If his mom hadn’t intervened each time, Seth wouldn’t have been able to hold back his own words—which would have certainly put on a show for their holiday guests. Something had been bothering his dad more than usual lately, and Seth wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe it had to do with the presence of the Feltons, since he knew that a previous business deal had gone south, and his dad had to put some personal financing on the line to turn things around.
And if his dad’s moodiness wasn’t enough to deal with, Cynthia wasn’t making any secret of her interest in “hanging out” again—as she termed it. Seth wasn’t fooled, though. It wouldn’t surprise him if somehow his parents and her parents were all in cahoots with each other. More than once during the evening, her dad had chatted with Seth.
Dinner finally ended, and with Gwen’s help they set out the desserts: crème brûlée, mini cheesecake bites, two dozen Fourth-of-July cupcakes with toothpick flags—for Gwen’s benefit, of course. She’d laughed when she saw them, but it felt as if she was growing more and more distant as the night wore on.
The easy banter between them was gone, and although Gwen served everyone with a smile on her face, Seth knew it wasn’t a genuine smile.
Seth’s dad took up the microphone set up at one end of the main patio once dessert was laid out. The sun had sunk already, and the outdoor lights glowed in the evening darkness, making the backyard look ethereal.
“Thank you all for coming,” his dad said. “I hope you’ve enjoyed yourselves tonight. In about an hour, the fireworks in the valley will begin, and we’ll all reconvene in the front yard to get the best view. The dessert is now available, and my wife has reminded me to recognize our son Seth for his efforts in providing the food.”
Scattered clapping sounded, but Seth couldn’t relax. He had no idea what his dad might say next; he did seem more sober now.
“At the request of my daughter Emmy, we’re going to have a dance,” his dad said. “All ages are welcome, so get on those dancing shoes.”
Emmy moved to the microphone and held out her hand, and thankfully, his father relinquished it. Seth felt relief rush through him as Emmy said a few words and then turned up the music on the speakers. The playlist sounded like a selection of 80’s music, which was just fine with Seth. He wasn’t planning on dancing.
“Remember this song?” someone said next to him.
Seth turned to find Cynthia smiling up at him. He wasn’t sure what she was talking about, but he nodded anyway.
“Me too.” She smiled and slipped her hand into his.
Seth was about to pull away when she said, “Dance with me?”
Her gaze was so hopeful, and Seth knew it would be beyond rude to tell her no. Besides, they were supposed to be friends, and over the years their families would continue to interact. He looked around to see that a few other couples were already dancing, including Emmy and Jed.
“Sure,” Seth forced himself to say.
Cynthia’s smile widened, and right there and then, she reached up and looped her arms about his neck. Seth rested his hands lightly on her hips as they swayed to some ballad he knew was familiar—but maybe that’s because, like all 80’s music, it still played on the radio.
“This is so crazy that we’re dancing to our song after all this time,” Cynthia gushed.
Seth vaguely remembered they’d picked a song once to define them as a couple, and it was probably good that he’d forgotten this was it. His neck prickled with heat, and it wasn’t in a good way.
“I also can’t believe that you’re still single,” she continued, lowering her voice. “It’s ironic that even though we’ve been apart, we’re both still single. Don’t you think that means something, Seth?”
Not really. “I’ve been so busy with the restaurant,” he said. “You and several others probably overheard from my dad tonight about how much work it’s been.”
“Yeah, but you have to be proud of yourself,” she said. “I mean, you could have taken the promotion from your dad and made a lot more money. Instead, you’re trying to do something on your own, even though it put you into a lot of debt.”
Cynthia seemed to have heard an earful—from his dad, or maybe her parents, and that still would have come through his dad.
“I’m doing what I love and will eventually pay it off,” he said.
“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” she said. “I mean, I’ve never doubted you.”
Seth was surprised at her compliments, simply because he didn’t expect them tonight.
