Page 20 of Love Grows

“And proud of it. Besides, there’s no rule book for a hamburger in Australia.”

“No, but I’m sure having both pineapple and beetroot heaped on top of the regular lettuce, cheese, meat, tomato, sauce business is just taking it too far,” she chuckled.

I delivered a one-shoulder shrug at her, grinned, then took an enormous bite, and Steph shook her head then turned to Mr G and delivered a string of Greek. His face lit up and he quickly responded, hands gesturing elaborately now that he’d been relieved of lunch.

“Mr and Mrs G have had some customers mentioning the Walker’s Warehouse getting built. The customers are not happy, particularly the tradies on the reno sites around the corner. Those guys will be there for another six months or so doing the row of heritage townhouses, and apparently they’d be pissed off if Mr G’s place shut up shop.”

I grinned and softly bumped Steph’s shoulder. Her paraphrasing was adorable. I was absolutely positive Mr G hadn’t used the words ‘reno’, and ‘pissed off’.

I caught Lucas eye from a few metres away, where he was barcoding bags of potting mix, and he gave me the thumbs up. For what reason I had no idea. Perhaps because Steph was doing so well with all the customers. But he followed the gesture with a nod and an accompanying smirk.

Impudent, observant teenagers were annoying.

* * *

I was tapping awayat the keyboard that afternoon when Steph knocked on the open door.

“Hi,” I said, looking up, then I hit enter and stood. Tough shook himself awake and walked out. Clearly I’d interrupted his slumber under my desk.

“Hi, yourself.” Steph stepped into the office which really only fitted two people in relative squishiness but the person I was squished to was very welcome. I grabbed my takeaway coffee while I waited for her next sentence. The cup was still warm and I sent a silent thank you to Jules and her knowledge of customer’s preferences. Mine was extra hot. I searched for the little drinking hole in the lid with the tip of my tongue and held Steph’s gaze, which I really, truly, hadn’t meant to make flirty or sexy, but the action made Steph’s breath catch, then she exhaled slowly. I was simply trying not to spill coffee on myself, but apparently the tip of my tongue was breath-hitch-worthy.

Steph watched my mouth. She watched my tongue dart out. She watched my throat moving as I swallowed. She watched me and I felt swallowed whole by her gaze.

I lowered the cup.

“Angel, “ Steph started.

“Yes?”

“I like you. You give me goosebumps.”

Unexpected. And lovely because Steph’s goosebumps were reciprocated.

I blushed. Steph was so bold. I thought I was a blunt, unfiltered sort of person, but not when it came to declarations about attraction. I was a little shy when it came to that sort of thing. I preferred subtly declaring attraction through the medium of shivering with joy when on a motorcycle ride with a really pretty woman’s arms wrapped around my waist.

“I like you, too,” I said, picking at the lid of my coffee cup. Brilliant. Next thing I’d be turning the toe of my boot around on the concrete.

“You’re unexpected.” Steph leaned against the desk, resting the palms of her hands on the edge, fingers hanging over. She delivered a slow smile.“I’m attracted to you.” Then she tilted her head. “I love how attraction can’t be helped. It's just what it is.” She flicked a finger between us. “I can’t help being attracted to you but it’s very okay if it’s not reciprocated.”

I set my cup of coffee on the top of the printer.

“Steph, I’m attracted to you as well. You’re really pretty and lovely and slightly taller than me which is kind of nice.” I blinked, then grimaced at the admission.

Steph smiled.

“And,” I continued. “You seem to look past the bit of roundness going on here.” I waved vaguely at my body. “I’m hardly prime real estate. I’m forty and a bit pudgy with some rough edges, like a house that’s seen a good life so far but the lawns haven’t been mowed for a while.”

Steph paused for a moment, then cracked up, bowing forward so that she nearly fell over. Then she straightened and reached for my hand, squeezing my fingers. “Haven’t you mown your lawns for a while?” She winked and I blushed, quietly dying inside.

“I…It was an analogy,” I muttered.

“Angel.” She held my hand more firmly. “I’m only in my early thirties but I decided long ago that when attraction exists, there’s no use fighting it. It only results in angst, longing, and yearning, and while that’s dramatic and creates great fiction, I choose to tell the person straight up that I’m attracted to them. And.” She held my other hand, bringing us closer together. “It would have been fine if you’d said that the attraction wasn’t mutual. We’d move on.” She tugged me even closer. “But it is mutual.” She gazed into my eyes.

“By the way,” she said. “I don’t look past all of you. I see you and find the whole package rather delightful. You are gorgeous and generous and kind and funny and I like all of those qualities.”

Steph was so fearless and I wished I could be just as much. I wanted to tell her that I thought she was funny and her humour had me in fits of laughter all day. I wanted to tell her that when the breeze from the streets came through the front doors, her hair moved almost in slow motion and I wanted to touch it.

I had a go at the fearless.

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