Page 100 of The Enemy Face Off

"It's Pendleton, and I don't know…" She smiles bashfully, like maybe this isn't something she's comfortable talking about. I'm about to drop it and move on to another topic when she says, "It's how he made the heroine, Violet, feel. She'd been treated badly by guys before and had put up so many walls. He had the patience of a saint and treated her with nothing but kindness and respect, even when she pushed him away. It was beautiful."

Hmm. Why does the situation she's describing feel oddly familiar?

She clutches her chest and sighs wistfully. "And then the grand gesture."

"What's a grand gesture?"

"Wow. You really don't know the romance genre at all, do you?"

"I knowRomeo and Juliet. Does that count?"

She emits a little huff and shakes her head. "That definitely does not count. A grand gesture is the pivotal moment in the story when a character expresses their deep love, regret, or desire to get back together in some big way."

"Okay, so what did this Plonkinton dude do that was so special?"

"You sure you want me to tell you? I don't want to spoil it for you."

"I'll survive."

"It's hard to explain without having read the book because it's not just what he did, but how he did it. He risked everything to give her something really special she'd lost as a little girl."

"It sounds like a good read."

She nods. "It's the best. Really. I know you don't read romance, but if you ever get the urge to try one, start there."

I smile. "Noted."

We must have spent longer than I realized talking, because by the time we finish our meal, the fireworks are about to start.

"Want to find a nice spot to watch?" I ask.

"Sure." She slips her hand into mine, and a rush of warmth fills my chest. I lead us away from the midway and the stands, hoping to find a less crowded area.

"This okay?" I ask as we approach a couple of empty lawn chairs in the picnic area. A few other people have had the same idea I have, but it's way less busy and the vibe is super chill.

"It's great," she says, plonking herself down.

Before sitting down, I shrug off my coat, grateful I decided to bring it, and drape it over her shoulders.

She looks up at me and smiles. "Thank you. You get bonus first-date points for that."

"I wasn't doing it to score points…but I'll take them."

I smile, she giggles, and as the fireworks begin and we look up to watch them, I've never felt this happy, this comfortable, thisrightwith a woman before.

I'm convinced Beth is the one for me, but does she feel the same way, too?

I think so.

I hope so.

But I don'tknowso.

And it wouldn't be just me she's getting. The Milo Payne boyfriend collectible comes as a package with two bite-sized munchkins.

She knows that. She said she's fine with that.

But what if she's fine with it now, but her feelings change down the road? What then? I don't want to put any unrealistic expectations on us, but at the same time, I have to protect my kids. She's a natural with Josie and Jonah, and they're always asking when we're coming back to Comfort Bay to see Beth. I don't want them to get too attached only to lose her if things between us don't work out. They've both been through enough in their young lives.

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