Page 79 of Sweet on You
27
Lex
It only took us a little over an hour to bake the batch of cookies, and thank God Ronnie was there. I’d planned to make my signature sugar cookies with a dash of sea salt on top, with no alterations to the recipe, until Ronnie reminded me to check the Murphys “not to eat” list. I had completely forgotten about Olivia’s egg sensitivity, and even though she would have probably been okay with the eggs in the batter after they were baked, there was a chance they would have made her break out in hives, or worse. Disaster averted.
So, we substituted banana and apple sauce for the eggs in the recipe—and I added a dash of amaretto. Hey—I’m a baker, I couldn’t help myself. Penny was underfoot the entire time, licking up spilled butter and almond flour as needed, and Frost sat on the counter, watching from afar, tail swishing with interest. I held up a piece of still-warm cookie to Ronnie’s mouth. She eyed me carefully and parted her lips, and I dropped it onto her tongue. I popped another piece into my own mouth, groaning in pleasure as it dissolved on my tongue.
“Tell me that isn’t better?”
Her face went from sarcastic indifference to utter delight. Her eyes widened as she chewed, her mouth turning up at the corners and her cheeks flushed pink. “Oh my God, that is better.Somuch better.”
I mean, I wasn’t the type of guy to sayI told you so. “I told you so.” Okay, maybe Iwasthat guy.
“You were one hundred percent right. I need to stay out of the kitchen—stick to the gym.”
“Oh, no. You’re not getting out of this. When I’m done with you, you’ll be a master paleo baker.”
One eyebrow lifted over her bright blue eye and she gave me a smirk. “When you’re done with me, huh? When’s that going to be?”
“Come here, you,” I snagged her waist and tugged her into me, devouring her lips like I had devoured the cookie. As we pulled back, our foreheads rested against each other’s. I didn’t know if I’d ever be done with her. But it felt far too soon to be talking like that. So, instead, I said, “Stay tonight.”
She pulled her head away from mine, giving me a look. “I don’t think that’s the greatest idea,” she said. “The Murphys seem wonderful, but having your girlfriend sleep over your first night with your daughter? Maybe not the wisest choice.”
“Girlfriend,” I repeated, startled, and her cheeks went immediately pink as she nibbled her bottom lip, diverting her eyes to the ground. Sure,Ihad said it… but it was the first time she voluntarily offered up the word herself. My heart gave a little skip as I took a step closer. With one hand, I laced my fingers into hers and with the other, I curved my finger beneath her chin, lifting that ice blue gaze back up to meet mine. “I’m so happy when I’m with you, Ronnie. Thank you for being you.”
She swallowed hard and I watched it travel down her svelte throat as she nodded nervously. I dipped my lips to hers and whispered, “Please. Stay the night.”
Ronnie blinked, her eyes impossibly blue against the black lashes framing them, and nodded. “Where will we even sleep? Olivia’s in your bedroom.”
I held up a finger. “Give me ten minutes.” Placing my hands on her shoulders, I guided her to the couch and sat her down. “Wait here.”
* * *
Fifteen minutes later,I guided Ronnie carefully upstairs to the unfinished loft. As we walked up the stairs, the scene I had set up came into view with several lit candles, the casserole, the cookies Ronnie and I had made, and my air mattress, made up with sheets, blankets and pillows.
She looked around and inhaled a sharp breath. “Wow… this is really big up here. I didn’t know the apartment had this.”
“I’ve been debating finishing it up here. Luckily, it’s insulated, so it’s warm in the winter. I really just need to put up better drywall and do something over the subflooring.”
Ronnie circled the room and pointed to the window to a small balcony. “I always thought that balcony was just decoration for the outside of the building. But it’s functional?” I nodded. “Could be really cute, right?”
“Lex,” My name, breathless on her lips sent goosebumps racing down my body. “If you were able to buy the place from Nate and finish this upstairs area? You could get at least a thousand extra a month in rent. I mean… at least. An adorable two-bedroom apartment in the center of town? You could even do short term rentals in the summer and make a killing. There’s so much potential.”
“There was never a need to fix up this space up here. My one-bedroom apartment had been plenty of room… until recently.”
I took Ronnie’s hand and tugged her toward the two chairs I had set up by the balcony window. In front of them, I had put two dinner plates on a small folding table and spooned out some of the casserole and a glass of wine for Ronnie. I wanted her to feel at home here.
I held out the chair for her and she slid into it. “Now that we have a private place to sleep… will you stay the night?”
She smiled and took the wine glass in her hand. “I’d love to.”
“Good.” I took my seat across from her, my gaze shifting out the window, and I smiled as I recalled the first time I saw Ronnie, from this window, running in the park.
“What are you smiling at?” Ronnie asked.
I shook my head, not even realizing I had been smiling. “Nothing,” I answered and stabbed my fork into the casserole.
“Oh, come on. You had a shit-eating grin on your face and I want to know why!” Ronnie pointed her fork at me, her own smile lighting up her face. The warm glow of the candlelight cast a russet-colored hue on her tanned skin.
