He nods at her before Felix shows up at my side.
Sutton crouches down and gives him a few scritches behind his ears. “Don’t worry, bud. I’ll see you soon.” He stands up and drops his hands to my hips, letting his fingertips linger on the bare skin above the waistband of my pajamas.
“I’ll see you later for that date, OK?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Good,” he says, bringing his lips to mine for a quick kiss that I wish would last much longer. “I’ll text you my address. See you soon.”
He smiles so brightly at me that I almost laugh, not knowing what to do with this man’s affection. Instead I just stand there awkwardly smiling as he turns and walks away. I shamelessly watch as he rounds the corner thinking that somehow he’s even more attractive in daylight. Judging by the direction he goes, he must live close to the town square.
Monica stands next to me and lets out a low whistle. “You’re awfully happy,” she says as he walks out of sight.
I look over to find her eyeing me with a less than subtle grin.
“And what about you? You seemed to be enjoying yourself before we left the bar,” I challenge.
“Oh, his brother is an amazing fuck, but that was definitely a one-time thing.” She extends a hand toward me and gestures up and down. “This though… this looks abit different.”
My brows furrow and I look down my nose at her, staring daggers.
“Nice try.” She shakes her head side to side, taking a sip from her water bottle. “Even your scowl looks less scowl-y. So spill the tea.”
I try to keep scowling at her, but she’s right. I’m practically giddy for once and I can’t hide it. I don’t want to hide it either.
“I’m seeing him again tonight, for dinner.”
She wiggles her hips and makes an O with her mouth. “Where’s he taking you?”
I shake my head. “He’s a chef, like his brother. He didn’t say where we’d eat, but he said he wanted to cook for me, make me all my favorites.”
She flattens her hand over her chest. “God, that’s sweet.”
I nod and this time I grin, not hiding that I’m happy and looking forward to a date—a real freaking date with a nice guy.
As if fate was on my side and the stars were aligning, my phone buzzes in my pocket.
“Oh, is that him?” Monica teases, pursing her lips in a kissy face. “He must really like you.”
My heart stutters when I see that it’s indeed him. I tap the screen and open the message to read the address. The numbers and letters feel so familiar, then it clicks when I read it a second time, and then a third time.
My heart clenches and I hear my own voice come out strangled. “There's no way. That can't be right."
Maybe fate and the stars did align, but instead of some grand gesture, it’s a cruel joke. He can’t be the one that swooped in and bought it.
“It’s my grandma's address.”
CHAPTER 12
SUTTON
Standing in the empty restaurant,I think about every little stolen moment I’ve had with Kelsey over the last two years. The little glances I’d sneak when I’m at the coffee shop with TJ. The occasional smiles that she’d direct at my staff because she would never smile at me. The times I’d see her, from my balcony, walking Felix on her breaks.
Out of all of them, today was the only time since the night we met, and the morning after, that she voluntarily gave me the time of day. Not just the time of day—she opened up to me again, like that first night. And again, I’m back to wondering what the hell I did wrong.
I only wanted to help her. Who fucking cares if my brother is right and I have a raging hero complex. I couldn’t bare another second of seeing her clearly in pain. She hides it so well from everyone else, but chose to strip that shield away and pour herself out to me.
As much as I wanted her to just say yes and let me help, I pushed too far and put my foot in my fucking mouth. Seriously, I’m a fucking idiot.