Page 114 of Recipe for Rivals

Nova’s smile was the little shot of adrenaline I needed. We seemed, with mutual understanding, to decide to table the conversation for now, which gave me hope. I had time to convince her to stay.

She hopped out of the truck. My phone buzzed, so I picked it up and read the text while I got out and closed my door behind me.

Coach Gable

More than enough. These boys are going to camp.

“We did it,” I said, putting my phone in my pocket. “We made enough to cover summer camp.”

“Yes!” Nova jumped in the air, then flung her arms around my neck, giving me a good squeeze. “You did it, Dusty.”

Words failed me.

My brain stopped computing anything outside of this woman in my arms. I closed my hands over her back, our lungs expanding in sync. The embrace shifted, Nova melting against me while my arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer. I inhaled slowly, my eyes fluttering closed, and breathed in the sweet scent of her shampoo.

I wanted to take her with me to my warm house where we could sit on the porch and look at the stars with hot cups of tea. I wanted her to be there when I got home from my shifts in the morning so we could make breakfast together and get the kids off to school. I wanted to shop for Christmas ornaments and plan a Thanksgiving menu with her. I wanted to walk the aisles of Walmart slowly while the kids chose their lunch boxes at the end of the summer. I wanted an extremely domestic life, and I wanted it with her.

I was already planning our happily ever after. Because, despite how slowly I was willing to take things, I could see a future with Nova, Ben, and Alice. It seemed like it would be rich and full of goodness.

Her hands smoothed up my shoulder blades, and I leaned away to cup the back of her neck, looking her in the eye. “I’m so impressed with the way you handled things tonight.”

“I did nothing,” she argued, her eyebrows rising in surprise. “Well, I gave Brody a snack, but it would have been better if I’d had protein and not sugar on hand.”

“You were a calming presence for us.”

Her arms tightened around my waist as she tipped her chin up to look me in the eyes. Nova’s height meant I wouldn’t have to bend too much to kiss her. She was perfect.

“I will go at whatever pace you need to go, but just know I’m a patient man. I’ll wait as long as it takes for you to be comfortable with me.”

Nova stiffened. “I have to think about the kids.”

“Exactly. If you don’t want to tell them we’re dating, I’ll respect that.”

“We’re dating now?” she asked, her voice oddly void of emotion. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“I hope so. But if you need a few more first dates, that can be arranged.”

Her quiet chuckle made some of my nerves melt away.

“Just stay here with me,” I said. “Don’t go. I have a recipe for happily ever after. Want to hear it?”

“Yes,” she whispered, burying her head against my chest.

“Me, you, Alice, and Ben.”

“What about Leia?”

“I’m not finished. You have to mix the first four ingredients together, stick them in a house full of furniture, toss in a blue couch, some homemade cookies, and sprinkle a cat on top.”

“How about then you have to top it with a cat? It sounds less gruesome.”

“Top it with an orange striped cat and enjoy for…hmmmm…maybe forever?”

She grinned up at me. “That’s a long time to be stuck with that same blue couch.”

My heart soared simply because she didn’t run away after I painted a picture of us being happy together. This was a step in the right direction.

“True. And the view from my back deck could get boring after a while.”

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