Chapter 4-2
543 Words
For the third Tuesday in a row, we had dinner at Michelle’s. Chase ordered the meatloaf every time and I didn’t know how he wasn’t sick of it, but he assured me he wasn’t. Tuesday wasn’t the only day of the week I saw Chase—we spent most nights together, and any part of the weekend he wasn’t working—but it was fast becoming my favorite. It was like an unspoken rule that we would eat at the diner, and I liked that we had a “date night.”
Michelle brought out the coffee without even asking, with creamer for me and sugar for Chase. She paused only long enough to find out if we wanted dessert, and even though I was too full, Chase enthusiastically said “yes” this time.
“She didn’t ask you what you wanted,” I commented, watching the petite beauty saunter away.
Hearing Chase laugh always warmed a part of me, but I had no idea why he was doing it now. He casually stretched across the table to take my hand and play with my fingers. “She doesn’t have to ask. She knows I’m going to want whichever cake or confection she’s made. And I mean that literally. She’s a baking genius, and she plays with recipes and makes them her own. It’s great.” He gave a happy sigh.
“I’m sure it is. I’ll have to steal a bite.”
Chase’s smile grew tender. “You don’t have to steal. Whatever I have is yours.”
My breath caught for a second. It was too soon for him to mean that like I thought he did. Really too soon. But Chase was looking at me so intently, his face serious even with the tender smile, that I didn’t know any other way to take it. He lifted my hand to his mouth and kissed my fingertips.
“Just gonna put this out there, okay? The way I feel about you is just so damn intense and…” He floundered for a second. “Deep. So I’m all in. I want to see where this goes.”
“Me, too,” I breathed.
“Good.” Chase sat back, then glanced toward the kitchen and moved his cup out of the way. He didn’t let go of my hand even as Michelle brought over a decadent-looking éclair drizzled with white, dark, and milk chocolate. Only reason my mouth didn’t water at the sight was because I was so full of frittata.
Chase didn’t touch his dessert, though, but just kept staring at me. “So we’re doing this?”
It took me a second to figure out what he was talking about. The éclair had been that distracting. But I smiled at him, making sure to put all my intent and affection into the expression. It must have worked, because he relaxed and gave that huge grin again. I picked up my coffee without breaking his gaze.
“Yes. We’re dating with intent.” I tried for playful and Chase laughed. “I love spending time with you. You make me feel good and safe and happy and horny, and all those amazing things. I want to see where it goes, too.”
Chase’s face lit up, then he stood enough so he could lean across the table and kiss me quickly. I couldn’t get the ridiculous grin off my face. I’d been attracted to him from the moment I saw him, but it had only grown as we spent time together. The expression he was wearing right now was one I lived for.
And then he offered me the first bite of the éclair, and I knew he was truly serious.
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