Lacey:Any chance the kids can stay for dinner while I go out with a friend?
Rita:Of course, do you want us to just keep them for the night? You deserve a night off.
Lacey:Are you sure?
Rita:Of course I’m sure. Go have a good time, blow off some steam. I’m just glad you’re finally coming out of your shell and getting your life back.
Lacey:Thanks for making me cry before my date.
Rita:Date! Now I really want you to go! Text me in the morning. Love you.
I slip my phone into my pocket and look back up at Garrett. “Is that dinner offer still good?” I ask, a full smile pulling at my lips, now.
“Always.” He smiles back.
“My parents are going to keep my kids tonight, so I’m suddenly free.”
“Well then, sounds like we need to put that sudden free time to good use.” He winks at me, and I swear my knees go weak.
“Back to work, then,” I tell him. “I can’t leave until these cakes are done.”
“I’ll do my best not to bother you while I finish cleaning up. Once I’m done, I’ll just go wait in my truck. I’ve got some paperwork I can take care of.”
“Sounds good,” I tell him, and return to the prep table I’ve got a cake sitting out on.
I stick my earbuds in and pull up one of my playlists and get sucked back into decorating. It takes me an hour, but I finish everything I needed to accomplish, so I quickly clean up, check the front of house to make sure it is in order for tomorrow, and double-check that the doors are all locked before I head out the back. I find Garrett in his truck, the front seat laying back as he lies back with his eyes closed. I take a few seconds to just stare at him.
“How long are you just going to stand there?” he asks, his eyes still closed.
“Not sure,” I squeak out.
He adjusts the seat back to its normal upright setting and looks me over. “What is good around here? Or would you like to head into town and go someplace there? I can drive you back tonight if you’d like to do that. I’ll just need to go drop the work truck off and pick up mine.”
“I’m fine with either, but do you mind if I run home to shower and change? I hate going out smelling like the bakery.”
“Of course. Do you want me to follow you home? Or I can stay here and wait for you to come back, if you’d prefer.”
I realize what he’s just offered. He’s such a gentleman that he realizes that a woman he’s only known for a few days might not want him to know where she lives, and he’s giving me a way to keep myself safe.
“That isn’t a bad idea. I only live a few miles away, I can be back in thirty, maybe forty minutes, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, take whatever time you need,” he assures me.
“Ok,” I tell him before I head to my car and straight for home.
“Harper!” I screech into the Bluetooth of my car.
“What?!” she asks, worry in her voice. “What’s wrong? Is everything okay at the bakery? Are the kids okay?”
“Bakery is fine, kids are at my parents’.”
“Okay, then why are you screeching at me as soon as I answer?”
“Because I’m going on a date with Garrett,” I tell her.
“Hell yes!” she calls out. “Where is he taking you and when?”
“No idea where we’re going, but it’s happening tonight. Mom and Dad are keeping the kids overnight and I’m on my way home right now to shower and change. He offered to follow me home, but also offered to stay at the bakery and have me come back to him. How freaking thoughtful was that?” I ask.