“And it’s not like your parents can’t help you out if you get into a bind,” she continued.
Seth’s neck felt hot. Cynthia was right, but Seth living at his parents’ house was about all the help he would accept. Besides, they’d have to hire security or a house sitter if he moved out. But the fact that Cynthia saw his parents as a bail-out plan bothered him.
The song ended, and Seth pulled away from her. “I’ve got to make sure the clean-up is going all right. I can’t leave Gwen to everything.”
Cynthia laughed. “I’m sure it can wait until later. Maybe even until the morning. I don’t get to see you very much.”
Because we’re not dating anymore, Seth wanted to tell her. “I won’t be long. I don’t want to miss the fireworks.” He turned before she could say something else to make him feel guilty.
Seth threaded his way through the dancing couples and families, nodding a greeting as he passed by several of them. He entered the kitchen, and the quiet felt like a balm compared to the noise and music of the party.
He found Gwen in the kitchen wearing his chef’s apron and scrubbing out the slow cooker. He couldn’t help but smile, but he straightened his features when she glanced over at him. “I didn’t know I hired a dishwasher.”
Gwen arched her brows. “I can’t leave you with such a huge mess.”
Seth scanned the rest of the kitchen and saw that she’d already washed all the big stuff. Two loaded garbage bags were also tied at the tops and sitting next to the pantry door. He joined her at the sink and turned off the faucet.
“Hey, what are you doing?” she asked, reaching for the faucet to turn the water back on.
Seth grasped her arm and tugged her away from the sink. “You’re not cleaning up any more. Come out and dance or whatever you want. The fireworks will start soon.”
She pulled her arm from his grasp but didn’t move away. “When the fireworks start, I’ll watch them from the front porch.”
Seth moved closer and pulled at the apron so that the ties in the back released.
Her eyes widened, but she didn’t say anything. So he continued pulling off the apron. Then he set it on the counter and grabbed a kitchen towel. “For your hands.”
She hesitated, then took the towel. “I’m totally willing to help clean up. You’ll be up all night, unless someone else is coming in to help? Maybe Dave?” Her eyes flashed with amusement.
“Dave’s probably passed out by now on one of the hammocks,” he said. “He told me you crushed his heart when you told him your heart was taken.”
Gwen smirked. “I don’t think that was the exact conversation.” She folded her arms. “He seems to think you and I are dating.”
“What made him say that?”
“You tell me.” Gwen scanned his face. “It was one of the first things he said.”
“Hmm, weird.”
Gwen set her hands on her hips. “Look, you’re my boss, and you know my opinions about all of this in general.” She waved a hand as if she was including the entire house and property in her all of this comment. “Even if I did like you in that way, I still wouldn’t date you.”
Seth nodded. He’d expected such a response. “So, if I asked you out on a date, you’d emphatically say no.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She exhaled, her hands still on her hips, but she looked a little unsure now. “I just told you why.”
“Because I’m your boss, and because my parents
are wealthy?”
She blinked. “Yes.”
“Do you have anything else on your do-not-date-a-man-with-these-qualities list?”
She took a step back and sounded a little breathless when she said, “I don’t have a list. I don’t need a list. I know what I want—or, rather, what I don’t want.”
She paused and braced herself against the counter behind her.
“I understand where you’re coming from,” he said in a low voice. “But I have to be honest with you. I was hoping to maybe break some of your expectations and possibly, maybe convince you otherwise.”
She was staring at him.
“Here’s the big confession,” he continued. “I like you, Gwen. More than as an employee. I appreciate your good work, and of course your help tonight, but . . .” He slid his hands into his pockets. “I hoped that maybe you wouldn’t be completely opposed to going out with me.”
Gwen covered her mouth with one hand and turned away from him, facing the counter. Her shoulders shook, and Seth had a terrible feeling spread to his gut. Was she crying?
She dropped her hand and held onto the edge of the counter as if she needed the support.
