didn’t do that on purpose. Gam told me the bake sale was today. I didn’t even know you worked there. I didn’t even know your name. The last thing I remember is catching the bouquet and waking up in my grandma’s spare room. I didn’t know anything until my phone charged and then I was horrified.”
His jaw twitched and I realized how that must have sounded.
“Not about the kiss,” I rushed to explain. “I’m sure the kiss was amazing. I mean, from my end, I’m sure it was great. I don’t know what it was like on your end. Some crazy woman accosting you at your friend’s wedding, and now it’s all over the internet. You’re all over the internet. I’m so sorry, I don’t know what else to say…”
His face was unreadable. And as much as I stood there in silence, waiting for his response I heard voices and footsteps coming from the other side of the door. The party had moved indoors.
“What are you doing tomorrow?”
I blinked. Twice. “What?”
“Tomorrow? Do you have plans?”
“Um…no.”
“Do you want to go fishing?”
“Fishing?” In a million years, I would never have guessed that would be the question he’d ask me.
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“I’ve never been fishing. I mean, I had to fish in The Pond After Midnight, but that was just in a backlot and I didn’t really catch anything. I didn’t even have to cast, my stunt double did that because—” I could hear myself rambling so I shut up.
He continued to stare at me and I realized that he was still waiting for my answer.
My mind was racing. Was this a date? Was it just him being friendly? Had Gam put him up to it? Did I even care? I’d been so confused and unsure about everything the past couple of days, but there was one thing I had no doubts about. I wanted to spend more time with this man. Sadly, my response did not communicate my certainty. “Okay?”
His lips curled up and a deep dimple appeared on his left cheek. “Is that a question?”
There was a light knock and the door opened, and a woman with a beaming smile, and eyes that mirrored Beau’s stuck her head in. “Sorry to interrupt. The princess is asking for her Unca Beau before she’ll open her presents.”
“Mom, this is Sasha. Sasha this is my mom, Dolly Briggs.”
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Briggs.” I stepped forward awkwardly, wondering if I should shake her hand or hug her. I was always awkward in social situations, but knowing that she’d witnessed me maul her son at the reception yesterday only amplified that.
“You, too, sweetie.” Gracefully, she pulled me into a short hug. When she stepped back her smile was still in place. “And I know someone else who is going to be very happy to meet you.”
Oh boy, I wondered if it was some relative that had seen me make a total fool of myself yesterday.
“The birthday girl is very excited Princess Madeline is at her birthday party.”
I smiled as relief washed over me. The Enchanted Kiss was the only kid-friendly movie I’d ever done. It was always my favorite thing to be recognized from. When adults recognized me and thought I was actually the character I played on TV or in a movie, it was creepy. When a kid did it, it was precious.
We walked out of the study and Beau placed his hand on my lower back as he guided me to the front room. I tensed up but not because it made me uncomfortable. My reaction was because it felt right. Too right. With one innocent touch of his hand, all the nerves that had been rioting through me since my phone came back to life, calmed. He must’ve sensed the change in my body because he dropped his arm to his side.
As we followed behind Mrs. Briggs, I tried not to think about how good the weight of his palm had felt on my lower back or how addicting it would be to have that sensation in my life. I knew that would be the case, because it was only seconds ago that I’d felt it and I was already craving it again.
Chapter 16
Beau
“Sometimes the best gifts in life aren’t wrapped up all pretty with a bow. Sometimes they show up on your doorstep wrapped in newspaper and duct tape. It’s not about the presentation, it’s about the contents.”
~ Barbara-Jean Nelson
On the short drive from my house to pick up Sasha I