Chapter 5
5
PETER
M y balls are gonna shrivel up and die soon. I can feel it.
Ella Kate and I have been on four dates now. Well, she doesn’t call them dates, but that’s definitely what they are: dates. And I’ve been a perfect gentleman every time. But I’m dying to make this more than what it is. I’ve just got to convince her to get out of her head and let me in.
I usually pick her up in the morning or after she finishes work, and we spend hours together going around town and checking out great places. I like hanging out with her. A lot. And I think she enjoys my company too, even if she pretends it’s begrudgingly.
She’s quick-witted, kind, and downright fucking adorable. And maybe a little sassy. Or a whole lot sassy when she’s talking to me. But I love every second of it and she keeps me on my toes. She’s endlessly fun to tease, and most of the time, I can’t help myself. So I’ll say something I know will get her flustered and make her cheeks turn red.
It’s so easy talking with her too. I’ve told her all about the traveling I’ve done at my old job, and I love the way her eyes light up when she thinks I’ve been somewhere cool. It makes me want to scoop her up and beg her to let me take her anywhere she wants to go, spoil her and show her the world.
I’ve also tried getting her to open up more because I want to know everything about her. But the first few times I asked her about herself, she clammed up pretty quickly, throwing walls up so fast it made my head spin. Yet, slowly but surely, she’s beginning to tell me things, like how she’s a fantastic photographer, she’s an only child, and after graduating college, she moved back home to help her parents run the cafe.
I tried suggesting she do something else, something with photography, since she loves it so much. But she always shrugs me off and changes the subject, making me think there’s more to that story than she lets on. I haven’t pushed it yet, but I want to get to the bottom of why she won’t let herself pursue the things she’s passionate about. Most people her age seem to focus on nothing else. But Ella Kate is an old soul, mature beyond her years, and way more responsible than almost anyone I know.
My phone buzzes. I look down to see a text from her, and it makes me smile.
Ella Kate:
Ready when you are.
She’s been texting me more, both in response to my messages and initiating some conversations as well. The first time, she simply said she was glad the rain let up so she could take a walk after work. I was so happy to hear from her I think I legitimately scared Jeremy when I shouted my excitement in the office. But I’ve learned to curb my enthusiasm so I don’t seem overzealous—even though my heart does a little flip every time her name appears on my phone.
Knowing she’s waiting for me right now, I text her back, saying that I’m on my way. Then, I rush out to my car, quickly getting in and starting the engine. I’m always excited to see her and today is no different.
I’ve let her lead most of our outings, since she knows the town better than I do, and she’s given me a lot of great insider information along the way. But tonight, I’ve planned the perfect evening for us and I’m looking forward to surprising her. I don’t care what she wants to call it.
This is a date. Damn it.
Pulling up in front of the cafe, Ella Kate is waiting outside, rubbing her hands together to stay warm. I’ve just barely come to a stop before she opens the passenger door and jumps inside.
“Someone’s excited.” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes while giving me a playful smile. “Don’t flatter yourself, Peter. It’s freezing out.”
I pull away from the curb and drive us downtown. “It’s in the upper fifties. I’d hardly call that freezing.”
“Well, some of us don’t have weird northerner blood that keeps us warm no matter what temperature it is.”
“Aw, if you want to cuddle, all you have to do is ask,” I tease, stretching my arm around her shoulders while resisting the temptation to tug her against my side.
“In your dreams,” she retorts, but leans her head against the inside of my bicep. I’m not sure she even realizes what she’s doing, so I don’t say anything, wanting to keep her right where she is. “So,” she starts. “I was thinking today we could stop by Sirens, that sea glass art gallery a few blocks over. What do you think?”
“I, uh, actually did some research and I really want to check out this restaurant right by the beach. Is that cool?” I glance at her in my periphery and see she goes still.
She’s quiet for a second before she says in an almost melancholic voice, “If you’re comfortable navigating on your own, I guess you don’t need me anymore, huh?”
“No!” I insist, quickly and forcefully. “That’s not at all what I meant. I just want to be the one to take you out this time. You can think of it as a thank you, yeah?”
She blows air between her lips and I feel her shoulders relax against my arm. “I’ve told you so many times now. You really don’t need to thank me. I promise I’m doing all this for selfish reasons.”
“Too bad.” I turn to her and grin. “You’re getting thanked anyway.”
She mutters something about how weird I am, then faces her window. But I can see that the tips of her ears are pink and I know she’s pleased.
We sit in companionable silence for another few minutes, until we pull into the restaurant parking lot. “Le Veronique?” Ella Kate asks in disbelief. “We’re eating at Le Veronique? How? Even in the off-season, you still have to call weeks in advance for a reservation.” Her green eyes are wide and her mouth is popped open.
Keeping my tone nonchalant, I casually reply, “Oh, really? The resort apparently partnered with them a while back, so I was able to get a reservation pretty easily.” Lies. I did call weeks ago, hoping I could get this beautiful woman to put up with me long enough to take her somewhere nice and show her how much I appreciate her.
