Page 73 of The Grumpy Side of Paradise

“Uh huh.” His thumb presses the skin above my hip, sending aftershocks through my entire body. “Al usually has the best prices and always the best product. He’s been there forever.”

“Yeah. He told me they couldn’t hold the tile longer than today. It’s in high demand, and they don’t have anywhere to keep it except on the sales floor.” If talking about boring stuff is supposed to put out the fire Adam’s started, it’s not working. There’s a fire alarm raging from my head to my toes.

“It’s not a big store.”

How can those words possibly make me want to take him inside and tear off his reindeer sweater?

“I don’t think I’m making it through the canyon with this snow. I’d hoped to check out some antique stores there, too.” Remembering that I really do have to get to Florence does the trick of cooling me down. I’m back to being stressed.

As much as I hate to, I pull away. I’ve got a problem to solve.

Adam examines the sky. “It’ll let up here pretty soon, but the canyon can be unpredictable. The sun will melt the snow on the road, but the water might freeze as soon as the sun sets. You don’t want to be going through there on ice.”

Rosie wiggles into the space between us and jumps on my legs. I remember I have her treats and feed her one. She makes a snuffling sound when I drop it in her mouth, then she takes off running into the snow. It’s adorable, but not enough to wipe away my worry.

My phone vibrates in my coat pocket, and I pull it out. “Maybe I’ll take a chance that it won’t sell and wait until tomorrow. Except I didn’t order very much.”

I’m talking to myself more than I am Adam. Talking things through—even if it’s only with myself—is how I work things out. “Even if someone only buys a few square feet, I won’t have enough for Grandma Rose’s, and I’ll have to find something else and redo my whole design because everything else is based on these tiles. Maybe I should--”

“—I can take you.” Adam’s voice almost gets lost under Rosie’s excited barks.

“What?”

“I can take you.” He looks me square in the eye, like it’s already been decided. “I need to take the wood from Wally’s place to be processed, anyway. Two birds, one stone.”

“But what about the roads?”

He lifts a shoulder. “I’ve been driving that canyon since I was fifteen, and I’ve got a big truck. We’ll be fine.” His mouth pulls into a smile. “Plus, I told you I’d take you on a date.Threebirds, one stone.”

I should tell himno thank you, especially after what just happened between us, but he’s made a compelling argument. Very compelling.

But I make a weak attempt anyway. “Don’t you have to work? At the store or the restaurant or every other business in town?”

“I can get Zach to cover for me at the store. He owes me. And Bear and Britta can handle the restaurant. Seb can help, too.” His whole body buzzes with a quiet energy. There’s a firmness in his eyes that says he won’t take no for an answer.

For a million reasons, I need to make him. I glance at my phone to kill time while I think.There’s a message from Georgia.

Contracts are on their way. Don’t say anything until they’re signed!

My breath catches. Never in my entire life have I had timing work out so perfectly. And I’m going to take full advantage of this gift of fate.

I grab Adam by his sweater, pull him close, and kiss him hard. There’s no going slow anymore. I will sit next to him in his truck, playing with his hair. I will let him buy me lunch or dinner. Maybe even breakfast. I will spend the day touching, holding, and kissing him, because as soon as I sign that contract, I can tell him I’m staying in Paradise.

When I pull away, he stumbles backwards.

“How soon do we leave?” I ask.

“As soon as possible.” He punctuates his breathless words with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.

Chapter 34

Adam

Never have I been so grateful for Bear’s OCD tendencies. While helping me deconstruct Wally’s house, he separated the wood into careful piles. There’s the wood only suitable for firewood, the slightly better stuff that can be repurposed into pallets, and the best wood that can be processed and used for floors. Between the two of us, we get the good wood loaded into my truck in less than an hour.

Then I go back home to get ready for my day with Evie.

I should be more nervous than I am, going out with a woman who’s not Dakota for the first time… well, ever. But I can’t wait to spend the day exploring this connection between Evie and me.

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