Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“I’m not great at big moments,” I admit. “I usually mess them up by trying too hard or not trying enough. By walking away,” I add before I can think better of it.
Her laugh is quiet but warm. “Then this must be one of the good ones. Because it feels easy.” She leans forward, and this time, she’s the one reaching for me. She rests the palm of her hand against my cheek. “You stayed,” she says softly. “Or made me stay.” She smiles, and fuck me, I want to kiss her.
She’s the first woman since my ex to make me think that. In fact, it’s been a while since Violet even crossed my mind. It’s been peaceful, and all because of this woman sitting on my kitchen island. The one I wasn’t looking for and never saw coming.
It does feel easy. Time with Eden is not something I think I’ll ever want to rush, and that should scare me, but it doesn’t. That’s the surprising part. There’s no pressure to impress. No countdown clock ticking in my head. Just the hum of the oven, the rain against the window, and her sitting pretty on my island, smiling like she’s already unwrapped the best part of the day.
I hold her gaze, and we share a smile. For a moment, it feels like the world has narrowed to this kitchen, this storm, this shared pause, and whatever comes next, even the unknown is exciting.
“That was so good. Thank you,” Eden says as she stands to clear our plates.
“What are you doing? It’s your birthday,” I remind her. Standing, I take the plates from her. “Sit your pretty ass down.” I kiss her cheek because I can’t help myself, and carry our plates to the sink and rinse them, before adding them to the dishwasher. I’m placing the leftover pizza in the fridge when the power goes out. “Well, damn,” I mutter.
“Now what do we do?” she asks.
“Stay there. I’ll grab a flashlight and matches. We’ll light some candles. Looks like you’re opening your gift to candlelight,” I tell her.
“We can wait.”
“Nope. I want to see you open it now.” Using the light on my phone, I go to the junk drawer, pull out some matches, and two flashlights. Turning on the flashlights, I hand one to Eden. “I’ll meet you in the living room,” I tell her, before using the other to light the way to my office to grab her gift.
Once I return, I say, “Okay, I’m not much of a present wrapper.” I hold up the gift bag. “I’m a gift bag kind of guy.”
She laughs. “Bags are perfect. Thank you for this, Foster. Truly. You’re the best. You’ve made today so special.”
“You don’t even know what I got you yet,” I tease. Inside, I’m preening, knowing I made her feel important and put that smile on her face.
“But you thought about me. That’s the best gift you could have given me.”
Damn, this girl. “Open it.” I sit down next to her on the couch and shine my flashlight in her direction, careful not to blind her. “I’ll light some candles after, but for now, I can’t wait any longer.”
She smiles as she reaches into the bag and pulls out a card. She opens the flap, pulls it out, reads it, and glances up at me. She holds up the gift card. “Thank you, Foster.”
“There’s more. Keep digging,” I tell her.
She nods, reaches into the bag, pulls out the box, and gasps. “Foster! You did not get me a Kindle!” She bounces in her seat and hugs the small box to her chest.
“I know you have one, but you said it’s been acting up. I thought you could use the gift card to get a case, or books, or whatever,” I explain.
“It’s perfect. It’s too much,” she says, pulling the box away from her chest and staring down at it in the dim lighting.
“Impossible,” I tell her.
“Thank you.” She puts the Kindle and her card back into the bag, then sets it on the floor before standing. She moves to stand in front of me, bends down, and hugs me. “Thank you,” she whispers again, and I can hear the emotion in her voice.
We’ve both placed our flashlights on the couch, so I can’t see her face, but I can hear it. “Anything for you,” I tell her, sliding my hand behind her neck, letting touch guide my way. “Happy birthday, Eden. I hope it was everything you wanted.”
“More, so much more. However,” she whispers, “there’s one thing I’ve never had on my birthday.”
“My cupcakes?”
“That, too.” She chuckles.
“What do you want, Eden?”
“A birthday kiss,” she whispers, her voice so low that it quickly disappears into the darkness.
A kiss.
She wants a kiss.
My chest tightens, and I lick my lips.
Does she have any idea how many times I’ve thought about kissing her?