Page 31 of Making Home with You

“No, we’ll leave you to it,” Kelsey says.“But come to family dinner next week, okay?”

Sarah glances up at me as though to ask if that’s okay.I smile, give her a small nod because it’s exactly what I want to happen.For so many years family dinner was just me, Kelsey and Pop.When Beck came back, things changed to include him and it was a great way for us to reconnect after all those years he spent in Boston.I know Pop appreciates it and truth be told, so do I.But the idea of Sarah being a part of it too, somehow it just feels right.

“We’ll be there,” I say, kissing the top of Sarah’s head.

We both turn and head toward a booth in the new dining area.Everyone in the pub watches us and although it feels awkward as fuck, I don’t let go of Sarah until we reach the table.

She sits down across from me, a strange look on her face.I smile at her, lifting her hand to press a kiss to her palm.“You okay?”I ask.

“Everyone’s looking at us,” she whispers, her eyes flicking around the room.

I chuckle.“Yeah, I know.”

“Why?”she asks, straightening a little as one of the wait staff brings us some menus.I nod my thanks, order a couple of beers for us, before turning to Sarah again.

“They’re just not used to seeing me do this,” I tell her.

“What?”she asks.“Eat?”

I laugh.“No, eat with a woman.A date.”

Sarah looks at me with a shocked expression on her face.“You’ve never done this before?”she asks.

I shrug.“Nope, not really.”

“Why?”

I put the menu down and look right at her.“Never met someone I wanted to do this with, I guess,” I say, trying to act as though this isn’t a big deal.

Sarah says nothing, just stares back at me, her eyes wide as she takes in my words.Just when I think I should say something, anything to break the silence, she smiles, leans closer and says, “Well, I’m glad I’m the one to pop your dating cherry.”

I burst out laughing, my fingers threading with hers as I lift her hand to my mouth again, this time nibbling on her fingertips as I whisper, “God, Sarah, where the fuck have you been all my life?”

Sarah blushes, her smile shy as she looks across at me.Even though I can still feel everyone looking at us, I wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.Not with the way Sarah’s now looking at me.

By the time our meal arrives, it seems like most people in the pub have grown tired of watching us.We eat our meal, chatting and laughing and once again I’m struck with how easy it is just to be with Sarah.How easily I could get used to doing this all the time.Forever even.

When we finally finish, we say our goodbyes to Beck and Kelsey, before heading out to the car.

“So,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.“Where to now?”

Sarah turns, slipping her arms around my waist as she stares up at me.“Wanna go parking?”she asks.

I smile, lean down and press a soft kiss to her lips.“Going for the full dating experience, huh?”I whisper against her mouth.

She nibbles at my bottom lip as her hands slide down to my ass and gently squeeze.“Yep,” she murmurs.“And besides, didn’t you start something you need to finish?”

I grin, pulling her closer as I kiss her again, my tongue slipping into her mouth.“Yes, boss,” I say, pulling back and swatting her on the ass.Sarah giggles and I can’t help giving her another smack as I open the car door for her, my heart pounding in my chest because of all the things I know are going to happen now.

But when I turn and walk around to the driver’s side, I freeze, my hand clenching my keys so hard I feel them dig into my palm.

Swallowing hard, I force myself to look away, to not even acknowledge Carla as she stands beside her car watching us, a hard look on her face.

Chapter Nine

Sarah

My alarm sounds, chiming quietly in the black room and I roll over and tap the screen to silence it.The last thing I want to do is wake anyone else up at this hour.It’s really early, too early for someone who has spent the last six months working at a bar, but in order to make it into Boston on time, the five a.m.wakeup call is necessary.