Page 52 of Family Bonds: Coy & Angel

“That was before,” he said.

“Meaning they weren’t dates and you weren’t trying to impress me?”

He squinted one eye at her. “I’m not sure I’m trying to impress you. It seems to me that I’ve been living in a closet for a bit when it comes to you, so maybe you think I’m perfect.”

She couldn’t help to laugh over that. “I wouldn’t go that far. I only know what I do about you from Spencer over the years. Maybe he’s made it all up.”

“You’ve been working for me for two months. Since you kissed me last night I’m going to assume what you knew or heard hasn’t been all that different to change your feelings?”

She liked that he wasn’t shying away though she knew he was unsure of things. They’d have to talk about it. Maybe during dinner they could.

“Nope,” she said. “It just made you more normal to me.”

“Normal?” he asked. “I’m offended. I’m not sure I’ve ever been accused of being normal or average.”

This was a side of Coy she’d never seen. “Are you flirting with me?”

“I think, all things considered, I could be myself with you. Or what I’ve found I’ve wanted to do but held back.”

She did a little dance in place on her tiptoes. “Woohoo.”

“What was that?” he asked.

“Me acting immature, but I don’t care. I can’t believe this is happening. Pinch me.”

“My hands are a bit dirty,” he said, still working the dough.

She reached out and pinched him. He yelped, but she knew it wasn’t hard. “Okay, same thing. It’s not a dream.”

“It’s not,” he said. “But I’m not sure of much more other than we are going to have dinner.”

“And talk,” she said. “I know. I get it.”

“You’ve had years to look at this through your lens. I’ve had like an hour.”

“Really, Coy?” she asked.

“Fine, a few months to think of it, but I never thought it’d be more.”

“But you invited me here for two Friday nights. Did you really think nothing more would come of it?”

She wanted to know what was going through his mind.

“I don’t know what I was thinking. That is the hard part. I’ve always known where I was going and how things would turn out.”

Because he’d had the cushion of his family and wealth to land on. Unlike others.

Which brought up something else they had to address too.

“I haven’t known much at all. We look at life differently.”

“You wanted this though for years,” he said. “What do you want in your calzone?”

“You’re making more than one?” she asked as he was stretching out another wad of dough.

“Yep,” he said. “I’m going to fill mine full of sausage, pepperoni and cheese.”

She saw the package of sausage not yet cooked and reached for it. He slapped her hand.

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