Page 41 of Yearner

Allison tilted her head to look up at him, a playful smile touching her lips. “I’ll only ask my husband if I need anything. He can talk to whoever needs talking to.”

Silas’s face brightened at once. His smile grew so radiant that Allison blinked in surprise, momentarily taken aback by how happy her words had made him. He leaned down and caught her lower lip between his teeth in a gentle bite.

She winced at the slight sting, but he didn't pull away immediately. Instead, he brushed his lips over the spot he had bitten, soothing it with several soft kisses before finally releasing her. He gave her one last tender kiss, then drew back just enough to look into her eyes.

“I’m going to miss you,” he whispered.

A smile tugged at the corners of Allison’s mouth. “I won’t,” she replied in the same soft voice.

Then she laughed.

Silas’s expression immediately darkened into a playful frown. He caught her mouth again, biting her lip before kissing her more deeply.

“Repeat that,” he demanded when he finally pulled away. “Go on. Say it one more time.”

“All right, all right!” Allison protested, laughing as she tried to dodge his mouth. “I’m going to miss you too. I was lying.”

She giggled, pushing lightly against his chest as she tried to escape his hold.

“Now, let me go. I’m going inside, and you need to get your work done.”

She began to pull away, moving toward the diner, but her hand had barely started slipping out of his grasp when she realized he still wasn't ready to let her go. Silas held on to her hand, his fingers lingering around hers as though releasing her were the last thing he wanted to do.

Allison paused on the steps and turned to look at him. He was still staring at her with a reluctant, almost longing expression that made her smile soften.

After another moment, he finally loosened his grip and let her hand slip free.

“I’m going in now,” she said gently.

“Okay,” he replied, though his gaze remained fixed on her.

Allison smiled at him once more before turning toward the entrance. Silas watched until she disappeared inside the diner. Only then did he finally get back into the car and drive away.

Summer and Allison settled down at a table inside the diner. Once they were comfortable, Allison began telling her everything that had happened between her and Silas.

Summer listened with widening eyes. By the time Allison finished, she looked thoroughly stunned.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, leaning forward across the table. “I’ve never heard of someone waiting for another person for ten whole years. He’s been in love with you for that long?!”

She shook her head in disbelief, still trying to process everything Allison had told her.

“Honestly, I’m shocked. Of course his father didn’t need much convincing to accept you. He already knew how much you meant to his son.”

After a moment, Summer’s expression turned mischievous. She reached across the table and pointed two fingers at Allison’s forehead as if she were threatening her with a gun.

“Now, tell me something. If you were ever in trouble and needed somewhere to stay, who would you call first? Your husband or me?”

Allison burst out laughing. “You.”

Summer’s face lit up with satisfaction. “That’s what I like to hear! Just because you’re married now doesn’t mean you get to forget about me and spend all your time with your husband.”

Allison shook her head, still smiling. “As if I could ever forget you.”

She glanced down at the tablet in her hand, a small frown appearing on her forehead as she studied the information on the screen. Summer noticed the change in her expression and leaned forward, looking at her curiously.

“What’s wrong? Is something going on?”

“I have a new stock shipment coming in, but I don’t have enough space to store it,” Allison explained, letting out a frustrated sigh. “I’ve been looking for a warehouse where I can keep everything, but finding a suitable one is proving difficult.”