Page 77 of Olivia's Only Pretending
I tapped on his shoulder, and when he turned, an immediate smile spread across his face.
“There’s my date,” he said, his voice nearly giddy.
I felt giddy, too.
I peeked over his shoulder into the cart. A loaf of sliced sourdough bread, grapes, and a pack of peppered salamis. I raised a brow. “This is looking promising.”
“I thought I’d let the grilled cheese master decide on the cheese selections.” He gestured toward the other end of the store.
I led us toward the fancy cheeses, walking side by side, our arms not quite brushing. The air between us felt more electric than ever before.
I grabbed a wheel of brie and a block of smoked cheddar and dropped them into the basket. I added a case of nutty crackers and tossed that into the basket. “These are my favorite.”
“See, I need your expertise. I’d have just grabbed some Triscuits and called it a day,” Victor said, stepping closer.
Our fingers collided on the box as he reached for it. We exchanged a loaded glance.
“I’d have loved the Triscuits, too,” I said, swallowing. I’d have loved anything he chose.
We grinned at each other, standing there in the middle of the market. His eyes were intent on me, like I was something he was finally letting himself want.
After a beat, I cleared my throat. “So, what’s next?”
“Next, I need your expertise on the wine selection.” He leaned his forearms on the shopping cart as he rolled it through the aisles.
Victor disappeared while I perused the wines, torn between two different red blends. I held both up—one bolder, one smoother. I chewed on my lip, glancing around for Victor, wanting to ask his advice.
A moment later, he reappeared behind me. “Where’d you disappear to?” I asked.
He dropped something in the shopping basket. His cheeks flushed. “I might’ve called ahead to the florist across the street, and she just called to tell me these were ready.”
My eyes fell to a bouquet he’d set carefully on top of the groceries. Big and beautiful. Burgundy dahlias, golden sunflowers, and toffee-colored roses.
I scooped it up, eyes wide in wonder. “You chose these?”
He shrugged bashfully. “Kacey helped.”
“They’re perfect,” I said, my voice quiet.
My fingers brushed the petals. I’d never realized toffee roses were my favorite until right then, when Victor gave them to me.
The moment hung between us, like it was important. This was the start of something.
The delicate, sweet, honeyed scents of the flowers tickled my nose. The fluorescent light blinked overhead.
Our fingers brushed as I lowered the bouquet back into the cart. “How’s the date going so far?” he asked.
“I have a cart full of good food and beautiful flowers, so I’d say it’s going well,” I said. “Though my date isn’t very sneaky.”
“I should’ve been slyer, huh. Left them in my truck?” He snapped his fingers. “I’m never sly.”
“I don’t like a sly date, anyway,” I said as I grabbed the bottle of wine with the coolest label and dropped it in the cart. “Let’s check out.”
We drove down the backroads that led toward the Hernandez property, the truck bumping along. Kacey Musgraves crooned through the speakers. I rolled my window down, letting the moody Texas fall weather dance through my hair.
“You know, I said I wanted to go on a date, not to another Hernandez family dinner,” I joked. We might be on a real date, but we were also us. It could never stay serious very long.
“Oh, my bad. Mom’s fired up the grill out back.” Victor winked.
