, how often did anything start out that way? I’d very rarely felt sure of anything until after I got my feet wet. Why would this be any different?
Plus, we didn’t need certainty yet. We only needed a willingness to try, and we had that in spades. I’d like to try everything with him…
Someone entered and I finishing entering the information as I hollered, “Welcome in! Be right with you.”
No response came, which was fine. They were probably browsing, until a shadow loomed in front of me and I looked up to see Adam.
“Hello, Josephine.”
Goodness, the smile on his face was stunning. “Hi there, Adam.”
He glanced back at the door. “Your dad and stepmom just invited me to family dinner on Sunday.”
I cringed and laughed. “Wow. Okay. They were not going to let me get away with not mentioning it.”
He grinned, apparently not fazed by this turn of events. “Guess my timing was just right. Would you really not’ve invited me?”
“I mean, we just—I don’t know. We’re going slow, but you’re going to come meet my entire insane family for Sunday dinner before we’ve ever been out on a date?”
He leaned on the counter and dipped his head. “You getting cold feet?”
With a roll of my eyes, I said, “No. That does not apply here. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. They are a lot, and I don’t—” I chuckled at myself. “I don’t want to scare you away. I know the too-much-too-soon thing is a concern.”
I was trying to be respectful of his desires, but I certainly didn’t want him to feel like I didn’t want him there. I also didn’t want to spook him. That he’d agreed to give us a go already felt momentous. I wanted more of him however I could get him. Having him at family dinner would be amazing. Plus, he already knew pretty much everyone. That wouldn’t be a problem.
He lowered a hand and waited for me to take it. I set mine in his and he held my gaze. “Will you go to dinner with me tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
He winked. “There. We’ll sneak in our first official date before our first official family dinner.”
There was no point trying to hide my pleased smile. “Sounds good.”
He raised my hand and pressed his lips into the back of it. My brain flatlined for a moment, temporarily paused by the sweet and surprisingly sexy gesture.
“Why are, um, why are you here?” I asked with complete composure and elegance.
His half smile made him look so ridiculously appealing, I stole back my hand.
“Oh, I came to ask you out.”
“Really? You came all the way over here just for that?” I asked, again failing to hide how much pleasure this brought me.
“Well, I’m not sure all the way over here is accurate, but yes. If we’re doing this, we’re not just going to get takeout and hang out in your apartment, as much as I enjoy it. If we’re really giving this a shot, then we’re going out. And we’ll see how it goes.”
His hand caught mine again and laced our fingers, effectively sending butterflies winging around my belly.
Maybe it was too much, but I didn’t want to hide from him. He knew all my secrets, and I didn’t want that to stop. “I think it’s going to go well.”
He turned my hand and dropped his head to kiss the inside of my wrist, then caught my gaze again as he slowly removed his lips from my skin. The look in his eyes—the hope and heat mingled together—made my breath catch in my throat.
“Me, too, honey. Me, too.”
It’d been a skeleton crew last night at the pub, so I’d had quality time with Catherine and Dove. I’d also enjoyed glancing over and seeing Adam, Cookie, and Wilder, who’d sent me a knowing look as if to say, “You really dating this guy?”
Sunday dinner would be fun.
But this afternoon, after the minutes ticked by like hours during my short shift at the bookstore, I was finally ready for my first official date with Adam.
Excitement buzzed in me, and I’d done my level best not to get my hopes up about anything. In truth, I didn’t care what he had planned. I just wanted to spend more time with him, especially now that we were on the same page.
A firm knock came and I skittered into the bathroom on my toes to check my hair, makeup, and dress. Yes. I felt good in the white dress I’d chosen, something summery and light that felt a little sexy without being flashy.
In seconds, I was at the door and steadied myself with a deep breath before answering as though I hadn’t been pacing my apartment, anxious for him to arrive.
“Well, hi there, Adam.”
His low chuckle sent shivers up my arms, and my belly swooped as I took in his trimmed beard and perfectly styled hair. He wore dark jeans and a navy, green, and white plaid button-up that made his eyes look wildly blue. Of course he’d rolled the sleeves to just below the elbow, so he looked effortlessly casual and also showed off grade-A forearms.
“Hello there, Josephine.”
“Hi,” I said, because I’d forgotten what came after a basic greeting. His hotness had fried my conversational skills.
His smile flashed. “Ready for dinner?”
“Yes.”
He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms. Those forearms. His gaze slipped from my face to my hair falling over my shoulder, taking in my dress and then my bare legs stretching to the floor and feet topped by sandals and toes with bright blue polish.
His eyes slowly returned to meet mine as his head shook back and forth slowly, and the appreciation there nearly lit me on fire. But then, he leaned closer and said, “My goodness, you are unbelievably gorgeous.”
I flushed warm and bright red from my forehead right down to my toes. “You’re not so bad yourself.”
“Thank you. Do you want to head out, then?” he asked, apparently in no hurry.
“We probably better.” Because if he kept looking at me like that and flashing those forearms and smelling like fresh soap and something woodsy and delicious, the whole plan to move slowly would be out the door.
“Probably so.” He extended an elbow.
I looped my arm through his and out we went, excitement filling every inch of me. We were finally doing this, a year after I’d first met him and wished things were different.
Now they were, and all the other stuff that wasn’t going quite right could take a seat while I enjoyed this night.