Page 54 of Sweet Christmas Wish
“Is this really what you listen to? Or are you trying to impress me?”
Will pulled a face. “I’m trying to impress you. Is it working?”
“It would work more if you would play what you actually want to listen to.”
“In that case…” Will clicked a button and classic rock blared through the car. “That’s more like it.”
“Amen,” Sarah agreed fervently, wiggling in her seat and jiving along to “Breakfast in America” by Supertramp.
The drive flew by as Supertramp, then Chicago, then ZZ Top sang out from his speakers, both of them dancing and singing along. When he parked the car and turned it off, silence fell again, and he remembered suddenly that he had to tell her his feelings about him leaving. Nerves blossomed in his stomach and he was quiet as they walked inside and as the maître d’ led them to their table, pulling out their seats for them.
“Sarah…” Will cleared his throat, toying with his napkin. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about.”
“Okay.” Sarah looked a little worried. “What is it?”
“Well, I have a question for you, and I’m not sure how you’re going to react.”
She reached out and took his hand. “I’m sure it’ll be a good reaction. You just have to, you know, actually ask the question so I can react,” she teased lightly.
Will gave her a half-smile. He had been thinking about this for so long, but he didn’t want to presume upon their budding relationship. After all, he hadn’t actually been back in town for that long, and Sweet Thing Bakery was Sarah’s baby. To ask to stay and help her run the business was beyond presumptuous, and he found his courage failing.
“Will?” Sarah was watching him with searching eyes. “You can tell me whatever it is. You can tell me anything.”
Will took a deep breath, deciding to just lay it all out on the table. “I’ve loved working with you at the bakery,” he admitted. “And… I’ve been wondering how you’d feel if I kept working at the bakery with you… for good.” Nervous about what she might say, he blurted, “I mean, I don’t want to step on your toes or anything, but I’d like to think that adding the drinks to the menu helped you, and maybe there are other ways I could be helpful, and—”
Sarah reached out, resting one finger against his lips and he quieted instantly.
“Will,” she whispered, her eyes shining with tears even as she smiled dazzlingly. “I’m so glad you said that.”
“Really?” He couldn’t believe his ears.
She nodded hard. “Yeah. I’ve actually been trying to find a way to ask you to stay, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t want you to feel like I was stepping onyourtoes!”
He laughed aloud. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
Will whooped, not caring who heard, and hurried around the table to gather Sarah into his arms. “I’m so happy,” he whispered into her hair. “ I can’t wait to keep working with you.”
“I can’t wait either,” she murmured against his chest, and he felt like his heart had swelled two sizes.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE
“That should about do it,” Sarah said, giving the countertop one last wipe-down. “How does it all look?”
Will came up to her, putting his arms around her waist and pulling her close. “The bakery looks amazing. You can relax now and enjoy the fact that we got to close early in honor of your sister coming.”
“That’s exactly why I’mnotrelaxed! I want her to see that I’m running the bakery well and, and…”
“And what?”
“I just want everything to be perfect, that’s all.”
Will gave her a crooked smile. “So, no pressure then.”
Sarah rolled her eyes and laughed a little. “I’m being a little crazy, aren’t I?”
“Just a smidge.”