“Gwen . . .” Seth didn’t know what to say, but he hadn’t expected this reaction. Then, he realized . . . “Are you laughing?”
She nodded, and then the laughter spilled out. Still, her back was turned to him, and she seemed to be trying to catch her breath.
“Really?” Seth folded his arms. She didn’t seem like she was going to be stopping anytime soon.
“I’m sorry,” she said with a gasp. She turned toward him. Her face had reddened. Then she turned back around and started laughing again.
“Are you okay?” Seth asked.
She nodded, taking another gulp of air.
He put a hand on her back. Yep, she was breathing.
She straightened and seemed to collect herself. He dropped his hand as she turned to face him again.
“Sorry,” she said, waving a hand in front of her face. “I don’t know what hit me. I mean, I pictured what your parents’ faces would look like when you tell them we’re going out, and I just couldn’t stop.” She made a valiant effort to hold back a smile.
Seth narrowed his eyes. “My parents have nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, they do. I mean, you’re Seth Owens. And I’m . . . well, me. I named my car Marge, and I’m a waitress at your restaurant. I’m a college drop-out, and I’m pretty much good at one thing: staying out of people’s way.” She took a breath and lowered her voice as if they were conspiring in whispers. “Don’t forget that I met Cynthia. She’s like—I can’t even describe her. Suffice it to say we are complete opposites. And men like you might fool around with girls like me, but I’m not that type.”
Seth rubbed the back of his neck. “What if I like that you’re different from Cynthia?” he said. “There’s a reason we’re no longer together.”
“You’re probably the only one holding onto that reason.”
She was right about that. “Eventually my parents are going to accept that there’s no future for me and Cynthia.”
Gwen wiped at her cheeks. She’d laughed so hard, she’d cried.
“Why is it so hard to think that we could date?” He took a step closer, expecting her to scoot away. But she held her ground and gazed up at him with those impossibly blue eyes. “I think we have some things in common, and it wouldn’t be so crazy to think we could have a good time.”
Her brows flew up.
“Not what I meant,” he clarified.
Her mouth twitched.
“I really don’t get why you’re so opposed to us going out.” Another step. With the counter at her back, they were only six or so inches apart now. How did she still manage to smell good after several hours of bussing tables?
“You need to get your hearing checked, because I’ve given you plenty of reasons.” She smirked. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but it’s not a good idea any way you look at it.”
“What if I can change your mind?” he said. “I could make you more cupcakes.”
She shook her head. “No cupcakes.”
“Chocolate mousse?”
“No,” she said, but it came out as a whisper.
He placed his hands on the counter on either side of her. He wouldn’t be surprised if she could hear the hammering of his heart. His gaze was drawn to her mouth. “What if I kissed you?”
“I don’t think so,” she said, but a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Unless . . . it was an amazing kiss.”
His smile was slow. “I’ve no doubt that kissing you will be amazing.”
“Seth.” She put her hands on his chest, and he expected her to push him away, but then something shifted in her eyes. “Maybe just once,” she whispered.
It was an invitation that didn’t need to be issued twice. Lowering his head, he closed his eyes as he touched his mouth to hers. He wasn’t surprised that she tasted of sweet lemon. He kissed her lightly, slowly, reveling in the warmth spreading through him. Gwen slid her hands over his shoulders, then moved behind his neck.
He rested his hands on her waist and drew her close. She pressed against him and threaded her fingers through his hair, making his skin prickle with warmth at her touch.
Kissing Gwen was like taking his car from zero to sixty in three seconds.
The first firework boomed outside, and Gwen flinched at the sound. Seth smiled against her mouth and kissed her one more time, then drew away.
Gwen’s eyes fluttered open, and her gaze seemed a bit unfocused when she looked at him.
“Let’s go watch the fireworks,” he said.
She nodded, still looking dazed. Seth grasped her hand to lead her to the front yard.
