Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
She pressed to her toes, her lips trailing kisses along my neck until she reached my mouth. The emotions that evening tumbled from my lips as I poured every bit of love and appreciation I had for her into our kiss. Our tongues danced together; a routine learned long ago but never forgotten.
Yeah. I wanted this.
A life in reality.
A life with her.
Gwen
“What are you going to do with it?” Truett asked.
“I don’t know,” I whispered, emotion thick in my voice.
“Baby,” he soothed, curling me into his chest. “It doesn’t match. I see it. You see it. Customers are going to see it too.”
“I know, but it’s your booth. Her booth. Nathanial’s booth. And if I’m being honest, I kind of feel like it’s our booth now too.” I stomped my foot. “Dammit, how am I the one sentimental over a booth that I would have trashed not even a month ago?”
He chuckled. “You don’t have to make a decision now. It’s not connected to the wall anymore. We can work around it for a while longer. Trashing it isn’t the only option. I can take it back to the house or—”
“No,” I replied quickly and firmly. “I don’t even want you in that house, much less to help you fill it with more memories of the past.”
He nodded, understanding in his eyes even if his face was still sheepish.
“You’re right. We’ll figure it out. We have too much to do today to be standing here, stressing over this.”
The restaurant was a flurry of activity as the date of our grand opening grew closer. It was all hands on deck for the next couple of weeks, and having Truett there to help me was a welcome relief. While I focused on the menu and getting the new employees hired and trained, he was taking care of last-minute repairs and finishing touches.
The space had been completely transformed, and while it had taken a lot longer than I had anticipated, I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the results.
When I’d first taken ownership of The Grille, it was a dated space that lacked charm or personality. Looking back, I understood why Angela and Dylan had been so skeptical.
But I’d had a vision, and as I glanced around, I realized that my dream space had come together flawlessly.
As you walked through the front door, your eyes were drawn to the back wall, where a chalkboard was centered among the weathered brick, adding a rustic feel to the entire space. I’d positioned the bar directly in front of that wall so that it would be the star of the café, with its sparkling black countertop and creamy off-white base.
To your left, there was a collection of high-top tables that would soon be surrounded by barstools covered in rich black leather, and to the right was a row of booths, all connected by a single farmhouse table.
The Rosewood Café really felt like a place where people of all ages would gather, whether it was for a cup of coffee or a hearty dinner. It felt comfortable, like a second home where stories were shared and memories were made.
I was still in Truett’s arms when a man in a polo shirt with a Belton Security logo embroidered on the top right called out from near the door. “Mrs. Weaver, you should be good to go.”
Truett let out a low grumble at the use of Weaver and then kissed me on the top of my head before releasing me. “Excellent.”
I stood there watching, gratitude swelling in my chest. It wasn’t that I couldn’t have handled this on my own. There was no doubt in my mind that I would have been successful without his assistance. It was the fact that he gave it so easily, so freely, and never once made me feel like I needed to give him something in return.
Truett just jumped right in wherever he was needed and took care of what had to be done, which at the moment was working with the security company to have our new cameras and alarm installed.
There was a quick conversation between the two men, and then Truett shook his hand and escorted him out the door, locking it behind him.
Nate was still at Dylan’s, so Truett and I had been there since seven. My body was sated from making love to him the night before, but I could not get enough of that man.
Finally alone again in the restaurant for only a few more minutes, I pressed my lips to his, letting out a moan when his large hand grasped the back of my head, anchoring my mouth against his. He licked at my lips and they parted for him, granting him full access to explore my mouth. He tasted like vanilla, coffee, and every hope and dream I had for this place all rolled into one.