Page 48 of Caught Stealing

She keeps pausing to think and it scrambles my brain. “After that?”

Her eyes connect with mine and her lips part.

I hate the sorrow in her expression. Almost as if she feels forced to have the right answer.

“You know I’m not trying to force anything, right? I’m here for you. I’m ready for more if you want it, but I’m also a patient guy. If no is your answer, fine. Say it’s the answer and I’ll stop trying to prove to you that I’m not your ex. It just doesn’t seem like it is, based on what you say and do.” Gosh, I sound like a jerk. Maybe? Have I been pushing even though I haven’t meant to?

She crosses her arms and that same guilt washes over her face. “Honest truth?”

“Please.”

“I’m scared because I loved Rory so much. I’m afraid to move on with anyone. I don’t think it has anything to do with you being an athlete. I mean, it does remind me a lot of my past, but more than that it’s that I’m terrified of falling for you and ending up in the same place I was with him. But I’m also afraid of missing out on something that could be great. I know it’s selfish. I’m sorry. I’m…I’m sorry.”

She’s shaking now, and it doesn’t make any sense to me. We’ve only been on a few dates. Sure, they went well and I’d love more, but this sort of reaction is unexpected for her part. Unless…unless she feels the same way I do about this thing between us.

“Lottie, do you think there’s some time limit on my patience? That it’s now or never for me? For us?”

She throws her hands in the air. “Well, I don’t expect you to wait around for me. There must be other women interested in you, and I’d be really selfish to ask you not to date them for me. We’ve known each other a couple of weeks, and I already told you no then turned around and hit you with mixed signals. What sort of horrible person does that?”

“You’re not a horrible person, Lottie. Confused and hurt, maybe, but not horrible.” I plop the dough on the counter and rinse my hands. I’m tired of standing here with food all over me while we chart out a potential future between us.

“I think it’s pretty horrible to both want to avoid you to protect my heart while also praying you don’t find someone else until I can get my act together.” She purses her lips to stop the flow of words.

I raise a finger. “First, your act is just fine. It’s all normal human emotions, and you’re allowed to have those. Second, my best friend, the one who set me up on the app, tried to convince me to check out the other women I was matched with. I looked. It felt ten shades of wrong, so I deleted it. Third, if we’re laying all our cards down, I never gave up on you. Like I said, I’ve been hoping to show you I’m not like Rory on your own time and at your own pace, so if you’re horrible, then so am I. Fourth, you do not have to kiss me or show me any sort of physical affection to keep my interest.”

“Andrew, I—”

“Charlotte Clarke, don’t you dare try to kiss me again until you want it. Until you mean it, and until I’m the man you want to kiss you every day because we’re committed in some kind of relationship, okay? You don’t kiss me because you think it’s what I want to stay interested. Got it?”

She blinks a few times. “I feel like I’m being scolded.”

“Of course not, but I need you to know I’m not going anywhere. Take your time. Enjoy our friendship. Whatever happens, happens.”

“But you want a serious relationship. You said that on our first date, and I’m—”

I press my fingers over her lips, silencing her. “I want a serious relationship, yes, but I don’t want just any relationship. From the second I saw you standing in front of that fountain, I’ve wanted you, Lottie. I was attracted to you then and from what I’ve seen since, I think you’re worth waiting for. I hope I am too.”

There’s a clear shift in her eyes. It’s like watching a puzzle piece falling into place. I hope it’s the moment she realizes that I’m serious, that she’s what I want, and she doesn’t have to worry about me disappearing because I’m chasing some other woman. I’m not him. I won’t do what he did. I see what I want and don’t take it for granted.

“I’m never going to make you compete for me, Lottie. I’m here. When you’re ready for this, I’m here.”

She nods so I lower my fingers from her lips.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “For being so kind even though we just met, and for having a level of patience I didn’t think was possible.”

“Some things are worth waiting for. I have a gut feeling you are. Now, are you hungry?” My stomach growls as if supporting my inquiry. We need to have some food so I can stop pouring my heart out to her like a lovesick sap.

She giggles. “Yeah. Starved.”

“All right, then. We need a rolling pin.” I turn to grab mine from the drawer, but Lottie grips my elbow. Before I know it, her arms are wrapped around my waist and her head lands on my chest. It’s the warmest, sweetest hug imaginable. She breathes me in and her entire body relaxes. Her now-familiar scent eases my anxiety, and I wrap her in my arms and hold her until she’s ready to be let go.

“Andrew?” she asks, turning her face deeper into my chest.

I settle my cheek on the crown of her head. “Hmm?”

“I want to try this with you. I just need a little time to get my ducks in a row now that I understand what my real problems are.”

I squeeze her a little tighter. “That’s enough for me, Lottie.”

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