Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115288 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
And maybe that makes sense, since he knows exactly how I am with kids, and that I’ll put my heart and soul into his daughter. It makes me wonder what his previous relationships have looked like. I don’t want to dampen the light mood with that kind of conversation, though.
He sets the wine menu aside. “Sorry. That kiss has scrambled my head.”
“Mine too,” I admit.
“I thought you in this dress was going to be a distraction, but now I know how tempting your lips are.” He taps his own with his index finger.
“I can hold my hand in front of my mouth if it helps. I could even draw fake lips on my fingers so it looks more authentic.” I start to lift my hand.
Gavin grabs it and laces his fingers with mine. “I want to see every part of your gorgeous face, especially that beautiful mouth.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Peyton’s dad?”
“Am I too much for you?”
“Not at all. This is just a very different side of you. I like it.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” He smooths his thumb back and forth over my knuckles. Even that small, innocent touch sends warmth through my veins.
I settle on a Bellini—it’s part sparkling wine, part juice—and Gavin orders a glass of red wine.
The server glances between us, looking a little nervous before his gaze finally settles on me. “May I see some identification, miss?”
I’m used to being carded. I don’t look my age at all, and the fact that I’m short doesn’t help. I slide my identification out of my wallet and pass it over to the server. His eyes widen in surprise. “Oh. I’m so sorry for the inconvenience, ma’am. Thank you.”
“It’s not a problem.”
The server rushes off, red-faced.
“How often do you get carded?”
“Basically every time I order alcohol.” I slide my ID back into my clutch. “I’m used to it.”
The server returns with our drinks, and we decide to share the gnocchi as an appetizer.
While we wait for our appetizer, we talk about the event at Spark House tonight, and the other events we’re hosting in the coming months, including a small cosplay convention, which Gavin is entirely too fascinated by.
“Isn’t it just adults dressing up like it’s Halloween?”
“In a general sense, but these are like super fans. They really get into role-play and they’re passionate about the characters, and we’re not talking just people who are into the movies. These people read all the graphic novels. They collect them and keep them in sealed packages and temperature-controlled rooms to make sure they stay in perfect condition.”
“I might want to stop by Spark House that weekend.”
“They have makeup artists who come in and do the coolest things. I’m going to be dressed as Poison Ivy.”
“I shouldn’t be the least bit surprised that you’re going to get dressed up for that event.”
“I was probably born to cosplay. I feel like it was a missed calling.”
The server returns with our shared appetizer. We leave it in the center of the table and pick at it while we chat.
Our meals arrive. I ordered the salmon and Gavin ordered the steak, and we talk all through dinner, not even caring that our food is tepid by the time we’re finished.
We order the chocolate lava cake for dessert, to share, of course.
I decide I can’t let this night end without addressing the one thing that’s been eating at me all these years. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
I set my fork down and take a sip of water, steeling my resolve.
“Harley? Is everything okay?”
“Do you remember that night when Peyton was teething and kept waking up?”
Gavin sets down his own fork and leans back in his chair. “She had a few of those nights.”
“You were in the kitchen. I was going to get a glass of water and I found you there.”
“Ah.” His gaze drops to the table. “Yes, I remember that night.”
I swallow down the nerves with a sip of my Bellini. “Is what almost happened that night the reason you moved to Boulder?”
His head snaps up, brows pulled together in confusion. “What?”
“Because I almost kissed you then.” My heart feels like it’s going to beat its way out of my chest and my mouth is desert dry, but I need the answer to this question, so I can finally move past it, instead of hanging on to it. “Is that why you moved?”
Gavin rubs his bottom lip and sighs. “No. That isn’t why we moved, but it did force me to see that I was heading down a path that was dangerous for both of us. And Peyton calling you Momma … that was … I had to look critically at what I was doing. You were young and so full of life, and I was … broken and grieving. It would have been a mistake to do anything back then. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind.”