He was so excited and his eyes were shining with delight.
I didn’t even think. I simply rose on my toes and kissed his cheek. He immediately stopped what he was doing and shoved his phone into his pocket. “Ivy.”
I lowered myself back onto my heels. “Thank you.”
“Right. You’re welcome.” He stared at my mouth and it took everything in me not to kiss him. It would be so easy to do that. To throw myself at him. Even with this baby bump in the way, it would be so easy to walk right into his arms.
I took a step back.
Too easy.
I cleared my throat. “We’re almost done.”
“That we are.”
“Ahead of schedule, thanks to you.”
“Too little, too late if you ask me.”
“No. I really appreciate all you’ve done to make this truck come in under budget and early.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
I laughed. “I’m sure it hasn’t been. Your poor hands aren’t used to this kind of work, music man.”
“No, but I don’t mind.”
We stood together in the waning light of the evening. I’d worked the day shift at the diner, but it was June and the days were longer now. It was a good quiet between us. As quiet as Crescent Cove could be in the hours just past dinner anyway.
“Can I take you out, Ivy Rose?”
My gaze shot to his. “What?”
“On a date. A proper date.”
“You want to take me out?”
“It’s occurred to me that we’ve skipped all the steps that come with getting to know one another. Let me take you to dinner. Not at the diner. To a place that has a bread basket and a dessert cart that will make you feel decadent.”
I couldn’t stop the smile. “You mean like a restaurant where I have to dress up?”
“If you like. I don’t care what you wear. You can wear your smashing overalls if you want. I just want a night with you.”
I looked at my paint-splattered sneakers. “A night with you got me into this little predicament.”
“No sex.”
I shot him a look. “No?”
His neck reddened. “Well, I’m always wanting to get skin to skin with you, but for now, I just want the pleasure of your company. Across a table.”
“I’d like that.”
“Yeah? Tonight?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Oh.”