Gwen’s alarm went off at 11:00 a.m., but she was already awake. Normally, after watching Fourth of July fireworks, she relished sleeping in and eating whatever leftover treats she’d made. But not today.
Gwen turned off her alarm and fell back onto her pillow. The bright summer sun had already warmed her bedroom, although she wasn’t sure if the heat of her body was from the sun or from the memories of Seth.
She’d agreed to go on a date with him. Today at 1:00—for lunch—because they both worked nights at the restaurant. After that kiss in the kitchen, she’d given in to his invitation. One date, she’d clarified while the fireworks were exploding across the valley before them, and no more kissing. He’d laughed and drawn her against him, then wrapped his arms about her as they watched the fireworks.
If it hadn’t been dark, and if everyone’s focus hadn’t been on the fireworks, she would have pulled way. But with the cover of darkness, she stayed leaning against Seth. She could admit that having his arms about her felt nice, very nice, but she still planned to keep her wits about her.
Spending time with him in broad daylight would surely bring more clarity to all his flaws. She’d already mentioned a few—the big ones—and planned to be on alert for the smaller flaws that would surely annoy her. She needed something to annoy her about Seth, because unfortunately the way her stomach was fluttering, even now, was making it hard to keep said wits about her. And she could not allow herself to crush on him. Crushes led to more flirting, more kissing, more relationship stuff . . .
Seth’s life was beyond complicated, and Gwen was determined to honor her commitments to herself about keeping her life free and pure of the trappings of wealth and society’s expectations.
Gwen closed her eyes and tried not to relive the way Seth had kissed her and the way her heart had thumped and the way her skin had hummed. The way his hazel eyes watched her with amusement. The way he laughed. Smiled.
A loud knock made Gwen’s eyes fly open. It took her a second to realize she’d fallen back asleep, and that it was . . . 1:15. She groaned.
The knock sounded again, and the panicked jolt clenching her stomach told her it was probably Seth. Here. For their date.
She scrambled o
ut of bed and hurried out of her bedroom, down the short hallway, past the living room and kitchen. She reached the front door and looked through the peephole.
Seth’s head was bent as he looked at his phone. He’d probably tried to call or text her, but her phone had been on silent. He lifted his head, and his hazel eyes seemed to look right at her. His disappointment was clear. For some reason, that set off the fluttering in her stomach all over again.
She watched as he turned and started to walk away. Gwen unlocked the dead bolt and cracked the door open. “Seth?”
He turned, surprise in his gaze. “You’re here.” His eyebrows lifted. “You were sleeping?”
Gwen closed the door a few more inches, realizing that she was wearing only a tank shirt and panties. It appeared that Seth hadn’t missed that fact either.
“Yeah, um, I set my alarm, but I guess I fell back asleep.” She exhaled. This wasn’t exactly how she’d wanted to greet Seth. She wanted to be at the top of her game so she could think clearly. All she felt now was that she wanted to drag him inside and kiss him again.
“I can wait for you to get dressed,” he said, studiously keeping his eyes on her face.
“It’s not that simple,” she told him. “I really need a shower. Maybe we should reschedule.”
“Waiting for you is no big deal,” he said. “I’m not in a rush.”
Gwen hesitated. Going out today would get this over with once and for all . . . whatever this was.
“Okay, I’ll try to hurry.” She eyed him. “If you can give me a head start, you can come in and sit on the couch. But you have to promise to wait until I get into the bathroom.”
He smiled, and Gwen was sure she was blushing.
“Cross my heart,” he said.
So Gwen left the door open about an inch and hurried back through her apartment. She slipped into the bathroom and locked the door. It took her a few minutes to catch her breath. Then she heard the front door to her apartment shut and knew Seth was inside. She didn’t know if that made her feel better or worse. She tried to think of what state of cleanliness her apartment was in. She wasn’t a messy person, but she also wasn’t used to having company over.
Waiting for You_Pine Valley Page 8