Page 81 of Shortcake
His crooked smile tilted higher. “Now… we cook burgers.”
ChapterFourteen
Conrad
Four burgers balanced on top of two plates as I set one down in front of Addy. “Moment of truth,” I said.
Sadly, we had both redressed, putting our bathing suits back on and wrapping ourselves in the oversized towels, just in case Harper came home early or got a ride with someone.
I stared at Addy as she sat at the outdoor dining table on my deck, long, lean legs crossed at the knee. “What?” she asked.
I smirked and bent, pressing my mouth gently to hers. “I love that I can just stare at you now and not feel weird about it.”
Her mouth curved, smiling against mine. “Stare away, Brawny. As much as you want.”
As much as I want.
Except that wasn’t exactly true. My expression must have reflected the dejected, deflated way I felt, because immediately Addy’s face also fell.
“Or…not,” Addy said, shifting her weight in the rattan chair.
“It’s not that,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck. “I want to look. Believe me, I want to look, touch, hold you… I want you to be mine.”
A swallow worked its way down her svelte throat. “But?”
“But… Harper. I don’t know how she’s going to feel about this. Any of it. I’ve literally never dated.”
Addy rolled her eyes and reached for the ketchup in the center of the table. “Well, notnever. I mean, don’t exaggerate.”
“Addy,” I said quietly, my face going hot. “I’m not really exaggerating. I’ve never brought a woman home after Harper’s mom left us.”
“Oh.” She blinked a couple of times and plopped back down in her seat. “How old was Harper when her mom left?”
“Three months.”
Her mouth gaped. “Threemonths?” she repeated. “And you’ve never dated in the fifteen years and nine months since Harper’s mom left?”
“I’ve…” How did I word this delicately?
“Fucked?” Addy finished the thought for me and I winced at her wording.
“On occasion,” I said. “But even that was super rare. And I had a handful of first dates. But not many. And no one that Harper ever knew about.” It was just the occasional drink after work here and there. Nothing serious ever came of those dates.
No one lasting that Harper ever needed to meet.
But this was different.
Addy was different. Harper already loved her. I didn’t want to ruin the best thing to happen to Harper… or me… since Mom died.
“So…” Addy said. “We take it slowly.”
“Slowly,” I repeated. “And you’re okay keeping this a secret from Harper?”
“She’s your daughter, Conrad. You’re the boss. The more important question is areyouokay keeping this a secret from her?”
I took a long, slow breath. “Not forever. But for a little bit, yes. If she found out now, it could go one of two very extreme ways. Either she’ll be ecstatic and get too invested in us as a couple too quickly, or—”
“Or she’ll get pissed and resent both of us immediately,” Addy said.
