Page 119 of His to Cherish
Chapter 24
“Are you nervous?” Kate asked me as we wiped down the display case for her sugary treats.
I pulled back, brushing my long bangs off my forehead and frowning.
Was I?
My speeding pulse gave me my answer.
“Yeah.” I fidgeted with the rag in my hands, folding and refolding it while she gave me a sly grin. Her blue eyes sparkled happily for me, but I couldn’t help but hesitate in sharing my excitement. “I think it will be fun. I haven’t been to Chicago for a few years, but this time it’s different.”
“I’m sure. When I started dating Tanner, he had just gotten out of an ugly divorce, and even though I knew he liked me and that we probably had a future, it took him a while to open up. I know it’s different with Aidan and I can’t imagine what he deals with every day, but it’s a good sign he wants to take you to Chicago.”
I knew this. I did. My voice lowered so the few customers in her shop couldn’t hear our conversation. Over the last couple of weeks, I’d become well aware of the looks I got from women, single and married alike. Apparently, Aidan and me “coming out” at the carnival had started the gossip wheel spinning.
“I’m more afraid of what it will do to him,” I said, chewing my lip nervously. “It’s only been a few months, and sometimes I still think he’s not ready. I mean, he lost his son; can he really be ready for a relationship?”
“My advice?” she asked, and laid a hand over mine, stilling my fidgeting.
“Please.”
“Let him decide that. He wouldn’t do this if this wasn’t important to him and ifyouweren’t important to him.”
“Okay.” I inhaled a deep, relaxing breath. “I can do this.”
Kate grinned and fixed her ponytail. “Good girl. Why don’t you serve this last customer coming in and then get ready to head out. Is Aidan still picking you up?”
I checked the clock on the wall behind the counter. “Yeah, he should be here in a few minutes.”
“Good. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She flashed me a wink and headed to the back, leaving me alone at the front counter. I turned to face the customer, a smile on my face, which evaporated as soon as I saw him.
Nerves tingled through my body as he approached slowly, checking the tables and the display case as if he wondered if he’d come to the right place.
At his side and holding his hand was a beautiful little girl with Cory’s dark brown hair and someone else’s hazel-colored eyes. She was staring at the dessert case and her little tongue was licking her lips.
My knees wobbled and I grabbed the counter to steady myself.
“Chelsea…” Cory’s eyes went as wide as mine when he turned toward the counter. “Um. Hi.”
I swallowed, hoping like hell my voice was strong. “Hey…Cory.”
His eyebrows pulled together and he looked everywhere but at me, as if he still wasn’t sure whether he’d entered an alternate universe.
“I didn’t know you worked here.”
My hands twisted the towel until my knuckles hurt. My skin felt clammy. I was saved from answering when his daughter said, “Daddy, pink one.”
I looked down and couldn’t help but smile at her wide eyes lusting over the chocolate cupcake with a mountain of hot pink frosting and purple star-shaped sprinkles.
“Um.” He looked at me.
Something happened when he did and I jerked back, completely aware that he saw my surprise, but I realized, as my gaze traveled over Cory’s preppy and short dark hair, his deep black eyes, and his tall, lean frame—
I felt nothing other than the shock of seeing him.
There was no anger. No pain. No regret.
I felt none of the same emotions coursing through me like I had the first time I’d seen him with his pregnant girlfriend.
