“New start. So, where do you want to take me?”
“I was thinking I could cook for you. But if that’s too soon…”
My hands lay on the desk. “No. How about I come over later, after I go home and change?”
Gunner nods, then stands and looks at his watch. “I can’t stay, I have a client I need to meet.” He pauses, then walks over to me and leans down, his breath tickles my ear. “I’ll see you tonight, Everly.” He kisses my cheek, and I offer him a wave as he walks out, shutting the door behind him. My head drops to the desk and I have to remember to breathe.
“Don’t be a fool, take it slow.”
“Slow?”
My eyes widen in horror as I sit back up to see him at the door, smiling.
“Slow is what we’ve been doing, Everly. I just wanted to check that mushrooms are okay?” I poke my tongue out at him. He turns to leave, and I can hear his laugh following him.
He didn’t tell me a time, but he also knows what time the café closes, so I’m guessing he knows when to expect me. I head home to shower and change, slipping into a maxi dress. Then I drive over to his. As I pull up, I remember his words—that he bought this house for us, even after he divorced me.
Why? I don’t even know, but I want to. I want to know so badly.
Knocking on the door, I wipe my hands on my dress. They are wet with nervous sweat. I’m quite anxious about tonight. We aren’t out in public where we can easily say our goodbyes and head the other way. No, we’re going to be standing in front of each other with no other soul around.
“You’re so beautiful, Everly.”
I step inside as he steps back to let me in, and I smell the food straight away and smile at him.
“What are you cooking?”
“Chicken stuffed with cheese and bacon with veggies on the side.” My mouth waters at the sound of that. I follow him into the kitchen and watch as he goes behind the counter. He’s dressed casually, no shoes and a loose-fitting shirt, plus his black dress pants.
“Gunner.”
He turns back to me from stirring the pot and pours me a glass of wine. “Yes, Everly?”
“Why did you buy this house, if you knew we were getting divorced?”
“I was wondering when you’d work that out.” He shakes his head. “I told you before, you are it for me. No matter what, I hoped, one day, we would find our way back to one another.”
“Did you really?” I ask him, not convinced.
“It was either that, or I was going to gift it to you.” He shrugs at the words.
“I wouldn’t have taken it.” I lift the glass to my lips as he goes back to the food, plating it up.
“You don’t like it?” he asks, waving his hand around.
“It’s beautiful. Honestly, I love it.”
He nods and comes to sit next to me. It’s casual, easy. Nothing special. And just what I need.
“Oh my God, this looks so good.”
He smiles as I start to eat, and I moan around each bite, wondering why he never cooked for me before. That will be changing from now on. “You know you will be cooking all the time, right?”
He laughs. “If you say so.” He winks.
We eat and he asks me about the rest of my day. It’s nice. As two new lovers getting to know each other. I like it. I like the new us. And how far we’ve come. I hope it stays this way.
He clears our plates when we’re done and we walk to the living room. I tuck my feet up under me as I sit next to Gunner, then turn to face him.
“I have to ask…” He nods, waiting. I take another drink of my wine before I have the courage to continue speaking. “You want this to work, right?” I motion between us.
“Of course I do.”
“How’s this going to work if your needs aren’t met? I don’t ever want you to be unsatisfied in our relationship. That wouldn’t be fair to you, and you would end up resenting me.”
Gunner takes the drink from my hand and places it on the table near us. Then he grabs both of my hands and faces me. “What we have is more than that. It took me a while to realize what I really need.”
“I won’t allow you to sleep with other women,” I say the words fast, letting them rush from my mouth.
He’s silent for a while, his hands dropping from mine. “I should have never threatened that in the first place. I didn’t know. I didn’t know you were it. I knew I loved you, that was obvious, but other women can’t even come close. So, I’m willing to take whatever it is you will give me.”