He comes around the island, wiping his hands on a towel before laying it on the counter and cupping my face with his hands. He looks at me with his hazel eyes, and my eyes briefly land on his tattooed left forearm. Forearms are such a weakness of mine, and Archer has some nice ones. “You should see what I have planned for date number three.”
Quickly, he kisses me on the lips and I feel myself tilt slightly when he pulls away, walking to his bags then going to the table. He pulls out a couple of candles and lights them. My eyes prick at the sight.
It’s so simple but so romantic. Not something I would never expect from him. I look around my kitchen from the nice display of flowers to the lovely dinner he made to the candles and have to push back the rush of feelings in my chest.
I could very easily fall in love with this man—again.
“Ready to eat?” he asks with a boyish grin on his face and I laugh lightly.
“More than ready.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Telling people your secrets is a huge deal, but sharing them with your partner is bigger. They’re the only people we care about enough that how they react to that secret makes or breaks us.” – Warren
ARCHER
A few months ago, I’d asked Enzo about a few easy Italian dishes that he knew. I asked if he would teach me some so I could make them whenever I wanted. He’d inserted that I wanted to know them because I was dating someone and not telling him.
I didn’t deny it, but I didn’t confirm it either.
The truth was, I wanted to have this skill when I finally got the balls to do something about Viv and me. I hadn’t anticipated an opportunity to pretend to date her would fall into my lap, but thankfully, I leaped and now I knew how to make those Italian dishes and I was with Viv.
I watch her devour the food with a smile and take several bites of my own dish, despite the lump of knots in my gut. I was happy to be here. More than a little thrilled.
But… I was nervous too.
I wanted to take us to the next level, wanted to finally make love to Viv like I’d dreamed of so many times.
I couldn’t push though. I have to tell her the truth about me tonight, I can’t go into the next stages of us dating without her knowing the true depth of my feelings. I just hope she would take it okay and not run away screaming.
We finish eating our dinner and I clear the plates away before getting us both more wine. I don’t particularly like wine, but it fit the bill tonight and I knew Viv was a fan.
“That was incredible. I’m so pleasantly surprised right now,” Viv says, giving me a grin and patting her stomach. “You should bring that to the next family event and see if we can knock Zia Sofia off the leaderboard for best spaghetti in the family.”
I give her a mortified look, “No thanks, I’d rather not be whipped by your aunt.” It was true, Viv’s zia would beat me if I ever tried to show her up.
“Aw, I’d protect you.”
I give her a deadpan look and she laughs. “No, you wouldn’t.” I laugh along with her. “You’d tell me to run and then laugh with the rest of the family when your aunt chased me.”
She laughs harder, tears start to form around her eyes and she has a hard time catching her breath. “I-I’m s-s-sorry!”
I laugh again at her uncontrollable wheezing. “Uh-huh, sure you are. So sorry.”
We both calm down and she sits back in her chair. “Wanna move to the couch?” I nod and follow her over. We set our glasses on the coffee table, I sit back into the soft cushions and she curls up next to me. We’re not touching, exactly, but I’d like to be.
However, I have to get this next part of our conversation over with before anything else can happen. Not that I’m going to force it. I’ll let her take the lead.
“Hey.” I clear my throat and start. “So, there’s something I should probably tell you.”
Her eyebrows crease with concern. “What’s up?”
“Uh.” I chuckle humorlessly and sigh. “Well, it’s about me and my feelings.”
Her leg drops to the ground from where she had it propped up on the couch and she straightens. “Oh.”
I nod and let out a breath, rubbing my hands over my legs. “It’s a little… embarrassing.”