I grab her hand before she can say anything and pull her out of the elevator, not stopping as I lead her through the lobby. I don’t look at anyone. I don’t care who sees. The only thing that matters is getting her out of here before I lose what little control I have left.
“Hudson.” She stumbles a little as she tries to keep up with me. “Where are we going?”
“My car.”
“Yeah? And then where?” she asks sarcastically.
I bite back a grin. It hasn’t escaped me that she hasn’t pulled her hand from mine.
Good.
The cool evening air hits us as we push through the front doors. I finally slow when we reach my car, and I open the passenger door for her, bracing my hand against the roof.
“Get in.”
She studies me for a second, like she’s trying to figure me out, trying to figure out what’s happening between us. Then, without another word, she slides into the seat.
That does something to my chest. Having her trust feels huge. Itishuge.
Jesus, this girl has me tied up in knots.
I shut the door, round the front of the car, and get in behind the wheel.
Hazel turns toward me the second the engine starts. “Hudson?”
“Yeah?”
“Where are we going?”
I glance at her, a slow grin tugging at my mouth. “On a date.”
Her eyes widen, and surprise flickers across her face. Something softer follows, something that looks a lot like hope. “All right.”
Relief pours off me. I’m amazed she agreed so easily. This is all going better than I imagined, and I kick myself for not making a move months ago. We could’ve been together this whole time. We could’ve been married by now.
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, I force myself to focus on the road instead of the way my chest feels like it’s about to crack open.
I pull into a parking lot at a little Mediterranean place.
She eyes me as I park.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “What?”
“I love this place.”
“I know.”
“You knew my order for lunch, too.”
I know everything about you.
“And how I take my coffee.”
I grimace. “You mean your coffee creamer.”
She laughs, and I smile as I climb out and open her door for her. I offer her my hand, and she takes it, letting me help her out of the car.
“What else do you know about me?” she asks as we walk toward the restaurant.