Page 9 of Rebel Heart
He thought I was beautifulandstunning.
“I see,” I murmured, stomach fluttering.
“So, tell me, Jules. Am I a jerk?”
Much like my niece had done with me earlier when she wanted me to get her what she wanted, I tucked my chin toward my chest and pinned my eyes on Beau. “I guess that depends.”
“On what?”
“Were you only looking to talk to me with a counter separating us?”
Surprise littered his features. One half of his mouth quirked with a smile. “I’d love to take you out sometime. Are you free tomorrow evening?”
I wasn’t, but I’d make it so. Birdie and Serena would both step up and help. “As it turns out, I am.”
He pulled out his phone, tapped on the screen, and held it out to me. “Give me your number, and I’ll reach out later tonight to work out the details.”
Appearing cool and casual is what I wished I would’ve been able to do, but I was so excited that I practically snatched the phone out of Beau’s hand. I was sure he could sense just how eager I was.
When I handed the phone back to him, he tapped on the screen a few more times to save my number and tucked it back into his pocket.
Lifting the bag with the cinnamon bun, he said, “Thanks for this. I’ll talk to you later, Jules.”
“But…” I reached for the twenty he’d left on the counter and held it up. “That was supposed to be on the house.”
He waved his hand in the air dismissively. “Keep it. I’m sure this will be worth every penny.”
Without another word, not giving me the chance to respond, Beau turned and walked away. I waited until he was gone to celebrate with a cupcake.
3
BEAU
“Is there something on my face?”
At the unexpected question, I jerked back. “What?”
Sitting directly across from me, Jules smiled brightly.
We were on our first date. A date I realized I wanted to have about two minutes after I’d walked away from her yesterday afternoon, when I’d purchased the cookies at the bakery at Westwood’s. I hadn’t stopped thinking about my encounter with her, even after my friends and I had returned to the amusement park.
So, I’d gone back before we left for the day.
Somehow, that second interaction with Jules was even better than the first. And now, we were out having dinner together.
But even though we hadn’t received our meals yet, Jules was concerned about food on her face.
“You’re giving me a strange look, and all I can think isthat there’s something on my face that’s making you look at me like that.”
I hadn’t realized I was wearing a strange expression, but at least Jules was willing to point it out. “I’m sorry. There’s nothing on your face. I promise.”
She eyed me playfully. “Okay. So, care to reveal what was going through your mind just a few seconds ago?”
I figured honesty would be the best option. “You’re beautiful.”
Her brows pulled together. “Pardon?”
“I told you as much yesterday,” I reminded her, the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. “From across the room, I thought you were gorgeous. Being up close and personal is even better. I apologize if I’m staring, and it feels creepy. Just tell me to knock it off if I do it again.”
