Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Not the most thorough round of affirmations, but they were going to have to work. I didn’t want to spend the night talking to myself in the mirror while the real-life man of my dreams was waiting at the door.
At least my mom was working late, or she would have no doubt already answered the door, eager to play twenty questions with Brady about our date.
Thank God for small favors.
And with that thought, I hurried down the hallway to the front door, taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the butterflies that were rampaging through my stomach.
I opened the door, my face immediately breaking into a smile when I saw Brady standing there, hands behind his back and looking sexier than I had ever seen him, in starched button-down shirt and slacks that clung to his muscled legs better than any pair of jeans could.
“Hi,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush hot at the sight of him smiling back at me. “You’re really here.”
He cocked his head to the side, his smile widening, and I winced as I realized the inane words that had tumbled out of my mouth.
Way to go, Captain Obvious. Maybe for your next trick, you can tell Brady how the sky is blue, and the grass is green.
“There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” he said, his sparkling eyes and big grin looking like he really meant it. “I got these for you.”
Brady pulled his hands from behind his back, and I sucked in a sharp breath as the most beautiful bouquet of pink orchids I’d ever seen came into view.
“I, um, wasn’t sure if you’d have a vase, so I ordered one that I hope kind of matches the flowers? I mean, it’s sort of more purple-ish, maybe, but—”
“No, it’s beautiful. They’re all… beautiful,” I interrupted, eyes wide as Brady handed over the flowers in the delicate but surprisingly heavy vase. It wasn’t one of the kitschy little vases we had sitting around everywhere at the shop. It was clear he had put a lot of thought into the whole thing.
In fact, even the orchids were different from the select few we had in stock at the shop. I had never even seen orchids so bright and perfect before.
“So, you like them?” Brady asked, his eyebrows arching as he looked hopeful and uncertain, all at the same time.
“I love them. Thank you so much. I do have a vase, but not one as pretty as this one. It’s perfect, Brady. Where did you even find orchids like this?”
His grin returned in full force, and my own cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling so much, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to stand there, basking in the glow of his gaze, for as long as possible.
“When you agreed to go out with me the other day, I put in a rush order for the flowers and the vase.” Brady gave a self-conscious shrug, but I could tell from his expression that he was pretty happy with how the surprise had turned out. “I told the guy at the warehouse to keep it a secret, but I thought for sure you’d find out before now.”
“I had no idea,” I said, shaking my head. “You did a great job with these. I’m seriously speechless. They’re so pretty and it was just so… thoughtful. Seriously, Brady, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome,” he said, breaking eye contact with me for the first time as he looked me up and down. “And can I just say that you look… amazing.”
I laughed and quickly looked down at the flower arrangement in my hands. My cheeks were on fire and no doubt blazing red, but when I looked back up, Brady was still staring, still taking in the sight of me standing there as if I had been made of candy.
That look—that heat—in his eyes made me want to put the beautiful flowers aside and jump into his arms. I had been on a few first dates, but I’d never been looked at like that, like I was the only thing Brady could see.
It was intoxicating and wonderful and made me wonder why I’d been so nervous about what I was going to wear.
When Brady looked at me, I felt like he really did see the whole picture—not just an outfit and painstakingly coiffed hair.
“Thank you,” I said, finally realizing that I was still standing there silently, my gaze alternating between the orchids and Brady’s ruggedly handsome face. “And, um… you look really good, too. Like… really good.”
I nibbled my lip but couldn’t help smiling again as Brady’s cheeks turned a deliciously dusky shade of pink. It was apparent that I wasn’t the only one who was unused to being on the receiving end of a compliment like that.
“It’s been a while since dressing up didn’t involve a jersey,” Brady shrugged, and I had to blink hard to dislodge the image of him in his uniform—a mental image I would definitely be returning to at some point for… inspiration. “But I’m glad the look—and the flowers—turned out okay.”