After the engagement fiasco, I thought it would be a long while before I’d allow myself to get attached to a woman. But I hadn’t met Summer when I thought that.
“Summer, you don’t have to spend the weekend with me. It was a suggestion.”
Every muscle in my limbs strings tight as I wait for her answer.
“You make all suggestions without a question mark?” she teases, and I feel the muscles in one leg loosening, then the other. “I’d love to spend the weekend with you.”
The muscles in my arms relax too. I take one of her hands from the wheel and kiss it.
She pulls in front of her house a short while later.
“Wait here, I’ll be quick. Are you sure I shouldn’t change for our date?”
“Positive.”
She nods, swiping her tongue over the bow of her upper lip. “Okay. Five minutes.”
While I wait, it occurs to me I’ve never been in her house. I wonder what the inside is like, if I could tell it belongs to Summer just by being there. I bet I’d find signs of her everywhere. Post-its glued in random spots, with reminders and smileys scribbled on them. Paintings. Books.
Summer comes hurtling out of the house a few minutes later, a small backpack on her shoulder, which she throws in the back as soon as she climbs in. “Done! Now
, what’s this fancy place you’re taking me to?”
Unease claws at my insides as she guns the engine, setting the car in motion.
“You’ll see.”
Twenty minutes later, I glance at her out of the corner of my eye as the double gate to my house opens, and we drive inside. I watch as realization dawns on her face and keep my fingers crossed for her not to be disappointed.
When she grins, I let out a breath of relief.
“You’re a genius,” she says wickedly. We step out of the car, and when she moves to take her backpack, I stop her, instead slinging it over my own shoulder. Then I open the front door for her and lead her straight to the patio in the back.
“Wow,” she exclaims, stepping outside. “When did you do all this?”
She takes in the table for two, complete with tablecloth and candles, which I still have to light.
“Landed a couple of hours ago. I called a catering company for the food. I just set the table.”
Summer smiles warmly. “This is so beautiful. Thank you.”
I hold out the chair for her. “Take a seat. You’re keeping your jacket, right?”
“Yeah.” She sighs. “When I lived in Rome, I loved that you could eat outside almost always. Maybe not in winter, but here we don’t even get real heat in mid-July.”
As she sits, I plant a quick kiss on her neck. “Any time you want to escape someplace hot, just say the word.”
“Mmm, that’s tempting.”
“You are tempting. I’ll take you anywhere you want, Summer.”
After one last kiss, I move on to loading the food on plates.
“You really planned this,” she says in wonder as we dig in.
“I told you there are advantages to dating a movie star. It’s not all drama, I promise.”
She touches my leg under the table, and I reach for her hand.