Chapter 6 #2
She grabbed another pastry and held it out.
“I won’t ask how you did it but thank you.
I can count how many days it’s been since I last had these.
I was running to the airport worried about Nanine and waiting for my taxi to arrive.
I dashed across the street to one of my favorite old haunts and ordered a cafecito and a dozen pastelitos and a Cuban sandwich, which I ate on the plane ride over. ”
They’d made her feel better, even when her world was falling apart. Food did that.
He leaned closer and took the pastry from her, those warm blue eyes doing weird things to her insides.
“I didn’t know that. It’s like that meal was a bridge between your old life and the new life you were coming to here.
Madison, I want to build more bridges. Between my past and yours and our lives now. ”
She had to swallow her latest bite of pastry over the emotion knotting her throat. “You’re off to a great start. So, you somehow ordered up a feast from Little Havana…”
He waggled his brows playfully. “I did. I even have ice cream from the famous Azucar Ice Cream Company.”
“You do not!” She lurched out of her chair. “Where?”
He spurted out a laugh, rising slowly. “You don’t want to sample the rest of the food? I bought every side available. Rice and beans, maduros, tostones, boiled yuca with garlic sauce, avocado salad, boniato, malanga purée, tamal en casuela—”
She rushed him and grabbed him by the lapels. “Don’t mess with me, Kyle.”
“Check the freezer,” he said, laying his hands over hers.
The contact of his skin touching hers sent a bolt of desire through her.
She grabbed the back of his head and gave him the most heartfelt, sultry kiss of her life.
Then she dashed for the ice cream. When she opened the door, she could feel a giddy smile spreading across her face.
There it was. Her three favorite flavors:
Café con Leche with vanilla, espresso, and fudge.
Mantecado in all its cinnamon-laced Cuban vanilla magnificence.
And finally, Abuela María, which included the most awesome blend of flavors ever—guava, cream cheese, and Maria cookies mixed with vanilla ice cream.
She grabbed the Mantecado first and pressed it to her chest as she closed the door and whirled around, treasuring the coldness against the heat in her heart. “You got five cartons of each.”
He was standing only a couple feet away, looking much too tempting. “I figured I was already paying for them to get here fast. Seemed economical.”
Like hell. “I must have been a really good girl this year.” She didn’t care if her voice sounded breathy. “This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
His throat moved, and his smile faded. “I’m glad, but damn if it doesn’t rip my guts out a little too. Mad, these gestures are nothing. Just some comfort food from home, your personal little care package.”
She lifted her hand to cup his jaw. “It’s not nothing, and you know it. Kyle…”
Say the words. She knew there was no better time. Her heart was pushing against her chest, so big it could not be contained.
“I love you,” she said softly.
His blue eyes gleamed as he brought her against his chest. “You said it. God, I didn’t expect that.”
“Remember it when I’m messing up and get weird again.”
He traced her cheekbone, his gaze filling with a tenderness that stole her breath. “I love you too. I’ve never imagined loving anyone like you.”
She coughed out a laugh. “I know! Who could have imagined it, right?”
“No…” He cupped her entire face in his hands.
“That’s not what I meant. I mean… I love you more than I ever thought I was capable of.
I used to think a dog would help me express all the warmer emotion I had to give, but neither my mother nor Paisley wanted to have one because of pet fur. Funny, right?”
Hearing it was kind of sad actually.
“Madison, you’ve shown me how big my heart can be. Do you have any idea how incredible that is?”
“Were you… Did you think you were somehow deficient in the love area?”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Maybe. Yeah. There were a lot of times growing up that I wondered if something was wrong with me. I didn’t exactly love my family.”
“Me either,” she confessed, reaching up to caress his nape in comfort. “That doesn’t make us bad people. I mean, I love our friends here. Dean barged into Nanine’s tonight and piled up a plate like we were a buffet. I wasn’t even tempted to kick him out or anything. If that’s not love…”
His laugh was reassuring, but she was still hung up on what he’d said about doubting himself. Very unlike him.
Clearing her throat, she said, “Would you like to try the ice cream? I can guarantee it will make you feel better.”
He drew back. “Mad, how could you ever imagine I wasn’t feeling on top of the world right now? I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment.”
She knew she had to make another confession. “So do I.”
He held up his wrist and slid back his suit sleeve in the most tantalizing of ways, showing her his watch. “It’s after 12:01 a.m. I thought it might be easier to slide into our first date.”
Tapping his watch face, she cocked a brow. “I thought the setup seemed a little date-like.”
“How are you feeling about things?” he asked huskily, sliding closer and fitting his hand around her waist.
She laid her palm on his chest. “I’m thinking 12:01 a.m. is my new favorite time of day.”
“Good,” he answered in a voice pitched lower with heat.
They shared a smile as a new awareness built between them. When he leaned down and took her mouth in the sweetest, most loving kiss ever, she felt like she was having an out-of-body experience. Being with him was like no other sexual experience she’d ever had.
A new certainty filled her. She’d always known when something felt right or not, and nothing had ever felt more right than this.
“How do you feel about having dessert first?” she whispered against his mouth.
He made a low murmur that had her skin sizzling with need. “Since I’m called the dessert course, I’m all for it.”
“Me too.” She quickly stored the food in the walk-in and then took his hand, grabbing two spoons from the table along with the ice cream, and led him out of the kitchen.
The candles were still flickering as they reached the stairs. “Did you imagine this as a shrine for romance when you came up with the idea? Also, who lit all these candles? The same little helper who brought in the food?”
He tugged on her hand, stopping her. “Mad, I lit the votives.”
Her mouth parted. “All of them?”
His smirk had her mouth gaping again. “Only the best for my girl.” Then he stepped forward and swung her into his arms.
She tensed from being off the floor. “I knew you were going to pull some romance hero move.”
His laugh was downright sultry. “Know what else I have in mind?”
Her belly tightened with need. “No, what?”
Starting up the stairs, he carried her capably. “I plan to make you scream.”
A shiver of arousal went through her. “That would be…a first.”
“Your ice cream is melting,” he pointed out as they reached his bedroom door and he set her down.
She only smiled as she waltzed to the bed. “So am I.”
He grinned as he slammed the door.