Single Dad Seeks Juliet

I nod then, curling my abs to sit up and then rocking back to throw myself to my feet like a fighter.

Holley yells, eyes wide and smile bright.

“Holy shit!”

I laugh and stretch a hand down to her to help her up.

“I had no idea you could do that!”

“Me neither,” I reply. “First time I’ve tried.”

“God, you’re really, like, not real, I swear.”

I shake my head and then follow it up by shaking my whole body like a wet dog. For as much shit as I gave her, I am definitely covered in sand.

“Jake!” She giggles and shields her face with her hand, backing away from me.

I crowd her unnecessarily just to mess with her, and before I know it, we’ve ended up shrieking our way into the parking lot in fits of laughter.

She climbs into her car, and I shut the door for her, but she rolls the window down when I don’t move away immediately.

“I’ll see you Saturday?” I say, for lack of anything better.

She nods and smiles, and I take in a deep breath to calm the unexplained burn in my lungs.

“See you then.”

Two fucking dates this weekend sounds so painfully awful. I’m looking forward to it about how I’d look forward to a short bout of water torture.

So, why is it then, that Saturday doesn’t seem soon enough?JakeHolley’s smile is infectious the minute she steps into the large, industrial-style kitchen with her bag on her shoulder and her hair down and curled to her shoulders. It looks like she’s done it on purpose today, rather than letting it fall into its natural waves, and I’m excited to see the new look.

We’ve texted a few times since we saw each other Wednesday night—mostly about Making a Murderer since we’ve both been watching it—but seeing her in person makes me realize just how much I’ve missed her.

I lean into the stainless-steel table in the center of the room and smile back at her as she trips over nothing, spins around to see what it was, and then laughs at herself when she realizes it was just air.

I’m equal parts amused by how fucking cute she is, but also a little scared for her life in a room with things like hot stoves and sharp, chopping knives.

And I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face.

“Easy there,” I tease good-naturedly. “I don’t want you to split your head open on the table.”

She pretends to slow her steps dramatically, but really, the way she does it just makes her look like a robot. I chuckle.

“You look beautiful,” I find myself saying as she tosses her bag onto the table in between us. I didn’t plan it, didn’t even really realize I was thinking it—but neither of those makes it any less true.

She blushes and drops her eyes to the table to dig out her notebook as she speaks. “Thanks.” She giggles. “I had to go into the office today. And since I had a meeting with my editor about how everything is going with Bachelor Anonymous, I tried to look human.”

I grin as she finally meets my eyes, the pressure of my compliment fading enough to make her feel comfortable again. “Human?” I ask, pretending to wince. “I mean, you look beautiful, but I’m getting more of an alien vibe.”

She punches me in the shoulder without hesitation, and I reach up to grab it while I laugh.

“Don’t be such a punk!” she threatens, and I have to bite my lip to keep myself from disappointing her by revealing just how intimidating she isn’t.

“Sorry,” I apologize instead. “I couldn’t help it.”

She rolls her eyes and opens her notebook to a fresh page to get prepared for today’s date. I watch as she writes Elle’s name at the top of the page and underlines it twice.

“Is that a cheat sheet for me?” I ask sarcastically, and she shakes her head.

“You’re bad.” I wink as she continues. “And brave. I can’t believe you wanted me to schedule a cooking-class date with a pastry chef.”

“Pretty sure this was your idea, Holl.”

“Yeah,” she retorts with a sassy hand to her svelte hip. “But you agreed to it.”

“Well…” I pause and waggle my eyebrows. “I guess this is a case of go big or go home, then. Which just so happens to be SEAL Team Nine’s motto.”

“Nine?” she questions.

“Top secret,” I whisper with a wink, just as the door at the front of the room opens and a couple women step inside. They’re chatting with each other animatedly, and it brings Holley’s and my conversation to a hush.

When they look up and notice us, the one with the long blond hair’s eyes light up. Her attention is solely on me as she closes the distances, bites her lip, and breathes, “You must be Jake.”

I nod, glancing to Holley, who’s now looking on from behind with raised eyebrows.