13. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Scarlett
Chewing the inside of my cheek, I consider Steven’s text.
Walk or drive?
The weather is nice; Moretti’s is nearby, so walking is a feasible option. It’s also the one that will give me extra time with him. Alone.
Scarlett:
Let’s walk.
Grabbing my jacket, I give my appearance one last inspection in the mirror. My hair flows down my back in loose waves, and the greyish-green sweater brings out the green specs in my hazel eyes. Chewing on my bottom lip, I wonder if it’s too much.
Shaking my fingers through my hair, I mess it up a bit, giving me that slight ‘I don’t care what you think’ look, then run down the stairs to meet him on the sidewalk.
He’s just opening his door when I step in front of it.
A wide smile stretches across my face. “Perfect timing.”
Steven is zipping his jacket up under his neck, hands tucked in his pockets.
“Cold?” I ask, giggling, just as we start moving.
He looks over at my jacket slung across my arm and my light sweater. A sheepish expression crawls along his face. “I’m still adjusting to Colorado’s spring.”
“Funny. I thought you’d be used to the cold being on the ice as often as you are.”
“Have you not looked at the amount of gear I’m wearing? Not to mention, I don’t plan on doing sprints all the way to Moretti’s.”
He has a point.
“I always thought you were more manly than this, Bennett.” I shrug, smirking.
The weight of his glare is heavy on my face, and my smirk grows.
“Oh, I’m plenty of a man, James. Don’t make me show you.”
His words unravel the string I’ve wrapped around the memory I’m trying to bury. But it doesn’t matter what my mind does, because I still remember how it felt when his lips were against mine.
And there is nothing unmanly about him.
Maple Ridge is unusually quiet tonight, and the only sound on the street is our footsteps bouncing off of the building walls.
The sound of his jacket fabric scratching as he tries to pull it around his neck fills the silence of the street. The sound as he shoves his hand in his pockets.
My lips pull up because I know if Steven had a choice he would’ve driven to Moretti’s.
“So.” I can feel it when he turns his gaze on me; warmth lands on my cheek. I squeeze my jacket tighter, and swallow hard. “Let’s talk about some characteristics of your perfect woman.”
“My perfect woman, huh?” The fabric crunches again, and I turn to see Steven with a thoughtful expression on his face. “She’s outgoing.”
“That’s a must for you. But how outgoing? Like introducing herself to everyone in a new apartment building, and learning their names, or just being friendly?”
“Hmmm…that’s a tough one.” He taps his chin. “I think just friendly, outgoing.”
“Got it. Next?”
“I think I want someone who likes to bake. You know how much of a sweet tooth I have.”
“Steven, be serious.” I slap him on the arm.
“I am.” He laughs. “Jules used to like to bake all the time. I’d like that.”
Standing in front of Moretti’s, facing each other, I pin him with my gaze. “You’re going to make this really difficult, aren’t you?”
Pulling open the door, he grins. “I guess you’re going to find out.”
The sound of voices and laughter greets us as the door remains open.
“Bennett,” I grumble.
“Don’t stomp in public, Scarlett.” He whispers in my ear, laughter in his voice. A chill runs through me. “It’s not becoming of a lady.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re annoying?”
His face lights up, and he winks. “Not recently.”
I can’t help it; I laugh. This is going to be like pulling teeth.
Stepping over the threshold into Moretti’s, my gaze immediately lands on Ryan, and I spin around, bumping into Steven. “Ryan’s here.”
“Where?”
“Right there.” I tilt my head in his direction. When Steven looks over, I realize just how close we are, but before I can take a step away, he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
“We’re supposed to be dating, remember?”
My pulse thrums up at the deep purr that just rolled off his lips, and I can barely hear what anyone is saying around us. My face must reflect the panic I’m feeling because he places his thumb under my chin and tips my head up.
“Breathe, Scarlett.” He’s so close, and his eyes are a shade of green I’ve never seen before. Intense and determined. I can feel his warm breath on my face. “It’s me. I got you. Ryan will never guess we’re not dating.”
Who?
Pulling my lip between my teeth, I blink. Being this close to my best friend, Ryan is the last person I’m worried about.
“Scarlett,” Ryan calls out, making his way to us.
Steven slides his arm from my waist to my side and interlocks his fingers with mine. Then gives my hand a squeeze.
