Page 97 of The Last Goodbye

“You’re all in?” I gaped at him.

He leaned close, hand going beneath my chin like he’d done the other day. “What did I tell you about leaving that mouth open?”

I rolled my eyes. “Well, tell me, wise one. What happens when I leave in a few months?”

“Come on, a few months is a lifetime in the dating world. Do you typically ask someone you’ve just started dating what their plans are in a few months?”

“No. Of course not.”

“So, you told me you dated often back in the city.” He spread some jam on a piece of sourdough toast and handed it to me, as if his way was much better than the way I’d been doing it.

“Correct.”

“Well, you’re single. So clearly none of those guys went the distance. Stop going into the future. Enjoy the now, and we’ll deal with that bridge if we get there. If I were a gambling man, I’d guess that you’ll be annoyed with me by the end of the month.”

“So, we’re just going to bank on the fact that we probably won’t like each other in a month?”

“Correct. It’s a solid plan, and it’s proven successful for both of us, since we’re both still single. What do you say, Magpie? Date me until you hate me?”

He held out his hand.

Unbelievable. I laughed as I slipped my hand in his, and we shook. “I can do that.”

“Great.” He reached for his mug and took another sip. “Apparently, I’m a real pain in the ass to date, since I’m moody and opinionated and stubborn. So good luck to you.”

I held up my mug and clinked it with his. “I’m an overthinker with deep trust issues who happens to be terrified of commitment.”

“I give us one week, max.” He winked.

“Then let’s make it a good week.”

Before I knew what was happening, our mugs were on the table, and he was on his feet, tossing me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing and jogging toward his bedroom.

“I thought you had to go to work?” I laughed hysterically as he dropped me on his bed.

He hovered over me. “I own the place. And my girl might dump me by lunchtime, so I’d like to enjoy my time with her.”

“I’m all yours, McGrumpy.”

And his lips crashed into mine.

Blue Sky Bay-Kery was quite possibly the cutest bakery I’d ever been to. The rustic wood floors, the crystal chandeliers, and the pink bistro tables all worked together perfectly. It smelled heavenly.

Tatum had ordered us way too many desserts, which she set in the center of the table.

I sipped my iced tea as I looked over all the pastries, then decided to cut the chocolate cupcake in half and set it on my plate.

“What’s up with you today? You seem very…relaxed,” Tatum said, studying me.

“I took the day off work, so I slept in, and I guess I’m just relaxed.” I shrugged.

The truth was, I’d just had epic sex with Bass Bennett, and we’d decided to keep seeing one another. I wasn’t sure what I was feeling, but maybe being content was so foreign to me at this point that I didn’t know how to describe it.

“Nope. This is more than sleeping in,” Gracie said. “You saw Bass last night, didn’t you?”

“Why do you think that?” I took a bite of my cupcake, avoiding eye contact.

“Because he came by to drop food off for Cannon, and he was all sulky about you.”