purse for you,” she said, trying to cut the tension.
“Oh,” Skye said again.
Matthew didn’t say anything. Just fiddled with his phone, the barest hint of a smile on his mouth. For a man as serious and thoughtful as he normally was, he certainly was amused by Skye.
Madeline returned with the purse. Skye mumbled a thanks and got out of there fast.
KEN WENT INTO ANNA’S that morning for breakfast, just like he always did.
Maybe Madeline would stop by. He really wanted to see her. He hoped it wasn’t too ridiculous to miss her so much after only one day of not seeing her, but he did.
The past three weeks had been some of the best of his life, and it had only gotten better when Madeline decided she was ready to spend some time with his daughters.
When he saw Jacob and Ria sharing a booth upon entering, he went over to say hello. Jacob moved over to sit beside Ria and gestured him into the other side. So Ken joined them, glad for the company and the distraction so he wouldn’t sit the whole time and hope to see Madeline.
“How’re things going?” Jacob asked, buttering a toasted English muffin as Brenda brought Ken over a cup of coffee.
“Good. Good. Real good.”
Ria laughed softly. “So things are good?” she teased.
Ken huffed with amusement. “Kinda obvious, am I?”
“Just a little. Madeline said she might stop by this morning to say hi.” Ria glanced back toward the entrance. “I think she might have missed you yesterday.”
With a swell of deep pleasure, Ken managed to say in a mostly relaxed tone, “Did she?”
Both Jacob and Ria laughed at that.
Before he could change the subject, Ken was distracted when the door to the diner opened. It felt like he might have lit up (just a little) when Madeline came walking in, looking gorgeous and soft and curvy in a sweater and pair of jeans.
Smiling, she came over to join them, scooting into the booth beside Ken.
It took all the control he possessed not to wrap an arm around her. But he’d promised he would take it slow, and he wasn’t going to betray that promise. Just because he was ready for everything with her didn’t mean she was ready too.
He was happier than he’d ever believed he could be, and they were clearly moving forward in the right direction. He didn’t need to have everything right away.
When she edged closer to him, Ken frowned down at her. Murmured, “Uh, baby, if you sit that close to me, then people are going to talk.”
She laughed, her eyes warm and soft. “I think they’re already talking.”
“Sure. Probably. But if you sit that close to me, they’ll know for sure. Are you sure you want that to happen?” There was the slightest edge of hope in his voice, no matter how he tried to contain it.
Four other tables were currently occupied in Anna’s, including the group of old guys who always gathered in the corner every morning and who had nothing to do with their days except chat. More than enough people were presently witnesses for gossip to spread throughout the whole town before the day was over.
As he looked down at Madeline’s face, it felt like something important was about to occur. Ken held his breath as he waited.
Then Madeline whispered, “So let them know.” Then she pulled his head down and kissed him hard. Right there in the booth at Anna’s. In front of the whole town.
Ken was so overwhelmed that he had trouble responding, although he did manage to slide an arm around her so she couldn’t get away. “Are you sure about this, baby?” he murmured against her mouth.
“Yes. I’m sure. I want everyone to know that you’re mine.”
When the kiss broke, everyone in the restaurant was staring. Brenda was standing behind the counter with a coffeepot, her mouth hanging open.
Ken laughed and couldn’t seem to stop. “Well, they all know now.”
IT WAS THE BEST BREAKFAST he could remember, and he was still grinning like a fool as he and Madeline left Anna’s, her hand clasped in his.
They both needed to go to work, and it didn’t seem quite fair since it felt like after such a blissful climax, they deserved to spend the day together. But Madeline had a shift at the library, and Ken had a morning meeting with his deputies. So they came to a stop at the corner of Main and Monroe.
“So you’re really okay with this?” he asked, checking once