Rosalie stopped altogether. She had no idea what gave her the courageous nudge needed to voice the thought that ran through her head. She turned to him and said, “What if I want to be in that situation?”
Nick choked on his next breath as if doubting his own ears. “Your idea of a joke is cruel. You know that, right?”
“And if I’m not joking?”
“Rosalie,” said Nick, staring at her with wide-eyed disbelief. “Then I’d be tempted to try a back handspring and bust my ass in the process. But I’d probably settle for a kiss.”
“A kiss sounds nice.”
“And you’re sure you’re not joking?”
Rosalie’s head tipped backward as she laughed. “No, Nick, I’m not joking. I like you. I don’t know what to do with that, or where to go from here, but…I like spending time with you.”
“I’m not sure where to go from here either, but I’d sure as hell like to find out. I’ve been trying to impress you for weeks,” he confessed with a faint tinge to his cheeks. “I know you didn’t have the best opinion of me when you started at Ady’s…”
“You’ve been trying to impress me?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “From day one. I saw the looks you were giving me. Like this-guy-is-a-slouch sorta looks. It’s how everybody in town looks at me, but coming from you? It bothered me.”
“Nick Fontaine, did you agree to Project Fixer-Upper to spend time with me?”
“No! That…that happened to be a perk.”
Rosalie slowly smiled watching him squirm under her accusation. She had learned over the course of the past few weeks that Nick emoted far more than Clyde ever did. He might’ve kept up his cool-guy act around others in St. Aster, but when he was alone with her, he couldn’t help himself. Just like her.
“Are you going to kiss me or not?” she asked, challenging him with a quirked brow.
“If you’re absolutely sure this isn’t a joke,” he teased one last time. They shared a quick laugh as they edged closer.
Nick brushed a curl behind her ear and kissed her. It started off slow, unhurried as their mouths worked against each other’s at a lazy pace. She rose onto the balls of her feet and clutched his face in her hands. His wet tongue stroked across her bottom lip, sparking a shock of electricity through her veins.
Any doubts, any second guesses melted away. Rosalie stopped thinking as she lost herself in Nick’s kiss.
When they broke away, they stood there for a while, still wrapped up in each other. His lips grazed her brow as she leaned into him and rested against his shoulder. The decision they’d made trickled in bit by bit.
“We’re dating,” Nick said aloud, stunned. His face broke into a smile. “You know that’s the last thing I expected getting outta bed this morning.”
Rosalie’s smile matched his. “This is the last thing I expected leaving for our walk. Just promise me nothing’s going to change at Ady’s.
“Are you kidding? Project Fixer-Upper’s still happening.”
“Good. I was worried for a second.”
“We’re two people who happen to work at the same place,” Nick answered, his hand seeking hers. “Who also happen to be dating, and who don’t give a damn about what anybody in St. Aster thinks.”
“That’s pretty specific.”
“I don’t like gray area.”
Their fingers threaded together as they set off down the pathway again, walking hand in hand.
“Maxie’s birthday party is Saturday.”
“I know. I bought Remi an expensive costume she’ll be wearing.”
“And what about you?”
“I’m not saying.”
“I already told you about how Maxie’s making me wear one.”
Rosalie cut him a high-brow and curled lip kind of look. “And I already told you plopping on a plastic mask and calling yourself a werewolf doesn’t count.”
“Sure it does. It’s the effort that matters.”
“It sounds like you’re making your own rules.”
“Kind of like what we’re doing now,” Nick teased. “You’re really not going to tell me what it is?”
Rosalie relished in the chance to tease him as they turned onto the elementary school’s block. “You’re just going to have to wait and see.”
Chapter Sixteen
On the morning of Maxie’s birthday, she woke with a scream. Nick’s heart slammed against his chest and he barreled up the stairs. In his haste he stumbled into her room already searching for the culprit. None was to be found. Maxie sat up against the pillows, long hair tangled and eyes crusty, blinking at him in shock. At her side at once, he thought up the worst scenarios.
“Papa, I’m six years old!”
His elevated heart rate plummeted. “Maxie kiddo, is that what you were screaming about?”
“I can’t believe it!” She slapped little hands to either cheek.
“I can. You’ve had a birthday every year, haven’t you? Why so shocked this year?” He sat down on the edge of her twin-sized bed and brushed stray, uncombed strands from her face. For weeks now they had talked about her birthday; she had given him a list of wants for the party. He couldn’t pinpoint what would bring a sudden bout of amnesia.
“But I’ve never been six before!”
“Good point. You’re only six once.”
“Can we have chocolate chip pancakes?”
“What kinda house d’you think this is?” Nick asked to her widening eyes. He rose to his feet and plucked her from underneath the covers. “We’re having double chocolate chip pancakes—and extra maple syrup!”
Maxie’s cheers rang through the house.
A half hour later, the father and daughter sat down for their stacks of double chocolate chip pancakes, complete with extra maple syrup and tall glasses of milk. He was chuckling at the sight of Maxie smudging syrup on her chin when the doorbell trilled. He made her promise to sit still as he answered the door. He expected door-to-door salespeople or his pesky old neighbor, Ms. Swanson; she routinely forgot the password to her Wi-Fi.
Opening the door, he received a jolt of delight. Rosalie stood on his stoop alongside an impatient Remi. Again, he was reminded how much they looked alike. Even their hair was styled the same, combed into puffy buns at the tops of their heads. Perched in front were crowns—a queen and her princess daughter.
Nick grinned wide. “Morning, your majesties.”
“Morning, peasant!” Remi giggled.
“Peasant? Ouch!”
“Remi,” Rosalie sighed, bringing a slow hand to her forehead. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call people peasant? A good princess doesn’t make people feel bad, remember?”
“I forgot.” Remi fought a smirk, lips retaining a tell-tale curl that revealed the real truth.
Nick couldn’t help his laugh. No wonder Maxie and Remi got along so well; Remi had a mischievous little spark of her own. He stepped aside and ushered the two inside. He tried not to stare for long, but Rosalie looked gorgeous.
The gown she wore was a soft primrose yellow. The bust was fitted and heart-shaped in cut, but modest enough for a children’s Halloween party. The silk organza skirt flowed to the floor in subtle layers. If Remi was Tiana from The Princess and the Frog, Rosalie was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Did that make him…?