“I hope so.”
Ifsomethingcouldhavegone wrong this week, it did. I have one more day before the event Saturday, and I need something to go right. But so far a shipment of cat toys got delayed and now I don’t know if they will make it before the event begins, I spilled coffee all over a new set of bandana’s I made for the cats that will be up for adoption, our local store ran out of the whole wheat flour I use to make treats so now I’ll have to drive to the bigger city and get some on Sunday. That’s going to take two or three hours out of the only day I’ll have to bake and sew.
I walk to the front of the store, click the open sign off then go to lock the door but instead it swings open.
“Hi. Uh, were you about to close?” Ethan asks as he walks in.
“I was actually but I can stay open, no problem.”
He shuts the door then turns to me.
“Was there something you were looking for?” I ask him.
“No, nothing in particular.”
I clasp my hands in front of me, trying not to fiddle with them.
“I told ya I wanted to stop by and see what the store was like, and it’s probably easier to do it before it’s full of kittens.”
I let a nervous giggle escape. He walks over to my leash rainbow display.
“This is pretty clever. You think of this?”
“Yeah. I don’t want everything to just be lines of inventory.”
“That makes sense.”
He put his attention on me while he slowly walks over. His head drops slightly, making his eyes slightly devilish, which causes my stomach to twist.
“Can I tell you something, Lily?” he asks.
’Um, sure.”
He stops a couple steps away then cocks his head slightly. I keep eye contact, which honestly isn’t hard, he has the most stunning eyes.
“Tell me, Lily. Why is it, I can’t get you out of my head?”
I gasp lightly then unlink my eyes from his. I look at anything besides him.
“I um, I’m sure there’s medication for that. Or something. Maybe you need a hobby, or maybe your diet is off....”
He takes a step forward then puts his finger under my chin and lifts my head, and my gaze can’t help but go back to his.
“I don’t think so, Lily.”
I bite my bottom lip and I see his facial expression harden slightly. He runs his thumb along my jawline, his stare goes to my lips.
“Can I kiss you, Lily?”
I nod my head. “Yeah,” I whisper lightly.
Then his soft lips are pressed against mine. Every twist, ache or nervous clench my body was holding onto melted away. His hand moves from my chin to the side of my face, and I soak in the warmth from it. He pulls back slightly, and I slowly open my eyes while pushing my cheek ever so slightly into his palm.
“I’ve wanted to do that from the moment I opened the door two weeks ago,” he says. “Can I take you to dinner sometime?” he asks me, as his hand drops from my face. I instantly miss the heat from it.
“I think I would like that.”
“Great.” His smile stretches across his face. “I have to go get Arthur, but I’ll see you Saturday, right?”