Holden
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“She’s really in her element, isn’t she?” Lester asks.
It’s Lizette’s first official booking at Sugar ‘n Spice. It’s a group of six teachers from Meadow Creek who need a night out after the first few weeks back to school.
She’s slaying it.
Lizette hired my mom part-time to help with the bakery and with classes, so she’s here, too. But I don’t think she even needs my mom for a class this size. She could handle it herself, no problem.
“Yeah. She really is. I know she wanted to make sure she had everything under control, so she had Mom come along, but—”
“But she doesn’t even need her,” Lester says. “She’s an ace at looking around the room, reading who needs a little more help before they even ask.”
“Yeah, and she helps them in a way that makes it seem like they didn’t need it.”
As if she knows we’re talking about her, Lizette looks up and over at us. Her smile is radiant. Absolutely breathtaking.
She gives me a thumbs-up. It’s our predetermined sign that she’s okay and we can go.
“You wanna go have a beer out front, under the awning?” I ask.
“She’s good with us going?”
Lizette’s need to keep things under control has been a little elevated lately. I’m here as backup to my mom. Lester’s just here to hang out.
“Yep. We’ll be close in case she needs us. She won’t, but just in case.”
A few minutes later, we’re sitting on one of the two matching cast-iron table sets Lizette found at an estate sale and placed out here for customers who might want to enjoy their treat outside.
We’re outside for a few minutes when Lester laughs.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
He grins at me. “It’s amusing how different it is hanging out with you compared to Harrison. He and I are lucky to say one hundred words an hour combined. With you, I barely have to talk.”
“Glad I could entertain you.”
I feign offense, but really, none taken.
He chuckles again and takes a swig of his beer. He gazes across the way at the town square.
“Did you see the old feed store is up for sale?” he asks.
“Yeah, and I heard from Hank that the pharmacy beside it is next. Old man Langston is well past ready to retire, and he has no one to pass it down to. Figures he’ll sell soon and live out the rest of his days digging around in that garden he loves.”
“Really? Hank told you all that? Why? He hasn’t told me.” Lester’s grumpiness peeks its head out.
I decide to poke at it. “Hey, don’t be mad at me because I talk to people instead of just grunting at them in passing.”
“I don’t grunt, you little shit,” Lester argues.
“Yeah, yeah. I just hope whoever buys them does something that’ll let them make a living and be something the town needs.”
“My fear is that someday one of those monstrous auto parts stores that pop up everywhere is going to make its way here and mess up our little town square.”
“Oh, God. That’d be awful.”
We fall quiet as we both stare across the way.
There are a lot of things this small town could use. A franchised auto parts store—hell, any big-box-type store—is not one of them.
I’d say a solid five minutes pass in silence. It’s actually kind of nice. I’d still pick a hearty conversation if I had to choose between the two, but the quiet is nice as well.
“Do you fish?”
The look on Lester’s face is priceless. “Of course I fish. What kind of question is that?”
I laugh. He’s completely serious.
“How would I know that you fish? It’s not a given, is it—”
“Yes, it is. Everyone fishes. Don’t you?”
I pick at the label on my beer bottle. “Nah. Not since I was seventeen. We, uh, used to go with my dad, and I stopped when he died.”
“Oh, man. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so harsh. Good thing Ladybug isn’t here. She’d give me hell.”
I glance at him, and Lester looks sincerely sorry.
“You didn’t know.” I shrug. “Since I’m on a break from the mentoring program, Mrs. Smith asked if I’d maybe spend a little time with her newest foster kid.
He’s seven. At seventy, and with a fifteen-minute drive from town, she’s feeling bad that she can’t do fun stuff with him.
I thought maybe I’d take him fishing and bring Simon along if Lizette’s okay with it. ”
“Hmm. That actually doesn’t sound too bad. You care if I tag along? I’d love to get one more day on the lake in before the season officially ends.”
“Nope. Sounds good. I’m looking at next weekend.”
The creaky sound of Lizette’s bakery door opening hits my ears right before the mouthwatering aroma of her meatloaf and garlic-roasted potatoes does. Within seconds, my mom sets a plate of food in front of each of us.
Lester’s eyes light up. I don’t think he was expecting to be fed.
“These are from Lizzie’s batch she made alongside the ladies. I suspect if you play your cards right, there might be some apple pie in your future, too.”
We both thank her, and Lester wastes no time digging into his food. Based on the sounds he’s making, there’s no question he loves it.
“She still doing okay in there?” I ask my mom. “Does she need me?”
“Sweetheart, she doesn’t even need me. I bet she wouldn’t say no to you hanging around to help her clean up afterward, though.”
