The smells of the city change whenever rain lets loose. I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity to enjoy that so I put on a pair of shorts, a hooded sweatshirt and hopped on my bike.
“I was up early,” he admits. “Sleep doesn’t always come easy when your mind pokes around in your past.”
Amen.
I didn’t catch a wink last night. Watching Katie with another man had my thoughts racing. There’s no way in
hell I could quiet them enough for sleep to take hold.
“I’m here to listen.” I shield my eyes from the rain. “We can take this to a coffee shop a couple of blocks from here. I’ll buy you a cup.”
“Did I ever tell you how much Lois loved dancing in the rain?”
“I don’t think so,” I lie. “Did she drag you outside whenever it rained?”
He nods, a smile taking over his mouth. “We’d head up to the roof of our building and dance the storm away.”
“Was she a good dancer?”
He leans his head back far enough that raindrops pummel his cheeks. “The best dancer in the world. I’d trade every day I have left for one last dance with her.”
My gaze shifts to the river.
“I’ll take you up on that coffee if you’ll throw in a glazed donut.” He taps my shoulder. “You can tell me about what’s got you troubled.”
“I’m troubled?” I ask with a laugh, even though he hit the nail on the head.
“You’ve been since the day I met you.” He nods. “Whatever her name is, if she’s walking this earth, you need to make it right, Gage.”
He’s right. I do need to make it right with Katie. I plan on doing just that.
Chapter 12
Kate
“We should start praying for rain.” Natalie locks the door of the boutique. “We had a blockbuster day.”
We did.
Both of our bridal consultants were booked solid today, but we also managed to squeeze in seven walk-in appointments. Natalie took care of three and I handled the rest.
Not every bride-to-be found the dress of her dreams, but we sold several, and our alterations department was busy too.
“Should we order pizza?” Natalie asks as her gaze slides over her phone’s screen. “My hubs is working out with his buddies tonight.”
“Can I get a rain check?”
“Are you seeing last night’s guy again tonight?”
“His name is Preston and no, not tonight.”
“Because he wore you out last night?” She smirks.
Hardly. I was a mess after seeing Gage outside the boutique. Preston didn’t notice because most of his focus was on his phone. A big deal is set to go down in his office today.
We said goodnight with a chaste kiss on the lips after I finished a glass of white wine.
He wanted to take me home, but I insisted on going alone. I told him I was tired. He didn’t argue.