The next morning, I woke up twisted in a blanket on the living-room floor. I followed the smell of bacon to the kitchen where I found Eric making eggs, dressed in white boxers with yellow smiley faces on them.
‘It smells delicious.’
He turned towards me. ‘Welcome to Chef Eric’s, ma chérie.’ He tried to sound French. ‘May I serve you some breakfast?’
‘S'il vous plaît, Monsieur Talbot.’ I also tried to sound French.
We laughed. ‘That’s all the French I know,’ Eric said. ‘Well, except for the French I used last night.’ He grinned.
‘And the French you used last night was much better than the French you’re using this morning,’ I teased.
‘Well, the morning’s young,’ he playfully bantered back. ‘Now, how would you like your eggs?’
‘Scrambled would be great.’
He pointed to the cabinet next to the sink. ‘Mugs are in there. Help yourself to the coffee. There’s cream in the refrigerator.’
I grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down at the breakfast table. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to make the toast?’
He leaned to his left and reached for the toaster, already loaded with bread, and pushed down the lever. ‘I have that handled. Just relax and enjoy your coffee.’
Eric finished scrambling my eggs and scooped them onto a plate along with a few pieces of bacon and a couple pieces of toast.
‘It looks delicious,’ I said. ‘I’m not used to eating this much for breakfast.’
He fixed his plate and sat across from me. ‘I wish you could spend the day.’
‘Me, too. Yesterday was a lot of fun.’
Eric winked. ‘Especially last night.’
‘Yeah, that wasn’t bad either.’ I smiled.
‘Maybe we can do it again?’ Eric jabbed his eggs with his fork.
‘What? Make a tent?’ I laughed.
‘That and some other things.’ He winked. ‘Do you believe in fate?’
‘I’m not sure. Do you?’
‘Yes, I do. I believe there is a higher power that brings people together for a purpose. Maybe you and I found each other for a reason. There were dozens of profiles on that dating site and yet you were the one I texted. Why?’
‘You liked my cat,’ I laughed.
‘But there were other women whose photos included cats. I didn’t text them. Just you. We’ve both been to hell and back. Maybe we were supposed to meet. Maybe this was God’s plan all along. You deserve a loving and trusting partner. I do, too.’
‘Why don’t you come visit me next weekend? I really want you to meet Jackie and her husband. Maybe I could cook dinner for all of us.’
‘Sounds great, but don’t worry about cooking. I’ll take us all out for dinner. Just pick the place, somewhere we won’t feel rushed.’
I finished my coffee and showered, wishing I didn’t have to leave and could spend the day with Eric. But I had to get home to Izzy, and I’d left a mountain of paperwork on the kitchen table.
Eric had already showered, and I heard him playing his guitar as I dressed. I packed my bags, including all the things Eric had bought me the day before, and joined him in the living room.
‘You sound great.’ I sat on the couch beside him.
He turned his head and smiled. ‘Want to try it?’
‘Sure.’
I turned so my back faced him. He placed the guitar on my lap and wrapped his arms around me demonstrating how I should hold it. His breath tickled my neck as he spoke. Feeling him so close to me sent the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy, and I found it difficult to concentrate. I felt his silky lips on my neck as he softly kissed it, starting from behind my ear and ending at the base of my neck.
‘I want you,’ he whispered as he pulled back my T-shirt and kissed my shoulder.
His voice was as smooth as whiskey on a cold winter’s night and just as welcome. I moaned.
‘Do you want me?’ he asked.
I turned my head and we kissed. He lifted the guitar and placed it on the floor. This time there was no tent. He carried me to his bed and gently laid me down. I slid out of my clothes while he slid out of his. He caressed every inch of my body before our bodies melded together and my insides exploded. Afterwards, he held me in his arms.
‘I wish you could stay,’ he whispered.
‘I wish I could, too.’
‘You could move in with me,’ he said, half teasing and half serious.
I smiled.
‘Seriously, Shelly.’ He caressed my cheek. ‘I haven’t felt this way about anyone for a long time. I don’t want to scare you, but I can see myself building a future with you. Nothing has ever felt so right.’
I was beginning to feel that way, too. I loved how I felt when I was with Eric. The way he looked at me with those piercing eyes made me feel as if I was the only one in the world that mattered. For the first time in a long time, moving didn’t seem such a bad idea. I called Jackie as soon as I got home. ‘He’s amazing, Jackie.’
‘You did it, didn’t you?’
I giggled. ‘Yes. And no man has ever made me feel the way he makes me feel.’
‘That good, huh?’
‘The best I’ve ever had. Not that I’ve had a lot, but you know what I mean.’
I told Jackie about the tent and the attempt to learn how to play the guitar.
‘He sounds so romantic. I can’t wait to meet him!’
‘You will next week. He’s coming for the weekend. Are you and Bruce free for dinner on Saturday?’
‘Yes. That sounds fun. Do you want me to cook?’
‘No, Eric wants to take us out. Said I should find a place where we won’t feel rushed.’
‘How about Alfred’s?’
‘That’s perfect. I’ll call and make a reservation. Are you going to the gym tomorrow?’
‘Yes, I’ll see you then.’
I hung up with Jackie and read the texts Eric had sent me since we said goodbye.
Miss you already!
Turn around? Wish you could.
Can’t stop thinking about you.
Next weekend can’t come fast enough.
Night, my love.
We hadn’t said I love you, yet, but I knew it was only a matter of time.