“I planned on it.”
As she walks away to help Lizette, I take my first bite of Lizzie’s meatloaf, and Lester’s reaction makes perfect sense now.
* * *
“I can’t believe I forgot to lock my door.” Lizette glances at me. “I always lock it, even when I’m just downstairs.”
I don’t miss the slight shakiness of her hands while she’s speaking.
“Maybe in all the excitement of my first official class, I just forgot.”
I get that this is a big deal to her. What I don’t know yet is why. I’ll continue to wait patiently for her to tell me when she’s ready, but I wish I knew. I hate seeing her worry like this, and maybe I could help if I understood where it’s rooted.
“Hey, it’s okay. Nothing has happened here in the time I’ve lived here.” I take her quivering hands and hold them in mine. “You had your bottom door locked, and I was outside the bakery entrance with Lester.”
“I know, but it just makes me nervous.” She glances at her door. Then, when she looks back at me, her eyes light up. “Would you come in and look around?”
There’s a slight smirk playing at the side of her mouth, and she seems lighter than even just a few seconds ago. I think she’s flirting with me.
“Are you trying to trick me, Lizette Winslow?” The tone of my voice makes it clear I’m up for some banter.
She releases an exaggerated gasp. “No, I would never do that.” She bats her eyelashes at me.
“Are you trying to get me inside your house?” I tease.
“Do you want to get inside my house?” She gazes into my eyes, and I’m not sure we’re talking about the house any longer.
She rises on her tiptoes and puts her hands on my shoulders, then brings her lips to meet mine.
I tense up for a split second. I don’t mean to. I’m just surprised.
She pulls back before I can explain.
“I’m so sorry.” Her face is fiery red, and she’s avoiding eye contact.
I put my hands on her waist and pull her toward me. “No. No, don’t say that. I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s a very good surprise.”
“Are you sure?” she asks. She doesn’t give me a chance to reply, though. “I was trying to be flirty, and I clearly suck at it, so—”
“Stop. You most definitely”—I back her up to the wall behind her until our bodies are nearly touching—”don’t suck at it.”
I brush the pad of my thumb across her lower lip at the same time that I close the distance between us. As soon as our lower halves meet, her eyes widen.
“Oh.” The prettiest grin spreads across her mouth. “I guess maybe I don’t.”
I smile back. Leaving one hand on her waist, I raise the other to cup her cheek. I hope she can feel all the tenderness and affection I have for her. There’s plenty of physical desire, too, but it’s amplified by how I feel about this woman.
I love her.
I’ve hinted at it. Implied it. But not yet said it outright. I’ll have to soon. I won’t be able to restrain myself much longer.
I place a soft kiss on her lips, then pull back slightly. “Is that okay?” I ask.
“Mmhmm.”
I lower my mouth to hers again. The kiss starts slow and soft. But when I touch my tongue to her lips, she opens her mouth to me, and I’ve lost what little control I had left.
The kiss deepens, and it’s not just me. She’s matching my energy. I become overwhelmed with emotion.
I pause. “You still okay?” I pant.
“I will be if you quit taking your mouth off mine,” she says. She moves to reinitiate the kiss, but then looks into my eyes and halts.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asks.
“Nothing.” I sound rushed.
She frowns.
I can’t bear the thought of her thinking something is wrong. That I don’t love every second of kissing her.
“Our kiss at the lake was the first time I’ve kissed someone with feelings attached since college. I expected the surge of emotions I feel kissing you would have faded, but that didn’t happen. I forgot how each kiss with you is like my heart and soul trying to speak to you with my body.”
She sucks in a breath. “Really? That’s true?”
“It’s absolutely true. I love kissing you. Touching you. It’s not... It’s not just a physical experience.”
I kiss her on the corner of her mouth, then press my mouth to her neck just below her ear. The taste of her, combined with the low moan of pleasure she releases, is my undoing.
I want my mouth all over her. To taste her everywhere.
For now, though, it becomes my mission to kiss every part of her slender neck as she stretches to give me access.
Within no time, she’s writhing against my body, and I don’t know how much longer I can resist the desire to move my mouth lower and explore other areas of her.
Areas I’ve never gotten to see or taste before.
I pull back and rest my forehead against hers. I can hear the strain in my voice when I speak.
“I should say goodnight here and let you get to sleep.”
“You promised to check my house for me, since I left the door unlocked.” She draws her lower lip between her teeth, and it’s so damn sexy. She’s watching me expectantly, waiting for my next move.
Without taking my eyes off her, I reach for the brass handle and push the door open.