A knock on the door interrupted our meeting. “Sam, your next appointment is here.”
We both registered surprise. I’d been talking about my future business, and it had been free-flow. But better yet, Sam had been engaged. My gut said he liked my ideas.
“Thanks, Terri. I’ll be right out.”
She backed away from the door, and he tapped the corner of a folder on his desk. “I didn’t get to ask you, what do you plan to do with your current business? Are you going to sell it?”
“Yes, that is my plan. I don’t believe I’ll be able to focus on launching a new restaurant and maintain an additional business.” Selling actually hadn’t occurred to me. I’d assumed I’d need to close it down. Could I really sell it?
“Makes sense. Well, I’ll be in touch if I have any additional questions. It would help if you had something you wanted to leverage as collateral, since this is your first small business.”
My heart sank. About the only thing I could offer him was my beat-up Honda with a hundred and ten thousand miles.
“But it’s okay if you don’t have that. You’re not seeking a jumbo loan. I’ll be in touch for next steps.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wheeler.”
I followed him back to the exit, feeling like a metric ton had been lifted off my shoulders. I might not get the loan, but I rocked that interview. And he’d given zero indication he recognized me or questioned the legitimacy of my photography business. I’d gone for years completely anonymous, or at least, no one I ran into recognized me. Reed threw me for a loop. And, of course, that creepy banker.
I threw open the glass door and squinted up into the sun. In the movie reel fantasy playing in my head, I swan dove through the air into the parking lot and brilliant lights flickered all around. Birds sang, and instead of the currently winter gray, the sky shimmered Carolina blue. I rounded the corner of the building, fist-pumped the air, and stopped short.
Gabe leaned against a shiny graphite Porsche, his arms crossed in the same pose as Jake from Sixteen Candles. My movie reel fantasy had swung way out of control. I blinked a few times, expecting that insane image to flip away.
“Are you okay?”
“How did you know I’d be here?”
“Luna told me. I dropped Reed off at the airport this morning.”
“You didn’t fly him back?”
“No. He’s too delicate for a small plane.”
“I imagine nausea would be more difficult to handle with his busted nose.” I gave him a pointed look.
Gabe didn’t deny. His gaze focused on the bank building. “How’d it go in there?”
Gabe’s wrinkled brow told me he remembered my first encounter with a loan officer.
“Were you gonna go in and punch him if he acted like the other guy?”
He flipped his sunglasses up onto his head, and those green eyes sparkled. “Yeah. If needed.” He grinned.
I rolled my eyes. “Violence is not the answer. I hate you punched your friend.”
“No friend of mine will treat you badly.” A swarm of emotions threatened to reduce me to a wacky sack of teary mush. I inspected the palm tree swaying nearby, aiming to get a grip and hold it together.
“You okay?” He stepped closer, close enough a hint of his subtle cologne wafted through the air. I’d thought he was a player, like any other guy. Looking for an easy lay. Of course, he was probably just like that. But maybe he’d be the kind of guy who would still be a real friend after the sex. I’d never had one of those, so I didn’t really know what that kind of unicorn looked like.
“Thank you.” I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him in for a hug. My breasts pressed against his hard chest, and I laid my head against his shoulder. His heart pounded and reverberated through me. He froze, then his arms engulfed me, returning the hug. He stroked my back and ran his fingers through my hair. His lips brushed my forehead.
“Are you sure that guy didn’t do anything?”
I backed up, sniffled, and stared sky high as I wiped beneath my eyes in case my mascara smeared.
“If he did—”
“He didn’t. The meeting went well. Really well.”
“Well, you up for a congratulatory lunch?”
I thought about my numbers and the possibility of selling my business. Plus, Will had texted that Jules had an open part-time bartending job. I needed to stop by and apply for it before Suzette, the owner, hired someone else.
“I’d so love to. Really. But I can’t.”
“Dinner then? Third date?”
“Okay.”
A giant smile spread like I’d said something unexpected and good. Did he really think a girl like me would say no? Or is this whole delighted ‘she said yes’ routine a part of his game? Ben had this puppy dog eye routine he’d use. I shook my head and stepped to my car, trying to shake the Ben memory.
“Seven o’clock work?” he asked as he slid his sunglasses down over his eyes. Jeez, the guy almost looked like Tom Holland. My big, fat heart was gonna get crushed.
Chapter 19
Gabe
“Oh, my lord. I’ve never seen such beautiful flowers.” Her hands flew to her slightly open mouth within seconds of opening the door.
The Southport florist had kept them in the refrigerator, and by now, condensation on the glass dripped down, risking an embarrassing water stain on the front of my slacks. I held the vase out far away from my body.
“Are these peonies?” She lifted the dripping vase out of my hands and backed up to admire the arrangement. She clasped her hands over her heart, and those beautiful blue eyes glistened under the overhead kitchen lights.
“No one has ever given me anything so beautiful. I don’t even…you’re the first man to ever give me
