"Why wouldn't I? I mean, I know you wash your hair and shave now," I tease. "You basically check all my boxes."
Her face scrunches up. "If that's all it takes, you need better boxes, Mason."
"There may be a few others. We'll discuss those later."
"You really want to go out with me? This isn't, like, a pity thing because I feel like a jerk, right?"
"I've wanted to go out with you since you told me that you were stealing the mail, Olive. We don't have to rush," I murmur. "We can take it slow, get to know one another. It doesn't have to be anything more than dinner."
"Okay."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." She grins up at me, her cheeks pink. "I'd like that. Just…do me a favor?"
"Name it."
"Um, if you change your mind, would you let me know?"
"What?"
"If you change your mind, can you let me know? I don't really want to be ghosted again," she says, her gaze drifting from mine.
What the fuck? Who the fuck was stupid enough to ghost her? Whoever he was, he was a fucking idiot.
"I won't change my mind."
"Just promise me."
"I promise," I say softly.
She beams at me in response, relief stamped into every line of her face. Something about that makes me want to kiss her and kill for her at the same damn time. Whoever made her so leery didn't deserve her, and they never will. Fuck that guy.
"What are you doing tonight?" I ask.
"This." She motions at the store around her. "I promised to help out here tonight."
"Tomorrow?"
"I work tomorrow, but I'm free tomorrow night."
"Perfect." I grin at her. "Then you're all mine tomorrow night."
She blushes again, glancing at the floor.
"You need help with…whatever the fuck you're doing in here?"
"You want to help?"
"Why not?" I shrug. "Beats going home to be bullied by my bird."
I'm going to dream about her sweet smile for the rest of my life, I'm sure of it.
Chapter Six
Olive
Every outfit I own is officially on my bedroom floor, but the results are worth it. Mason can't stop staring when he knocks on the door at seven, dressed in a tight Henley and faded jeans with my tattered copy ofThe Princess Brideand a bouquet of flowers in his hands.