Page 57 of Lonely Heart
And it was at that moment, our server arrived with our entrees, bringing our discussion of Ivy’s gift to me and the steps she’d taken to get it to an end. But I figured it was the perfect opportunity to shift our conversation to something else.
Before I had the chance to do that, though, Ivy took the lead. “So, I have a bit of a problem now.”
My brows shot up, silently questioning her. “I’d love nothing more than to help you out. What’s going on?”
A sweet look washed over her expression, and as her chin tipped down, her hair fell forward at just the right angle for the light to hit it. My fingers itched to run through it. She looked stunning. “As you’re aware, things have been rather chaotic lately. With the exception of when we were dancing with one another at your party yesterday, we haven’t had much of an opportunity lately to talk. Not only have we had so many interruptions from everyone around us, but I was spending a lot of time working on preparations for the party.”
“I knew you did more work than you let on.”
“That’s not the point right now,” she insisted.
I did my best to stifle the laughter. “Right. Sorry. So, what’s the problem you’re having?”
“I don’t know what I’m going to do with all my time now that I won’t be focusing on planning a party for you.”
Understanding dawned, and it was the perfect opportunity for me to tease her. “I see the issue. You could use the party as an excuse before.”
“An excuse? What do you mean?”
“The party planning was just an excuse you used to justify thinking about me all the time,” I explained, my lips twitching. “Now, you’ll have to admit the truth.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. “And what, dare I ask, is the truth?”
“You can’t stop thinking about me. I’m always on your mind these days, aren’t I?”
“That’s interesting.”
“Is it?”
She shook her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I don’t remember you ever being so cocky. Is this what happens after a girl makes you some chicken, throws you a party, and accepts your invitation to dinner?”
There was no containing my laughter this time. I wish I’d known all these years what I was missing out on, because this might have been our first official date, but there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t like about the woman sitting across from me.
I reached over, placed my hand on her arm, and squeezed. “Don’t worry, Princess. If you didn’t already know it, you’re always on my mind these days, too.”
Something changed in her expression, her gaze growing darker. “Are you being serious, or are you just saying that, so I don’t feel bad?”
“I can’t even make it through an hour without having you pop into my mind,” I revealed.
Her lips parted in shock. “One hour?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
Following a long pause, she confessed, “It’s the same for me with you. And I don’t know what to do about it.”
I brushed my hand along her arm to offer her some comfort and reassurance. “Now that we’re on the same wavelength, I think we can figure it out together.”
“Any ideas yet?”
“Nothing specific, but I think finding ways to spend more time with each other will help.”
She beamed at me, her eyes dancing. “I like that idea.”
I held her stare for a beat before I agreed. “Me, too.”
With that, we both returned to our food, our conversation shifting again.
By the time we’d finished dinner and shared two delicious desserts, it was safe to say I was on cloud nine. If I was honest, I’d been that way since Ivy agreed to this date last night. But I was relieved to know that the feeling hadn’t diminished as we spent time together tonight.