“Hey Ryan.” I offer a shaky smile, willing my heart to slow down. “You remember Steven.”
He flicks his gaze to Steven, lips drawn in a tight line, and gives the slightest of nods.
The cockiest grin I’ve ever seen slides across Steven’s face, and I nudge him. In return, he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses it.
Heat shoots through me, and I feel my cheeks flush.
Ryan’s eyes are following every movement.
“Fake dating you is kind of fun, Scar.” Steven whispers in my ear before kissing me on the cheek; a shiver runs down my spine. “Cold, dumplin’? Let’s get you away from the door.”
My face gets hotter, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. But Steven just moves me away from the door as if we act like this every day.
“Scarlett, I haven’t heard anything from Emma yet. Do you have any idea when she’ll get back to me?”
Steven covers a laugh with a cough, and Ryan shoots him a glare. “Sorry, just getting over a cold.”
I can feel Steven’s gaze on me, waiting to see how I handle talking in third person about my alter ego.
“She hasn’t forgotten about you. Sometimes matching just takes a little time.”
Ryan’s eyes harden. And my stomach knots. Maybe Emma won’t be setting him up.
“You’d rather it take a while than be wrong, right?”
Steven puts his arm around me, drawing me closer to him, and my shoulders drop. “Ryan, we’re gonna go eat. Maybe it’s best to send Emma an email, and she can let you know what’s going on?”
Ryan’s gaze snaps to Steven before looking back at me. His whole demeanor changes, and his smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll do that. You two enjoy your dinner.”
“Thanks, Ryan.”
We both watch as he exits the building. Sighing in relief when he’s gone.
“I’m not sure you should set him up, Scarlett. He’s strange.”
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
Murmurs coming from the dining area get louder. We turn toward the interior of Moretti’s only to find every set of eyes in the restaurant looking in our direction, including the wait staff.
“I was wondering when you two would get together.” Moretti’s hostess says.
“Oh, we—
“It took much longer than I would’ve liked.” Steven interrupts. “She’s a stubborn one. Took her forever to admit how head over heels in love with me she is.”
She beams at us as Steven kisses the side of my head before mumbling. “Ryan, remember?”
Forcing a smile that looks more like a grimace, I grit my teeth. “I never thought it would get out of the bakery.”
“Oh, we are out, honeybear,” Steven chuckles. “And all of Maple Ridge will know by tomorrow.”
All of Maple Ridge?
My heart starts to race, knowing that tomorrow morning a visit from my uncle or father is highly probable. There’s only one thing worse.
Both of them at the same time.
Steven laughs, and just for a moment I hate him. Even if this whole idea was mine, he doesn’t have to pretend to like it so much.
“Do you think we could get a booth in the corner?” He asks the hostess, winking. “We’d like a little privacy.”
My elbow flies into his side, and he pulls me closer. His body vibrates against me.
“Here you go.” The hostess puts a menu down on each side of the table. And I slide into the booth, the side not facing all of the curious people. “Your server will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you,” Steven says, beaming at me.
“Steven.” I rest my elbows on the table and lean in. “What are we going to do?”
He mirrors me, his green eyes gleaming. “About what?”
“This.” My finger bounces back and forth between us before pointing out to the other patrons. “Them.”
He shrugs, then picks up his menu and eyes it up.
“Steven!” I grind out, but before I can say anything else, our server appears.
“This.” He points between us, smiling. “I like it. About time.”
My brows shoot up, and Steven smirks.
Does the entire town of Maple Ridge think Steven and I should be together?
“What can I get you to eat? Our special tonight is Eggplant Parmesan, with a side of cheesy garlic bread.”
“Oh, that sounds good. I’ll have that!” Steven, who normally waits for me to order first, starts rattling off the entire menu. Okay, not the entire menu, but he ordered like four meals. “You’ll have some of the pizza and garlic bread, right Scarlett?”
I blink.
Steven reaches over and pulls my hand toward him, and I just let him. “Scarlett?”
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Are you sure you don’t want anything?” Our server takes Steven’s menu from him, then reaches for mine still untouched in front of me.
“Well, since my bes—boyfriend here ordered enough to feed an army, I’ll just help myself to some of his. Thanks.”
“You got it.” He smiles, and I watch him walk away before whipping my head back to Steven.