35. Rose
rose
The afghan completely clashes with the black couch. Pastel colors fading into each other like melted popsicles, with chunky tassels decorating each end. It doesn’t go at all. But it’s made out of super-soft yarn, so it’s light-years better than the last blanket that was out here.
Stormy agrees. He’s been making biscuits on it for ten minutes.
“That’s good stuff. Right buddy?” I lightly run my hand over his back, reveling in his soft fur. I wish I could scoop him up and cuddle him to my chest like a baby, but he might never get to that point. For now, I soak up all the love he offers me, reminding myself to be patient.
It’s a struggle, for a variety of reasons.
My stomach churns, excitement and nervousness duking it out in there. Reed texted asking to come over, and I’ve tried to stay calm since. The nonsense in my stomach proves I’m failing pretty terribly at that.
“It’s totally fine,” I tell the cat digging his claws into the blanket I crocheted years ago. He’s way past due for a nail trim, but a personal space violation like that would send him back to hiding under my bed. “Whatever he decides about the coffee shop, I’ll be fine.”
Softer, I add, “Whatever he decides about me, I’ll be fine, too.”
The doorbell rings, and I’m across the room in a flash. I pull the door open to reveal Reed, looking way too handsome in a gray Yosemite T-shirt and shorts. Seeing his warm smile is like listening to my favorite song. I know it by heart, but it never gets old.
“Hi.” I wave him in, but he stops just over the threshold, handing me a box from Blackbird’s.
“Strawberry cupcakes this time,” he says. “And a couple of other flavors I thought you’d like.”
The frosting’s sugary scent drifts up to me. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to.”
“No. I wanted to.” His straightforward explanation makes my stomach swoop.
I close the door behind him and take the cupcakes into the kitchen. He waits for me in the living room, standing by the couch. The dessert box wasn’t the only thing he brought with him. He’s got a folded paper in one hand, tapping it against his thigh.
Is Reed nervous? That can’t be a good sign.
I join him, facing off on the bare hardwood floor. “What’s that?” I gesture at the paper he’s fidgeting with. “Did you decide what you want to do about the offer?”
“Yes.” He takes a step forward but stops himself as if there’s an invisible barrier between us. “I decided what I want to do about a lot of things.”
He doesn’t sound ominous, but nerves do another lap in my stomach just to show off.
“Okay. Can I say something first, though?”
He blinks, not expecting that. “Sure. Of course.”
“I’ve been thinking about what I want, too.
” I take a deep breath and straighten my spine, channeling the brave woman I want to be.
She’s a little over-the-top, but I love her anyway.
“I want you to be happy, Reed. If that’s selling and finding your happiness somewhere else, then that’s what I want, too.
But if you sell, and we never work together again, I don’t want to lose you.
I love the coffee shop, but I don’t love it as much as I love… ”
Yeah. Going for the “Doing Too Much” gold, there.
Reed crosses the space between us, tossing the paper onto the couch. He takes my face in both his hands, his gaze intense as he stares down at me. “Not as much as what?”
The thumping in my heart can’t be healthy.
Staring into his eyes until I get dizzy from it probably isn’t either.
I don’t know how I fumbled my way into a love confession, but he doesn’t look like he thinks it’s a red flag.
It’s the greenest of flags, and he’s just waiting for me to get brave enough to wave it.
“You,” I whisper.
His glorious smile might as well come with sparkles dancing around it like a Disney prince. It crinkles his eyes and reveals laugh lines above his beard. He nods and leans in close. “I love you.”
I savor those words for point-five seconds before his mouth meets mine. He kisses me like he’s trying to prove the truth of it in every soft caress. Like he’s opening up his ribcage to reveal the tender heart he’s tried so hard to hide.
His fingers slide into my hair, keeping me where he wants me. The kiss turns fiery, all heat and desire. I make a sound of encouragement, and he groans his approval. He expertly redefines the word kiss in my mental dictionary to include going absolutely weak-limbed in Reed Bridger’s arms.
He slows the pace again, languid kisses stealing my breath just as thoroughly as the passionate ones. I can’t decide which I prefer. I’ll need a lifetime of them to make up my mind.
Reed draws back, keeping me in his arms. “I’m not selling, firefly.”
“Really?” Excitement flares up before I tamp it back down again. I meant what I told him earlier. I don’t want him to stay in a job he hates. “You’re not happy there, though.”
“I found a way for everyone to be happy. I hope.” He finally releases me, grabbing the paper he abandoned on the couch and handing it to me. “You’ll have to tell me if I’m way off.”
For a second, I think he’s giving me the same letter he received this morning. But it’s so much better than that. It’s hand-written in the clear, angular script I’ve seen a thousand times at work.
Rose,
I’m not good at owning a coffee shop. I don’t understand customers.
I struggle with regulars who ask for “the usual,” but I have no idea what they get.
