She gives me a sly look, leaning her head toward Eli. “So-o-o?”
“I was curious. You know, about all the fuss over the Saturday night entertainment.”
She sits down at my table and whispers, “You’re really into him.”
“Shh.” I glance over at Eli, but his head is bent over his guitar. No indication that he heard.
“It’s not a big deal,” I say. “I just wanted to hear him play.”
“Right.”
We both glance over at him, and he gives me a slow sexy smile. I flush, my stomach fluttering. There it is again—butterflies in my stomach. I used to think women made that up.
Audrey leans in, whispering, “I’d say it’s mutual. Are you actually going to give him a chance?”
I watch Eli’s fingers stroke the guitar, and I desperately want those hands on me. All of him on me. I can’t believe how much I want him. And I’m not so sure it’s just regular lust anymore. I really like him. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Well, this is major progress. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you even consider that it might go somewhere with a guy.” She grabs my hand. “Sweetie, you deserve love. You can’t let your parents’ screwup affect your future.”
The reminder makes adrenaline spike through me. I’m playing a dangerous game here. “I should go.”
She sighs. “You don’t have to go. I’ll stop bugging you about this. Have a good time tonight.” She walks back to her parents, and they head out the door.
I sigh. What am I doing here on a Saturday night listening like a fangirl to Eli play guitar? What did I think would happen?
I shouldn’t have come. This is only going to blow up in my face.
The music stops. My head jerks up, my heart kicking up speed as his gaze eats me up.
“This one’s for you,” Eli murmurs.
My breath stutters out.
He starts to play, and I recognize it, Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.” He’s not singing, but I can hear the lyrics in my head. It’s about treasuring every moment. My breath hitches. I can’t leave now.
I’m barely aware of the crowd surrounding us. Warmth fills me up, like I’m floating along with the music.
And when the song ends, I clap, my eyes stinging, my throat nearly closed with emotion.
He gives me a tender smile.
This time my heart flutters for the first time ever. I’m scared of all I’m feeling, yet I can’t seem to leave.
And when Eli finishes for the night, he puts his guitar away, walks over, and takes my hand, pulling me up with him. “What did you think?”
My voice sounds breathy. “I liked it. A lot.” But I mean him.
He smiles, his hazel eyes lighting up. “I have the early shift tomorrow, so I need to go. You want to walk me out, or did you want to stay here a little longer?”
“I only came to hear you play. I’ll go too.”
He gestures for me to go ahead of him, and I walk through the restaurant, feeling self-conscious. Will the waitstaff report that I left with Eli? I’m just walking him out. Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders.
Once outside, I gesture toward my car parked in the back corner of the lot closer to the road. “Well, that’s me over there.”
He walks with me to my car, carrying his guitar case. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
I’m overly conscious of his presence by my side, his sure confident stride, the five-o’clock shadow on his jaw. “Sure, it was fun.”
We get to my car, and the area lights up from the motion-sensor light perched in the tree above us. I freeze, standing in the spotlight with him. Can the people inside the restaurant see us?
“Well, goodnight.” I quickly turn away and unlock my car.
“Hey,” he says gently.
I turn back to face him, steeling myself against him. I have to resist temptation. And not just because of Sydney. I’m not cut out for relationships, and he’s not someone I could ever be with casually. Too complicated. Even knowing all this, I don’t move away. Instead I stare at him, taking in the fine arch of his brow, the thick lashes framing his eyes, the sharp angle of his shadowed jaw.
He smiles, and my butterflies take flight. He’s got the most beautiful genuinely warm smile. It lights up his face. It lights me up. “I want to take you out, somewhere away from judging eyes, if you know who I mean.”
I do. Of course I do. Panic flashes through me, making my heart pound. Still I don’t move away.
He takes my hand, turning it and lifting my wrist to his mouth. A jolt of raw desire goes through me at the touch of his lips. I’m sure he felt my frantic pulse.
When am I ever going to find another man like this—alpha and tender? He does something to me, makes me feel sensations I’ve never had before, emotions I’ve never let myself feel before. Dangerous. My mouth is dry. I can’t seem to find the words to push him away. He’s still holding my wrist, and I like it.
One corner of his mouth lifts as he sets my hand back by my side. “Tempted?”
“Yes,” I whisper.
“That’s all I need to know. Goodnight, Jenna.” He opens my car door for me, and I slip inside on shaky legs.
What did I just agree to?
I’m back at work early as usual on Monday morning, baking up fresh muffins, brownies, and layered bars. I’ll get to the cookies later. Audrey put in a large order of my bestselling salted caramel brownies for her book club, so I had to get here extra early to ensure I had enough for her order and my usual inventory.
Usually I’m a little groggy in the morning, but I’m filled with energy. Almost jubilant. I don’t know what’s come over me. I’ve only had one cup of coffee. I have a sneaking suspicion why I’m so jubilant, but I don’t want to think too hard about that. It makes me feel jumpy that I sort of agreed to see Eli away from judging eyes. I haven’t heard from him since then. Maybe he was too busy yesterday to text me about it. Or maybe he’s having second thoughts. I deflate, my jubilance taking a dive.
The timer dings. I pull a tray of brownies out of the oven and set them to cool. That catchy song from Aerosmith has been stuck in my head ever since he played it for me. No one’s ever dedicated a song to me before. Another sweet gesture. He was also so kind about working out our little fender bender problem, even though I know he was upset about his new Mustang. I shake my head at my dreaminess and, since I’m alone, I play my work playlist of upbeat songs. It helps to have a good beat.
I get into a rhythm, the delicious smells of cinnamon, sugar, and chocolate wrapping around me. Even as much as I bake, that never gets old. The scents, the textures, the taste. I simply love it.
Two hours later, I take a seat and put my feet up. We open in an hour. I eat a fresh pumpkin muffin and do a mental checklist of what I need to do before I open. My mind wanders back to the man who’s never far from my thoughts.
Is Audrey right that I’m letting my parents’ stupid mistakes ruin my future happiness? God, isn’t it enough that it ruined my childhood?
I put my feet on the ground and sit up straight. Am I really going to do this? Attempt a relationship? My heart pounds in my ears, and I go cold all over, nausea roiling in my stomach. I sit back and take a few breaths. I can’t. The fallout with Syd. The bone-crushing disappointment when it goes up in flames.