Heather’s and then today. I shrugged. “It’s chilly out,” I said.
“I look like I jumped in a pool,” Gideon pointed out.
“True,” I said with a grin. A wet, sweaty Gideon was even hotter than a dry Gideon. “Maybe I’m starting menopause.”
As the words left my mouth, I immediately slapped my own head. Menopause was not sexy. I didn’t need to keep announcing how old I was even though he was older than dirt. But speaking of old…
“Gideon?”
“Yes, Ms. I Should Be Running in the Olympics?”
I giggled. “How will this work?”
“How will what work?”
I decided on how much I wanted to say and then decided not to hold back. He could change his mind about us tomorrow, but somehow in my heart I didn’t think that would happen.
Although, my heart had led me astray before.
“Well, I don’t want to presume anything,” I said hesitantly, picking imaginary lint off my fleece hoodie.
“I would be delighted for you to presume as long as it’s positive about you and me,” he replied.
“Okay,” I said, drawing confidence from my new lady balls. “Let’s just say that we see each other for a while.”
“Define a while,” he said with a smile pulling at his lips.
“Years,” I replied.
“Decades,” he corrected me, and my heart fluttered.
“Okay. Decades,” I agreed. “I’ll get old and you won’t. Will that bother you?”
Gideon took my hand in his and led me to the steps of my front porch. Pulling me down next to him, he situated me so I was looking at him.
“I can age, Daisy,” he said, watching me to gauge my reaction. “I can control that. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to grow old with you.”
“I’ll die someday.”
He sucked in a swift breath and closed his eyes. “Not for a long time.”
“Time,” I said, thinking about it. “Does it have meaning to you?”
Gideon was pensive for a bit and then nodded. “It didn’t, but it does now,” he replied. “And I intend to enjoy every minute.”
“We’re going to fight,” I told him.
“Can’t wait,” he said with a grin.
“And I’m moody sometimes,” I added.
“Looking forward to it.”
“You’re nuts,” I said with a laugh.
“About you, Daisy. I’m nuts about you.”
My body tingled and my breath hitched. I was fairly sure I was falling for Gideon—possibly a huge mistake. If it was, I’d deal with the fallout when it happened. I refused to let fear of the future affect the present. Even if I was a passing fancy to him, I planned to enjoy it. Who knows? Maybe he was just a passing fancy for me.
Right? Not. I didn’t work that way.
It was moving fast and I’d never believed in insta love… until now… maybe. I’d also never met the Grim Reaper—the most beautifully charming man in the Universe. He might turn out to be my downfall, but right now—in this moment—nothing had ever felt so right.
“Wanna go hang out in the car for a half hour or so?” I asked, waggling my eyebrows.
“Thought you’d never ask,” he replied, grabbing my hand and dragging me to my car.
I looked around for his black sports car and couldn’t find it. My guess was that he’d poofed over here magically. Briefly, I wondered how he did it with all the groceries he’d brought then I gave it up.
Magic couldn’t be explained. If it could, it wouldn’t be magic.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Monopoly isn’t going to cut it,” I said, pulling Trivial Pursuit out of the cabinet by the TV. “Too many moving parts. This will work better.”
Gideon had set up a folding table in the middle of the family room and put six chairs around it. Steve, John and two other ghosts had seated themselves and were ready to go. The other squatters floated around the room chattering with delight. I wished Gram could be here. She’d get a huge kick out of this even though she couldn’t see the ghosts anymore. Although, she’d insist on the board game version of The Price is Right or Family Feud.
Shit. I was going to have to tell her about Gideon. I had no clue what her reaction would be, but I was a grown woman. I could make my own decisions… and mistakes. As long as she could see I was happy, I hoped she’d feel the same.
“If you cheat, you have to cook dinner,” I told Gideon, hoping like hell he would cheat. If his pancakes were any indication of his culinary skill, I couldn’t wait to taste what he would make for dinner.
“Can you cook?” he