Page 75 of Before I Loved You

I startle, slamming my hand down on the horn for a split second. Shit. Shit. Shit.

Taking a deep breath, I sit up and turn to the window beside me to find Paul taking my breath away in a pair of black slacks and a button-down green shirt with the sleeves rolled up a bit over his muscular forearms. Holy hell.

He smiles, motioning for me to roll down the window, which I do. And yes, I have to crank down the window because my car is an ancient relic.

After the window is down, I face straight ahead as Paul leans in, placing his large hands over the window ledge.

“How’s it going?” His deep voice reverberates in the tiny space, sending a shiver across my skin.

I nod. “Good. Really good.”

“I see you brought a pie.”

“Yup. Pumpkin.”

“That’s one of my favorites.”

“Good. Good.” I nod again like a damn idiot.

“Sarah?”

“Yes?”

His hand gently wraps around my chin, turning my head to the side so my eyes lock with his. “Were you planning on coming inside, or did you want to stay out here during dinner?”

I let out a deep breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding in. “I’m just…nervous.” My eyes fall on my outfit that I’m now completely second-guessing. Maybe I should have used what was left on my emergency credit card to buy something that made me more presentable than this old beige sweater dress. But it was the only thing in my closet that covered my tattoos. “I don’t think I’m going to fit in very well,” I admit.

“Why?” he asks.

I let out a little chuckle. “No offense, Paul, but your house might be bigger than the White House. And here I am, showing up in a seventeen-year-old car with a dress I’ve had for as long as I can remember and a pie that, honestly, might have passed its expiration date.” I push away from his hand and smooth out my hair. “This was a bad idea. I should probably go. I don’t want to hold your family up. They’re probably waiting for you.”

Paul laughs, shaking his head. “Oh, you stubborn woman.” With extreme precision, Paul swiftly opens my door, reaches inside, turns off my car, and unbuckles my seat belt. The warmth from his breath caresses my cheek as he gets right up in my face. “I don’t give a fuck what kind of car you’re driving or what you’re wearing. I don’t care if that pie is a day old or two weeks old. I’ll still eat every last bite because you brought it. The only thing I care about is that you’re here.” He grabs the pie and backs away, putting his free hand out for me to take, which I hesitantly do. “And they’re not waiting for me. They’re waiting for you. My mom, for one, is very excited to meet you.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry. I told everyone you’re just a friend.” His lips press against my forehead as his hand cups my cheek, his thumb gently stroking back and forth. “Don’t ever think for a second that I care how much money you do or don’t have. That shit has never mattered to me and never will.”

A small smile graces my face from his words. I’ve never felt like I’ve had to be anyone but myself when I’m with him, and that’s exactly how I feel right now. I feel like me.

I brush down my dress and straighten the black belt around my waist. “Do I look okay?”

“Well, honestly, I would prefer you not wear anything, but I suppose since you’re meeting my family, clothes are required.”

My cheeks blaze as I lightly smack his chest. “Paul!”

“You look beautiful, Sarah.” His fingers push back a piece of my hair. “I love it when you blush. It lets me know that even when you pretend you don’t feel this thing between us, you do. And it gives me hope.”

My heart hammers in my chest. “Paul, I—”

His eyes look over my head. “We better go inside. We have an audience.”

I turn around, finding several pairs of eyes watching from one of the main windows before the curtains quickly close.

We laugh as Paul’s hand finds mine, leading me toward the most enormous oak door I have ever seen.

As we step inside, I remove my hand from Paul’s and pull down my dress, ensuring it covers everything, even the tattoos on my thighs.

“You can all come out now,” Paul announces, walking farther inside.

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