I’m annoyed by how dedicated people can be to their caffeine fix even when I’m the one providing it.
The thought of joining the Sunshine Small Business Society makes my eye twitch.
But you? You make our customers feel valued. You learn people’s names even if they’re just passing through. You create specialty menu items people develop worrisome addictions to. You’ve made the shop what it is today, and you have a vision for making it even better tomorrow.
You are the heart and soul of Perk Me Up.
Nothing would make me happier than to give it to you.
Yours,
Reed
I look up to find him watching me, uncertainty dancing behind his eyes as if there’s any doubt how I’ll respond. So I make it crystal clear. I throw myself at him, pressing kisses to his neck.
His strong, delicious-smelling neck.
He laughs, collapsing onto the couch and pulling me down with him.
Stormy leaves in a huff, but I can’t be too upset when I’m busy loving on my other grump.
This one doesn’t run away when I get grabby.
Arranging myself in his lap with my knees on either side of his hips, I hold his face in my hands. “You are the sweetest man.”
“Might be the first time I’ve been called that. I don’t know how I feel about it.” He’s smiling though, so he can’t mind it too much. Maybe it’s all the kisses I’m peppering over his face.
“But what will you do? I don’t want to take away your job.” He told me his friend left him money, too, but Reed’s not the kind of guy who can sit around and do nothing, living off of the interest, or whatever wealthy people do.
“That’s the rest of what I wanted to tell you.
” His hands flex on my hips, then smooth in wide circles across my lower back.
“I talked to Lila about the new parks department jobs. There’s an application process and nothing’s guaranteed, but there’s a services supervisor position that sounds like a good fit for me. ”
I push my arms out straight, resting my hands on his shoulders so I can stare fully into his face. “You’re going to work for the parks department?”
“That’s the hope.” His expression grows softer. “I’ll be able to support parks and encourage residents to appreciate nature right here in Sunshine.”
I don’t know if I’m going to cry or kiss him again. Probably one and then the other.
“That’s so perfect for you.”
“There’s more. I want to use some of Harry’s money to establish a grant for the outdoors skills program Jovie attended.
Give them the funds to extend it through high school, with classes and camps for all ages.
I’m still figuring it out. But I want to use his money to share his love of nature with generations to come. ”
This man doesn’t have an ounce of gargoyle in him. He’s a giant, cuddly softie at heart.
I cup his cheek, running my hand over his beard. “That’s a beautiful way to honor him.”
He turns to press a kiss to my palm. “There’s a lot of moving parts. I’ll have to write a proposal for the town council, and work with accountants to draw up the donations. But if we’re lucky, next year, Jovie will get to go to camp again. A lot of kids will.”
I run my free hand through his hair. It’s thick and soft, and I want to touch it forever. “I think Harry would be proud of that.”
“Yeah. He’d be proud of me for this, too.” He pulls me in for a long, slow kiss. When he releases me, his gaze is dark beneath his heavy eyelids. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
I can’t help my automatic skepticism. “You do a little.”
He tilts his head to the side, accepting my clarification.
“I do a little. I still need time alone now and then. But I think you’re right about Harry’s note.
All this time, I’ve thought it was a criticism of my life.
Maybe it was, on one level. But it was encouragement, too.
To work out what I wanted for my future and go after it. And I think I finally have.”
He stares at me the way an astronomer watches the night sky.
“What do you want?” I whisper. I have a guess, but I really want to hear it.
“I want you, firefly.”
That deserves another kiss. More. All of the kisses.
When I finally pull back, I flash him a smirk. “And here I thought you liked blondes.”
He exhales a laugh, his fingers flexing on my waist. “It’s always been brunettes for me.” His hands skim up my sides until he’s cradling my face. “But the minute you walked through the coffee shop’s doors, every other woman disappeared.”
I go still, my smirk likely transforming into light shock. “That long?”
He strokes his thumbs over my cheekbones. “That long.”
Obviously, I have to kiss him some more.
After several delectable minutes, I draw away again. “I set some boundaries with my parents today. I told them I don’t want so much advice and criticism anymore. And that they need to move out of the house.”
His smile is like a little sunburst in my heart. “How did they take it?”
I slide my hands over his shoulders, shrugging my own. “About as well as you’d expect. They don’t understand, but they want to try.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“I’m proud of me, too.” I lean in for another quick kiss. Now that the floodgates have opened, I’m not sure I’m capable of stopping. “Are you sure you want to give me the coffee shop? I could just be the manager or something.”
Even that feels like a big step. But actually owning it? Seems unreal.
“That’s what I want.” He sifts his fingers through my hair, my nerve-endings humming on every pass. “I want to give you so many things.”
Go into detail, my big-hearted gargoyle.
“Maybe you should stay and tell me about all of them.”
His gaze heats, his irises almost winking out of existence. “I’ll stay as long as you want me.”
My smirk must be massive. “I want you for a good long while.”