Page 26

She snickered.

“Something funny?” Tate asked.

Lydia schooled her features. “Nope.”

His eyes narrowed on her then moved to Chet before he got back to his soapbox.

Chet shot Lydia another amused glance. She leaned into him, allowing herself a moment to drink everything in. Around this table were the most important people in her life. And sitting beside her could very well be the missing piece.

It was hard to remember why she’d been so averse to dating when she had the affection of someone like Chet. He was so attentive and warm. A part of her wished she’d bitten the bullet sooner. Where would they be if she’d only had more faith in herself and her decisions?

She twisted to peer up at him, her hand in his. He was speaking to Jason, and she adored how easily he could go with the flow.

Perhaps that had something to do with his friendship with her brother before they started dating. Or maybe that was just who Chet was. He had oodles of charisma which was a feat all its own.

She had the strangest urge to tell him exactly what he meant to her. Of course, she couldn’t do that here in front of her family. She wouldn’t hear the end of it. But when they were alone later, she’d make sure to tell him everything.

“I know that everyone raves about these Black Forest brownies, but I just don’t get it,” Chet murmured, eyeing the treat she had in her hand.

Lydia gasped. “Blasphemy! These brownies are the cornerstone of our little town. Just how have you been able to live here and not been added to the hive mind?” She took a bite of her brownie for good measure. This was their little treat outing for the two of them. How had she gotten so lucky to find a guy who’d prioritize their relationship?

At times she thought he was too perfect. Where were the flaws? Where were the skeletons? Nothing untoward about Chet had reached her since the first day she’d met him.

Chet made a face. “Sorry, but fruit in chocolate is just a no-go.”

This time she had to finish chewing before letting her mouth hang open. “Sir, you take that back. What about fondue?”

He shrank back from her, face comical. “Don’t hate me, but I don’t like fondue, either.”

“That’s it,” she said, wiping her hand on the napkin in her lap before standing up. “That’s a deal-breaker. A red flag. Totally not gonna happen, this thing between us.”

He laughed, easily snatching her back and forcing her to land on his lap. They were seated on a bench just outside the bakery. “You can’t get rid of me that easy. What is it they say about relationships?” He wagged his eyebrows. “Maybe you’re the one who has to fix me.”

Lydia gave him a playful shove. “Pass.” Then she scrambled from his lap and started running.

“Running from me only makes me want you more,” he called after her. He tossed his wrapper in the garbage and took off down the street toward her.

She caught a glimpse of him closing in and an unladylike yelp escaped her. Then his arms were around her waist. She turned to face him in time for him to lower his face to her and press the most delicious kiss to her lips.

Her hand lifted to cup his face, her fingers slipping behind his neck to hold him closer if only for a moment longer.

When he pulled back, he whispered, “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted this? Us?”

“I have a good idea,” she murmured. “Because I feel the same.”

His brows lifted, his eyes searching hers for the lie. But he wouldn’t find it.

She bit down on her lower lip, the confession threatening to spill free. One she wasn’t sure he was ready for. There would be no taking it back, though. No containing it. “I think I might be falling for you.” She wasn’t ready to say the L word. No, it was still too soon for that. When she told him she loved him, it’d be when she didn’t have a sliver of a doubt left in her mind that he was the one.

But there wasn’t any harm in confessing how quickly she was sliding down that particularly slippery slope.

He beamed at her, kissed her again, then murmured, “I already fell.”

Her heart hammered. The more she searched his eyes, the harder it was to make excuses. She couldn’t deny she saw just how vulnerable he was being in this moment.

“Really?” she asked.

“More than you’ll ever know,” he confirmed.