“It’s not far.” He drove up the road and crossed the highway. He pulled into the back parking lot of Paws Town Square.
“This is the big secret?”
“Yep. I wanted to show you my office, and I have a picnic for us.”
“Oh, that sounds fun!” She started for the handle, but he put his hand on her arm. “I’ll get that.” She sat back while he came around and opened the door for her. She was enjoying being treated like a lady.
Inside the building, a few people were still working, taking care of the animals and cleaning the grounds. Paul took her up to his office. Decorated in warm colors and lots of leather and wood, it was masculine. Paul turned on music and then opened the blinds of the second-floor windows overlooking the massive space. “This is the best view.”
He walked over to the window and she joined him.
She stood there, looking out over everything. Paws Town Square was impressive at ground level, but from here she realized just how big it was. “This really is an awesome view. It’s got to boggle your mind that you designed this. It’s beautiful. The landscaping, the flowers. The way you’ve put every space to good use. You’ve got to be so proud.” She turned and looked at him. “I’m so proud of you.”
“It’s been a labor of love. I get so much satisfaction from the help we’re able to give through this company.”
She walked over to his desk and sat in his chair, spinning around in a circle. “What’s all this?” She pointed to the different colors on the sheets printed out on his desk.
“My meeting schedule. The colors are the different cities where new stores will be located. All are at different phases of the project.”
“Wow! That’s a huge responsibility.”
“It’s worth it.” Paul lit two candles on the table, then opened a cooler holding some of the biggest shrimp Amanda had ever seen. “I made the cocktail sauce myself. I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will. This is so nice. You really went to a lot of trouble.”
“Amanda, I’d do anything for you.”
The words washed over her.
Paul set out the shrimp and a tray of crunchy fresh vegetables. They noshed and laughed about old times until they couldn’t eat another thing. “You spoil me. This has been so nice.”
The first three chords of “What’s Your Name” played, and they both recognized them immediately.
“I love this song,” she said.
“It was playing the first time we met.”
He pulled her to her feet and spun her around. As they danced around the room, they belted out the words. She laughed so hard she could barely breathe. She hadn’t danced in years, probably not since Jesse was born at least. Paul whipped her around, and the old moves came right back. He crossed hands and she skidded to a stop. “Don’t flip me!”
“Come on. We’ve done it a hundred times.”
It was true. They did that move all the time, and they were good at it, but that was then. “That was two babies ago. No, I’ll fall on my head.”
He laughed and they moved back to safer steps to the rhythm of the song. After he spun her twice in a row, she fell into his arms and he dipped her, holding her there.
“Don’t drop me,” she whispered.
“You’re always safe with me.” He leaned and kissed her, and she kissed him back. There was nothing in her heart or mind but that very moment.
She traced her finger across his chest, then laid her cheek against it. His heartbeat was strong. Comforting.
He wrapped his arms around her and brought them both back to standing. They stood that way, face to face, arms around each other.
Then he leaned close and kissed her again. On the forehead.
Something clicked inside her. She pushed away and stepped back, plopping down into his desk chair. “Paul, this is moving so fast.”
She shook her head. “You said that. I love having you back in my life, but this is hard for me to wrap my head around. I’ve got two kids.” She got up and walked to the window. “And you have all this. You’re building new locations, and you have so much responsibility. Paul, you don’t have to stretch your time thin for me. I’m doing okay.”
“Amanda, this isn’t some kind of guilt mission. My feelings for you are genuine. How can I