“I promise,” I agree. It is hard to be upset with Emmie for being protective of Colin’s brother. Her loyalty is amazing. I know this.
“You better go see what he wants,” she adds, then hugs me tightly.
I RACE DOWN the stairs still distracted by the conversation I’d just had with Emmie. So distracted, in fact, I don’t notice I am wearing sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt still. When I duck through the curtain into the gallery, I don’t see Christian right away. Moving into the room a few steps, he comes into view, standing at one of the side windows peering out.
Emmie’s words keep going through my mind. Maybe she is right, I still have every intention of marrying Henry. Perhaps it is time I put an end to this charade.
As I watch him silently, he lifts a hand, running his fingers through his raven hair. The strands fall perfectly into place, framing his face. I take a deep breath, letting him know I’m there. I’m in awe of the way he looks as the sun shines in on the bridge of his nose. He turns and smiles at me, but I’m not looking at his smile.
My eyes wander to his body, his strong forearm flexes as he holds something on the other side of his body, out of my sight. I’d always thought his lips were the picture of perfection, and now I am even more convinced as I peer at them, now slightly parted. The top lip always lifts higher on the right side, but the crookedness is part of his charm.
“I like it,” he says, without a formal greeting. I glare, puzzled, but then see his gaze focused on my outfit.
I shrug. “Casual Saturdays, what’s up?” I want to delay the talk I know needs to be had.
Moving around to one side, Christian pulls an antique wooden body form from behind him. “You took off so fast last night I didn’t have a chance to give you the surprise I’d gotten for you.”
“What?” I gasp in disbelief, scurrying across the cool concrete floors in my bare feet, to run my hands along the form. “Where did you get this? It’s amazing.”
“I spotted it at the flea market I went to in Austin last week. As soon as I saw it, I thought of you.”
“Oh my God, look at this thing, it’s gorgeous.”
“Yeah,” he continues, and with a couple flips and turns of a mechanism hidden in the rear of the mannequin he proceeds to show me the magic that hides within it. “You can adjust hip and waist size with these parts right here.”
“Get out!” I exclaim, slapping his arm with the back of my hand.
“I take it you like it then?” he asks, his face eager with anticipation.
I smile. It is a so thoughtful, but how am I going to tell him that our first date was now our last date as well. “I love it, thank you.”
I reach a hand to shake his. He looks at the extended limb and chuckles, but shakes it nonetheless. It feels as awkward as I thought it would.
“I had a really good time last night,” he adds.
“I did too,” I answer honestly. “Dinner was incredible. Thanks for that.”
“What is that?” I hear Emmie’s voice behind me.
“Can you believe this thing?” I say, turning around and showing off my new treasure. “Christian found it at the flea market in Austin. Oh! How much do I owe you?”
“It’s on me,” he insists.
“No, please, let me pay you for it,” I say firmly.
“Paige, please, I wanted you to have it.” The sincerity is heavy in his tone.
“You have to at least let me buy you dinner or something,” I offer, suddenly realizing that I pretty much just asked him out on a date.
“Actually, I planned on going bowling later tonight, so how about you buy the first game,” he suggests.
“It’s a deal,” I agree gladly, the arrangement much less threatening than dinner alone with him.
“Bowling!” Emmie exclaims, “I want to go. Colin, hey, Colin—come here.”
I giggle at the sheer panic on Christian’s face as his sister-in-law invites herself along on his private time with me.
“What is it, hon?” Colin asks, entering the room, Olivia bouncing on his hip.
“Do you think the Carters will babysit tonight?” Emmie inquires.
“I don’t know. That’s awfully short notice,” Christian interjects.
“I don’t know—probably, why?” Colin replies, ignoring his brother’s opinion.
“We’re going bowling with Paige and Christian!” she exclaims, patting her beloved on the ass.
“Sounds fun, I’ll call them,” Colin says, before tossing Olivia up into the air repeatedly.
“Great,” Christian moans. “I guess I’ll see all of you tonight.”