Traffic hummed in the background, and the line of cars to the drive-up coffee shop dwindled. As the clock crept up on six, fewer people wanted another shot of espresso, regardless of how bad traffic was.
She surrendered to the desire to constantly know what time it was and pulled up her email. The feedback, rejections, and requests were trickling in from the queries she’d sent out. The rejections still stung, but none had brought her to tears yet like the first one, and the encouragement was enough to fuel her. Nothing had gone further than initial interest yet, but she was hopeful.
A familiar pickup pulled into the parking lot, and she kept her attention on her phone, pretending not to notice but unable to hide her relieved smile. Zero of her focus was on the message in front of her. Instead, she was on full alert, listening to the approaching footsteps.
“I think your coffee got cold.” She tried to sound irritated when she knew Zane was within earshot.
He crouched in front of her, placed one hand on either side of her face, and pressed his lips to hers. She closed her eyes and sank into the kiss with a tiny sigh, flushed when he pulled away.
“I’m more worried that I kept you waiting than about the temperature of my coffee.” He dropped onto the bench next to her, arm pressed against hers. “I’m so sorry I’m late. The one day rush-hour traffic is a bitch in this valley has to be one that matters.”
“I guess I’ll forgive you today.” She leaned her head against his shoulder.
He brushed his lips over her forehead. “You’re generous like that. I’ll make sure to let the other commuters know you’ll be irritated if they hold me up in the future.”
She laughed and shifted in her seat so she could see him, but not enough to break the contact. “How was your first day of work?”
He tried to give her a casual shrug, but the smile that threatened to break out told her he thought he was about to be funny. “My boss is an asshole slave driver.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. She had heard Scott use that line more times than she cared to count.
“What?” He looked miffed. “I thought it was funny.”
“Yeah, so does he.” She tried to sound irritated at having someone new repeat the line, but she couldn’t keep her smile off her face.
“I get paid to laugh at it, so I’ll think it’s funny for longer.”
She shook her head. “That’s not what you get paid for, but I’m glad you have a new boyfriend.”
He stuck out his tongue at her. She poked the tip with her finger, and he sucked it back in. She kissed him deeply, loving the tingle it sent through her and the pressure of his hand against the small of her back.
“How did it really go?” she asked when they broke apart.
“It’s too early to tell, but so far so good.” He paused for a moment, as if considering his next words. “I got to have lunch with the boss’s wife. Didn’t know that was a perk. I think you’d like her. She’s almost as sexy as you, but kind of uptight. She reminded me a lot of you.”
She nudged his shoulder with hers, not able to stop laughing. “You’re being a dork. Why did you have lunch with Kenzie, and why didn’t you invite me?”
“It was a private meeting. I needed her opinion on something.”
A sliver of doubt wormed through her. Why was he keeping secrets? It had to be nothing; she trusted him. Besides, if it involved Kenzie, it had to be okay. She pushed the uncertainty away. Only way to find out was to ask. They were done not speaking up. “Do I get to know what about?”
He drummed his fingers on the table. “What do you think she’d say if she knew how many ways we’d abused her Ethan Allen dining set?”
“She’d be horrified, especially if we scratched the finish.”
He shrugged. “I was hoping she’d give it to us as a wedding gift. We get more use out of it than she does.”
The sentiment warmed her, but she didn’t dwell. Part of her assumed marriage was an eventuality, but there was no reason to push it. “She’s rich now, so she’d better buy us a not-used gift when that day comes.”If.She’d meant to say if. Notwhen. Oops. Too late to take it back now.
He drummed his fingers faster. “I’m sorry I don’t have any candles. Or champagne. Or violin music.”
She looked at him, not hiding her confusion. “Um... I’m not worried about it?”
“I really hope Kenzie was right. And the same size.”
She shook her head and blinked, trying to make sense of his half-sentences. “Is it just me, or are you babbling?”
He slid from the bench and dropped to one knee, and her heart leaped into her throat. The fake proposal from a few weeks earlier came rushing back, taunting her. This was going to get old fast if he kept doing it. She clenched her jaw, not wanting to hope, but unable to help herself.