Page 21 of Fake It True

Just when I thought I’d forgotten how to have a regular conversation with anyone, much less Leo, our waitress arrived.She went over the specials and pointed out the favorites on the menu before telling us she’d check back soon.

“Casey?” Leo prompted.

I lifted my eyes to his. “Yeah?”

“You okay?”

I looked into his eyes and all my anxiety tumbled out in a long run-on sentence. “I’m nervous and I don’t know what to think and it’s raining and I wasn’t sure if I should wear makeup and none of this is what I expected and I don’t know what you’re going to think and you’re a single dad and I don’t know how to talk to my parents about what happened with my sister and it’s all just crazy and I’m overwhelmed.” Thank God I needed to breathe because that was the only reason I managed to shut up.

When my words ran out, Leo was quiet before he reached across the table, clasping both of my hands in his strong, roughened grip. “It’s okay, Casey.”

“It is?”

His smile was warm. The anxiety spinning like an out-of-control wheel in my chest finally started to slow.

He nodded, squeezing my hands. “I’m nervous too.”

I bit my lip, feeling sheepish. “So you don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Absolutely not.”

I let out a deep sigh. “Okay, well, that’s good.”

“You’re beautiful. If you wear makeup, I’m sure you’ll still be beautiful, but it doesn’t matter. I just like you.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or burst into happy tears. I blinked, considering that crying in the middle of a restaurant right now was the least chill thing I could do. I managed to take another breath. “I like you too.”

When his eyes crinkled at the corners with his smile, my heart thumped along. It felt as if someone had flung the windows open, letting sunshine and a warm breeze into my heart. By the time we finished dinner, it was pouring rain outside.

I peered out the windows beside our table. With it being spring, the days were stretching longer. It was still light out, even though it was getting late.

I glanced across the table at Leo. “I’m still not used to these long days. I had to get used to short days in the winter and now it’s the other way around.”

When he grinned, my belly did a little flip. It was ridiculous how easily I reacted to him. It didn’t take much—a smile, a crinkle at the corner of his eye, and my hormones were off to the races.

“You’ll get used to it,” he said.

“Long days or not, it’s pouring out now,” I pointed out.

While we’d been eating, clouds had thickened in the valley. The light drizzle had turned to heavy rain. He followed my gaze. “Let’s go.” He’d already taken care of the check and we’d gotten some chocolate raspberry mousse pie boxed up.

When we got to the entrance, I glanced up at him. “I didn’t wear my raincoat.”

He shrugged out of his jacket.

Chapter Sixteen

LEO

We dashed through the rain while I held my jacket above our heads. It helped a little, but not really. We were both laughing when we reached my truck. I held the door for Casey, and she scrambled inside before I jogged around to climb into the driver’s side.

I tucked my wet jacket behind my seat. When I glanced over at Casey, her hair was wet and she was still laughing.

The desire that seemed to grow in force the more time I spent with her sizzled through me when our eyes collided.

“What?” she asked through her laughter.

“We’re drenched.” A laugh rustled in my throat.

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