Page 85 of Perfect Assumption

I whirl around and feel like dropping to my knees.

Her hair is towel-dried. It’s falling like dark fire over her bare shoulder before it meets the edge of her wide-neck sweater that falls to midthigh. Beneath it, dark leggings wrap around her legs before tucking into a pair of tall, fluffy boots. “I see we had the same idea.” She nods to my slightly wrinkled jacket and dress shirt I pulled on with a pair of her grandfather’s jeans.

I lean the tongs against the stone before approaching her. “I wanted to give you something you haven’t had before.”

“What’s that?”

The fire crackles at my back, but it’s the candlelight that throws gold into her eyes. If I died right now, I’d die a rich man not because of the wealth in my bank account but because of the trust in Angie’s eyes when she looks at me. “Potential and endless possibilities.”

“I have one more thing to add to that before it will be perfect.”

“What’s that?”

“Knowledge. I want to know about you, Ward.” When I automatically stiffen, she whispers, “Every time we go out, we get closer, but there’s still so much I want to know about you. Even the little things like your favorite colors, who chose your name, and your first crush. I want to learn about your favorite drink and your first kiss.”

I relax. “Only if I get to know all that about you.”

“That’s a deal.” She holds out her hand. I take it, yank her against me, and brush my lips against hers.

“We’ll talk while we eat. As beautiful as you look, I don’t want you to get too cold.” I escort her to her seat of cushions.

“With the way you’re looking at me, I’m not sure it’s possible to get cold,” she admits.

* * *

We’re lingeringover coffee when Angie asks, “Where has been your favorite vacation?”

“London,” I say immediately.

“Why?”

“It was just Dad and me. It was my sixteenth birthday trip, and we did every touristy thing imaginable.” I lapse into silence for a moment, remembering the early morning tours, the late dinners, the father-son talks we had on that trip. “It meant so much—then and now. He took two weeks out of his crazy schedule to bring me there. God, when I think about the amount of fish and chips we ate, I still wonder if we came home smelling beer-battered. I’d forgotten how much fun we had. I feel the closest to him right now than I have in a long time.” I reach for Angie’s hand. “Thank you.”

“All I did was ask a question.”

“And now I guess it’s my turn. Hmm, what shall I ask? How about, what’s your favorite type of book to read?”

“Romance,” she answers unhesitatingly.

“Really? Reading about…”

“Intimacy?” Angie supplies helpfully, her eyes twinkling.

“Yes. It doesn’t bother you.”

She shakes her head. “I worked with psychologists for years. I know what my triggers are, Ward, which is why I probably should never have gone with you to Redemption that night, no matter how good the reasons were. The possibilities for them were endless.”

“What are they?”

“Dark spaces, loud music, and a stranger grabbing me from behind,” she answers immediately. “Certain visuals might do the same, but it’s rare.”

I hold up a hand. “You said a stranger grabbing you from behind.”

She nods, wariness in her eyes.

I push to my feet and hold out my hand. “Do you trust me?”

She stands as well. I know my heart is possibly waiting for hers at the finish line, but this could be a huge step to bring her closer. I whisper, “Will you turn around?”