Sugar Pie by Victoria Pinder
37
Kerry
The limo took us to an old-fashioned redbrick building with white columns. We crossed the terraced lawn to the front yard, with a patio containing round black tables with yellow sunflowers for centerpieces. Inside, the double staircase captured my eyes and imagination.
I’d never seen such an old-fashioned but magnificently maintained place. We were led upstairs to a room with glass doors leading to a patio. I pushed through the doors and found a bottle of wine with two glasses set for us.
Once the doorman left us, I said, “This place is gorgeous.”
“I’m starting to appreciate old-fashioned because of you.”
That reminded me of my parents, my ex, and most people I knew, but he’d changed too. I took his hand, and unlike the others, I wasn’t afraid to tell Warren how I felt. “Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s not amazing.”
He cupped my face. “Your optimism is one of your best traits.”
I laughed. “I didn’t know I was an optimist. I spent years not believing in myself.”
He let me go, but the light in his gaze had my skin burning with desire as he said, “I’ll never meet a more perfect partner. You’re beautiful on the inside, and it’s obvious to anyone near you.”
I pressed my hand against my belly and nodded. “I’ll take it. Let’s sip to that.”
He captured my shoulder in his hand. “Can it wait? You want to check out where we’ll cook tomorrow?”
“First, the hotel.” My heart was in my throat—he’d thought of a perfect place for me. “I want to see everything with you.” He held my hand, and we left the small hotel to check out the place. As we descended the stairs, I asked, “Do you always go to such lengths to impress your dates?”
We went behind the stairs to a grand room with a fireplace and windows overlooking the green garden and hills in the distance. “No. You’re special.”
No one else had ever thought that. I hugged my waist. “Let’s not go that far.”
He kissed my shoulder. “You are. Don’t push me away.”
Half of me was afraid that it was all about to be destroyed. I sighed and let my arms fall to my sides. “I’m scared this is all a fairy tale because you’re the only person in the world who has ever seen me.” I turned to him.
“And I like what I see.”
Tears formed in my eyes. He was sweet. “Let’s go back to the room.”
I wanted a future with Warren. His world included a family that cared about him and tried to help him. He had everything I’d always wanted, but most of all, Warren made my heart sing.
I was terrified I would throw away my only shot at true happiness if I screwed everything up with him.
