Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
The smile that lights up her face is better than a tropical sunrise. “And you look like a seven-course meal, including my favorite dessert.”
“I’m glad you approve.” I hold out the flowers. “I brought you something pretty.”
“They’re beautiful.” She brings them to her nose, eyes fluttering closed as she inhales.
“Just like you.” I hold out the chocolates. “And I brought you something sweet, also just like you.”
“You are so thoughtful.” She motions for me to follow her. “Come in for a minute. I want to put these in water.”
I haven’t been here since I dropped off the box of sashes for the girls, and tonight I see it with fresh eyes. The space really is an homage to Essie’s personality. Everything is bright and soft and pretty, just like her.
She retrieves a vase and fills it with water and the flower food before she carefully arranges the flowers. “They really are gorgeous, Nate.” She turns and wraps her arms around my waist, setting her cheek against my chest on a soft sigh. “I missed you.”
I fold her in my arms and kiss the top of her head, absorbing the warmth, appreciating the way I instantly settle when I have her close like this. “I missed you, too.”
We stand there for a long time, just holding each other. Finally, she steps back, smiles up at me, and pats me on the chest. “I could happily stand here all night, but you have this great date planned, so we should probably go on it.”
“Seems like a good idea,” I agree.
She slips her feet into a pair of strappy sandals, grabs her heart-shaped, hot pink, jewel-encrusted purse, and links her arm with mine. We leave her apartment and take the elevator to the lobby. I help her into the passenger seat before I round the hood and take my place behind the wheel.
Essie angles her body toward me. “How was your day?”
“Good, but long. I couldn’t wait to see you. How about yours?”
“The same.” She skims the shell of my ear. “But the fantasy show I’m working on has been so much fun.”
“Tell me more about that.” I love the way she grows animated when she’s excited about something.
“It’s all princes and princesses, which is obviously right up my alley. And today I worked on one of the elves. It really pushes me to grow my skill set,” she explains.
“I’d love to see you in action one day.”
Her eyes light up. “I could practice on you.”
Her hands on my face, transforming me into something else? Being turned into her art? “Sure. Yeah. I’d be game.”
She shimmies in her seat. “Halloween could be so fun this year.”
“Yeah. It could.” Her enthusiasm gives me hope that she can see a future with me the way I can with her.
I pull into the restaurant parking lot.
“Oh wow. This is fancy.”
“It’s our first official date. I wanted it to be special.” I take her hand and press my lips to her knuckles. “Stay right here, please.”
“Okay.”
I unbuckle my seat belt and hop out of the car, coming around to open her door.
She takes my hand and carefully steps out.
It’s a beautiful night. Though the evenings are starting to cool with the promise of fall. Heads turn as we enter the restaurant. That’s always the way it is with Essie. She’s so beautiful that she stops traffic and earns endless double takes. But for me, it’s about so much more than how she looks. She brings the most wonderful energy into a room, and I love that I get to stand beside her and soak it all in.
The host is a couple years younger than we are. His eyes flare as he looks at Essie, and he strobe-blinks several times before his attention moves to me.
“I have a reservation for two under Stiles.” I absolutely used my brother’s connections.
“Stiles. Yes. Thank you so much for joining us.”
“It’s our first date.” Essie’s smile nearly knocks the guy unconscious.
“Well, Mr. Stiles must think very highly of you,” the host croaks.
“Is that right, Mr. Stiles?” She aims her radiant smile at me.
“Absolutely.” I squeeze her gently.
“I’ll just show you to your table.” The host leads us to a private terrace.
“This is so nice, Nate.” Essie reaches across the table, and I take her hand.
“Good. I’m glad I chose right.”
“Honestly, you could have taken me to East Side, and I would have loved it.”
“Even with the screaming children?”
She smiles. “The music here is more of a mood setter, but we would have made the best of it.”
“Tristan and Rix still go there once a month with Flip,” I muse.
“I’ve gone with them a couple of times. The unlimited salad and bread are tough to beat.”
“This is true.” I run my thumb back and forth over her hand.
We order appetizers and drinks and talk about work and our friends, holding hands across the table. It feels so good to be with her again, to have the closeness that seems to come so easily in her presence.