Page 20 of Love at First Bite
“My name is Brewster Graham. I’m a forty-year-old realtor. I just moved back to Moonlit Pines eight months ago, and for the first time since I returned, I woke up feeling like this was the best fucking decision I could have ever made. After eight months, baby girl.” My breath hitched in my throat, almost like I couldn’t breathe. He kept talking.
“I love Thai food. I’m not a huge fan of salads, but I’ll eat them because they’re good for you. I like salty over sweet, but I’m a sucker for apple pie. Especially with vanilla ice cream. My favorite color is gray, but that’s quickly changing to the dark brown of your eyes. I’m not a big professional football guy, but I love watching college ball. Especially my alma mater, U of D.”
“Brewster Graham,” I whispered. He leaned in closer, until his forehead touched mine.
“I’m a grown man, baby girl, but just hearing you say my name or calling me daddy has me harder than a fucking diamond.” I giggled, and something in his eyes softened as he kept speaking.
“I don’t date. Not really. I’ve had two girlfriends. One in high school that was puppy love and the other in college where we grew apart. They were great women but not the ones for me.” He was laying it all out there for me. His hands moved and cupped my face, and I couldn’t help myself from leaning into his touch.
“When I graduated and started working, that was my life. Working, making money, finding smart investments. Investments that paid off. Well. So well that when my dad got sick and he offered me the company his dad had built here, I bought it and left my life in Arizona behind. I thought I’d come back to give my dad peace of mind before he passed, but I think… I think life brought me back here to meet you.”
“Me?” I whispered. “You hardly know me.”
“Don’t I?” I swallowed. I couldn’t deny the pull, the familiarity I felt around him. And honestly, that was what time and life were about, right? Getting the time to get to know one another.
“I just… fuck, baby girl, I don’t even know your name.“ His fingers found mine, and he brought my hand up between us, kissing each knuckle before looking at me. “But I know that last night, I fell in love with a sexy, little witch who I’m dying to get to know for the rest of my life.”
“You fell…” I swallowed, unable to repeat the words.
Brewster nodded. His face was serious, but it was those honest green eyes that had me believing what he was saying. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I wouldn’t. I couldn’t look away from eyes I felt a deep-rooted connection with.
It’s crazy!He was completely right. If he had met me last month, shit, last week and told me this after one night? I would have run away screaming.
But then again, thinking about it, I probably wouldn’t have even taken a chance and approached him. Or looked at him. Things happened when you least expected them. I had been so used to life tossing me curveballs. My parents. My grandmother. Even college and the way the girls and I had gone our own directions had been tough. But I got through it.
To find Brewster?
“Baby…” His eyes searched mine, and I dropped my gaze, my hands finding his. I could have easily said I’m not there yet. I knew in my gut Brewster would have accepted it. He would have been fine with it. But I couldn’t do that to him. I couldn’t shake off this urgency to let myself feel what I felt around him.
From the moment I’d spotted him in the parking lot while I was shopping, I’d known. I’d felt it, and right then and there, I knew. I tangled my fingers with his and stared up at him.
“My name is Tabitha Nuñez. I’m a twenty-eight-year-old fourth grade teacher at Moonlit elementary,” I started to share. “My favorite food is Italian. I’m not a pickle person and love pineapple and mushrooms on my pizza. My favorite color is orange even though I tell everyone it’s blue. I love desserts of all kinds, and coffee is a must.” I took a moment. I could see him waiting, listening and cataloging every word I said.
“I’ve lived here since I came to live with my grandma when I was eight and my parents passed away.” I shrugged. “It was just me and her and the girls you saw me with last night until she passed away right after high school graduation. I went away for college but came back here. I couldn’t imagine living or teaching anywhere else.” I lifted his hand and kissed the top of it.
“I’m not a risk taker, but last night, seeing you across the bar, something came over me. I couldn’t help myself. I went upto you and… and I fell in love with you last night, too.” His jaw clenched, and a moment later, his forehead was pressed against mine. “I’ve never done this, dating someone seriously, but this feels serious.”
“That’s because it is,” he vowed.
“I’d really like to see where this goes.”
“Good. I want that, too,” he growled, and a moment later, he flipped me over onto my back and showed me just how happy he was with getting to know me just that little bit more.
The food was cold by the time we were done, but it was okay. Since we were hot and sweaty, neither of us minded.
9.Brewster
Iwonder if this is what fish feel like.
Tabitha’s three best friends were staring at me like they were studying me under a microscope. And I didn’t blame them. Hell, I fucking welcomed it. After all, it was my idea to have this little meet and greet at Pine and Grind.
The coffee shop was oddly empty for how busy it usually was. It was two weeks after Halloween, and my life had done a complete one-eighty. I hadn’t been talking out of my ass when I told Tabby I was in love with her. She was mine. I’d known it the moment our eyes locked across the bar. Eight months I’d been back in Moonlit Pines, and somehow, our paths hadn’t crossed. Timing was everything.
We’d been inseparable for the last two weeks. Starting and ending our days together, talking and texting throughout it.
Something that worried her girls.
And I understood.
