She smiled, serene and in control. “I told her I wanted to think about it. Skyler, it’s a big decision.”
“What’s there to think about? There’s no thinking required. This is dream-come-true material.” I almost screamed that one. Her response did not compute. This offer was golden. They didn’t come any better. “Is it a money issue? Are you holding out to get them to come up?”
“No. What they’re offering is actually quite generous.”
“Call her right now,” I said, laughing.
“Here’s the thing. It sounds fun, but this kind of show is not really what I do. I’m a newswoman. I like the hard-hitting stuff. It’s in my blood.”
“You’re also an expert when it comes to pairing a great glass of wine with any and every dish while on your break from nursing a shrub back to life and picking out a stellar paint color. You’d be the perfect guide for a show like this.”
She tapped her chin. “It would certainly take me down a new path. I just have to figure out if it’s the right one.”
I wanted to leap onto the kitchen counter and explain via impassioned speech that this offer was the answer to everything I’d been afraid of. The perfect fix. It meant she didn’t have to leave San Diego and seek out another market. She’d have a job she enjoyed and get to use her platform for something meaningful and relevant to the viewers who had watched and loved her for years. Instead of giving said speech or, better yet, performing a musical number of all the ways this was great, I instructed myself to exercise patience and let her explore the option on her own. “Well, I’m thrilled for you and hope that you’ll seriously consider it.”
“I will give it some careful thought. I promise.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
She sighed and stared into my eyes. “You’re so beautiful and smart. How did I get so lucky?”
“Speaking of lucky. How long till I can take these off?” I asked, touching the fabric of her leggings and cupping her ass. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and I watched her nipples harden against the fabric of her shirt. She rocked her hips, and I descended on her lips. “Does that mean we can have couch sex? I’ll show you my boobs,” I said around the kiss. “Say yes.” She nodded and slid onto my lap.
Moments later, we were off.
I’d thank the stars, but I was already seeing them.
* * *
I woke up the next morning to freshly baked biscuits and a gorgeous woman with a spatula plating one for me. There was also homemade jelly, which was probably the most flavorful I’d ever eaten. I gestured to the air around me as I stared down at my plate. “I am spoiled rotten and don’t deserve the outpouring of amazing food. I need to pick up more charity work or something. I’ll call around if you give me a biscuit.”
“Ever been to the Willamette Valley?” she asked.
“No. Is that where I should volunteer to pay the universe?” I asked, my mouth already full.
“Maybe,” Carrie said. “There’s this little town in wine country I want to take you to someday with the best little spot for biscuits. All kinds. There’s a line to the door each morning. I’ve been trying to duplicate them ever since, but haven’t been successful.”
In that moment, my feelings for her swelled. I wanted trips to wine country every bit as much as I wanted everyday life with her. I couldn’t take my eyes off Carrie and couldn’t imagine my morning without her right there in front of me. I knew I had to communicate, let her know. “I’m going to say this, and you can take it for what it’s worth.” She quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t want you to leave for some other city because you’re a newshound. My feelings are a little out of control for you, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. So please, take this lifestyle show job, and stay right here in San Diego, so we can have more nights like last night and more wonderful mornings like this one.”
She blinked at me, jelly knife in midair. Perhaps she hadn’t seen this coming.
I held up a calming hand. “Not to freak you out or anything.”
She lowered the knife. No one spoke until, “Okay.”
I leaned in. “I’m sorry. What did you say, and what does it mean?”
She grinned. “Okay. I’ll take the job. Decided.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
I jumped from my seat, ran around the counter, grabbed her by the waist, and hauled her in. I kissed her neck. Her face. Her shoulders. “Did you just say okay like it was no big deal because I will tackle you to the floor and kiss you senseless!” I continued my kissing fest.
She laughed, allowing me to shake her by the shoulders while I jumped up and down. “What can I say? You convinced me. I was almost there, but your speech gave me an extra amount of perspective because you’re right.”
“You’re gonna love it. You’re about to be the food and wine guru of San Diego, and the people are going to eat it up. And I am, too. I want to go to all the restaurants and try all the food.” A thought struck. “Oh! Maybe you can redecorate my apartment. You’re hired. I pay in favors. Put me on the show.”
“I just keep raking in the offers.” She exhaled. “Now kiss me properly this time, and go to work. Only one more day as a story-hungry reporter. Soak it in.”
That part made me a little sad. I did enjoy my time out in the world, Ty by my side. As I drove through downtown, I wondered about the new reporter he’d be paired with now and felt a twinge of jealousy at their partnership.
I’d chilled at his place for dinner the week before while Carrie had been out with a friend. His wife, Sandra, was an amazing chef who’d whipped up some gourmet burgers that I was sad Carrie had missed. The last time I’d been over, I’d managed to pick up her lasagna recipe because it was so good that it had to reach more people and their stomachs.
Though both Ty and I had offered to do the dishes, Sandra had refused and shooed us out of the kitchen. “No, no, no, no, no. Get outta here. I can work faster on my own. You’d be doing me a favor.”
“You sure?” Ty said, grabbing the last plate from the table and rushing it to the sink like a bank robber on his getaway.
“Time me,” Sandra said, swatting his ass. “I’ll join you for an after-dinner drink when I’m through. I’ll even let you do the mixing.”
“You’re on.” I watched them share a kiss, smiled, and looked away, giving them their moment. Ty was such a ball of mush around Sandra. It was really sweet to see.
We went and sat together on the back patio, watching the night and shooting the breeze.