Page 114 of Falling for the Grumpiest Protector

I lean against the counter. There are easy answers. Fine. Busy. Muddy. Instead I think about Jack. Stop deciding for her. I think about Maddy sitting beside me in the dark. When you're ready.

I start typing. Stop. Delete it. Try again.

Farm survived. Jack survived. Jury's still out on one of the wheelbarrows.

Her answer comes quickly. Tragic. Please keep me informed.

I smile. Then: How are you?

My thumb stills. Simple question. Not a simple answer.

I could tell her I'm fine. I've been telling people I'm fine for years.

I type: Better than I was this morning.

I look at the words. Then send them.

The three dots appear. I'm glad. Nothing else. No questions. No pressure. Just that.

I'm glad.

I stand there with the phone in my hand. This morning, I thought maybe the smartest thing I could do was stop whatever is happening between us before it becomes something I can't control. Before she matters more. Before I give her enough of me that losing her takes something with it.

My phone buzzes again.

And Martinez?

Yeah?

I'm still looking forward to dinner.

I close my eyes for a second. There it is. Her decision. Not forever. Not a promise. Tonight. One dinner. One choice that belongs entirely to her.

I type: So am I.

And I send it.

Chapter Fourteen

Javier

Maddy is five minutes late.

Not that I'm counting.

I'm standing outside Willow & Vine with my hands in my pockets when her car turns into the lot.

Five minutes and thirty-two seconds.

Still not counting.

She parks, gets out, and whatever I might have said about making me wait disappears.

I've seen her in jeans plenty of times. I've seen her in my clothes, which is a thought I probably shouldn't spend much time on.

Tonight she's wearing a soft green dress. The color makes her eyes look brighter, and her dark hair falls loose around her shoulders.

She looks beautiful.