She turns in her seat to look at me. “I can’t go in there looking like this!” She gestures to herself. I don’t see the problem. Beneath her peacoat, she’s wearing a dark gray cardigan, a black tank top, and dark-wash skinny jeans. And, of course, her favorite Doc Martens. She looks stunning, as always.
“Why not?” I ask, not understanding what’s wrong.
“I look like crap,” she exclaims before gesturing to me. “Especially next to you.” She slumps down and crosses her toned arms over her ample breasts.
Don’t look at her tits, Peter, and focus.
“What do you mean, next to me ?”
“You always look so perf—” She promptly shuts her mouth, suddenly realizing what she was about to say . A swell of pride arises within me, knowing she thinks I look good. No, she thinks I look perfect , and that makes me smile.
I untangle her arms to grasp her hand, but she only looks at me with a worried crease between her brows.
“Ella Kate, you look perfect. I promise,” I tell her sincerely. She blinks a few times and her concerned expression wanes ever so slightly. It’s not completely gone, but even the small change makes me feel better.
“If you say so,” she concedes, softer than I’ve ever heard her speak, and my heart melts.
“I do say so. You’re beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”
Her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink as she gives me a watery smile. “Thank you, Peter. This is very nice.”
“It’s my pleasure, Ella Kate. Now, c’mon. I’m starving.” I brush some wispy hairs from her cheek, feeling her skin warm in real time.
When she slowly pulls away, I let her, and she unbuckles from her seat belt. I race to her side of the car so I’m able to open her door for her—after our first few outings, she’s actually started to wait for me.
As she steps down, she looks at me curiously. “You used to call me Elle like everyone else. But then you started to call me by my full name? Why?”
We approach the door to the restaurant, and I open that one for her too, leading her inside with my hand on the small of her back. “Maybe I don’t want to be like everyone else. Not to you, anyway,” I explain with a wink.
“Trust me, you’re nothing like everyone else.” I’m not sure if that’s a dig or a compliment, but I choose to believe the latter.
I see the hostess stand and am about to head that way, but on a gasp, Elle steps around me and briskly walks to the panoramic window off to the side of the room. Her expression is filled with childlike wonder as she takes in the pinkish-purple sky and the setting sun that makes the waves of the ocean glitter like diamonds.
“Isn’t it breathtaking?” She’s barely restraining herself from bracing her palms against the sparkling clean glass.
“Yes, it is,” I agree, but my eyes aren’t on the view. I’m watching her. “Did you bring your camera? Wanna take a few shots before we’re seated?”
Her head snaps in my direction. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“This is what you love, Ella Kate. Capturing these amazing moments to be cherished for a lifetime. Why would I mind or get in your way?”
I can see it in her eyes. There’s something she wants to say, but she thinks better of it. “Thank you. I’ll only be a second.”
“Take all the time you need. I’m not going anywhere.” I’m not just talking about our dinner plans, but I don’t think she picks up on my meaning. Doesn’t matter anyway, because my rumbling stomach reminds me that I haven’t eaten since lunch, and she laughs.
“I’ll make it quick. I promise.” She removes her camera from her bag—she never goes anywhere without it—and heads back out the door.
I follow closely behind her, not wanting to miss an opportunity to watch her work. She has a wonderful gift, an ability to see things that most people miss, a way of viewing the world in a way that shows beauty and splendor.
We walk around the side of the restaurant until we reach the back patio. She steadies herself against the railing and begins clicking away, taking as many shots as she can. After a few minutes, we both freeze when we see movement in the water. Like a scene from a movie, three dolphins spring out of the waves in perfect unison. It’s a sight I’ve seen before, but that doesn’t make it any less magnificent.
“Holy shit,” I mutter.
“I know.” Her face beams with a smile as she offers me a preview of the images. “Look,” she insists, and I glance down at the camera screen.
“I can’t believe you got it! That’s amazing!”
She shrugs, lifting the camera again to take more pictures. “Eh, anyone could’ve done that.”
I want to make her look at me, but I also don’t want to disturb her while she’s working. “Not true. You have a gift, and you should be proud of your photography.”
She smiles sheepishly and glances at me from the corner of her eye. “I’m no professional or anything. I just take pictures for fun.”
“Do you want to be?” I ask her.
“Want to be what?”
“A professional. I’ve seen your work. You could be doing so much more. I think using your photos in advertising for the resort could really help with marketing. Hell, even the picture you took just now would be great in one of our new campaigns.”
She bites her lip, a nervous habit of hers that I’ve noticed. “You really think people would like my photos that much?”
“Absolutely. You have a natural talent and you should use it.”
She rolls the idea around in her head for a minute as she packs her camera away. “Okay,” she finally says. “I’ll think about it. I mean, it’ll help the town, right? The more people who visit, the better it is for all the local businesses and families.”
“You’re always thinking of others. Just make sure you think of yourself from time to time.” I wrap my arm around her shoulder, loving that she lets me. Then I guide us back toward the front so we can finally have the dinner I planned for her.
No matter how long it takes me, I’m going to convince this girl just how amazing she is. She deserves to have the life she wants, and not just the one she thinks she has to live.