Chapter Eleven

Sam

 

Got in my rental car feeling pretty good. Kate and I had made a lot of progress the past two days and she was going to love where I was taking her tonight.

I pulled into guest parking and knocked on her door at 6:15 on the dot.

Kate’s smile was subdued. “Hi. Let me put my coat on.”

“Are you okay?”

She gave the puffer a tug to settle it on her shoulders and sighed. “I had an uncomfortable conversation with my brother, but I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Alright. Don’t forget your gloves.”

She pulled them out of her pockets.

“Ready?”

“Yeah.” Purse in one hand, she locked the apartment with the other. “Thanks for the rose.” It sat in a glass on her coffee table.

“I worried after I sent it that it was too much.”

“Nah.” The smile finally reached her eyes. “I haven’t gotten flowers in a long time.”

“How horrible.” A total crime.

She tucked her silky hair behind her ear. “Where are we going?”

I leaned closer. “That would ruin the surprise.”

“I doubt you’ve found something in Nashville I don’t know about.”

“Not the point, Miss Carson.”

We reached the outside and continued into the parking lot.

“Speaking of Nashville spots, how do you feel about crowds?”

I glanced over where she walked on my right. “I don’t have a fear of them if that’s what you’re worried about.”

She chuckled. “No… There’s a huge music festival to ring in the New Year, but it’s standing room only, so we’d be on our feet for hours in the cold.”

“Is this a ball drop kind of thing?”

She see-sawed her hand. “Music note, yeah. It’s like eight minutes from your hotel.”

“Need tickets?”

She shook her head. “No, that’s why it’s super crowded. Gates open at four.”

I hit the button to unlock the car. “This is me.”

“Dodge Charger?” One brow was arched.

“It’s what they had.” I escorted her to the passenger door.

“It’s a speeding ticket waiting to happen.

“Don’t trust me to behave?”

Her expression said she wasn’t touching that remark. I winked and shut her side, then hurried around.

“What’s this?” she asked about the bag on the center console.

“We won’t have dinner until after our destination, so I picked you up a snack.”

The engine purred to life.

She pulled the treat out of the bag. “A scone?”

“Cinnamon streusel flavor. There’s a coffee bar in my hotel.” I backed out of the spot.

She sniffed the scone. “Thanks.” Then bit into it.

“A fed Kate is a friendlier Kate.”

“Hey.”

My phone said which way to turn onto her street.

“You got a little hangry in high school. I doubt that’s changed much,” I teased.

“Says the boy who lived on large pizzas during water polo season.”

“Only after matches.”

She grinned, and kept nibbling on streusel. I felt good at choosing well.

“You know the GPS is going to clue me in, right?”

“Eventually. I know my surprise only goes so far in your city.”

With heat now coming out of the vents, she settled into the seat. “This car is pretty comfy.” She’d once said the same thing about Dad’s car, on Grad Night.

“It’s not my Lincoln, but I don’t mind it.”

“Why the SUV versus a sedan?”

“At first, I wanted the room for coaching, but now it’s easy with car seats.”

She nodded. “How are they handling you being away?”

At a stop light, I unlocked my phone, pulled up a video, and handed it to her.

“Aw, cute.”

The video showed Candace and Jordan playing with Play-Doh. So far, I hadn’t received any messages of crying children, but I wasn’t flying home until Monday.

“They’d love to receive a ‘hello’ video from you,” I said. “Happy New Year.”

“Did you tell them you were coming to see me?”

“No. This is between us. My kids don’t need to know about my dating life until it’s relevant to them.”

“I’m glad you took that to heart,” she said softly.

“You’re not the only one with that advice, but yeah. It’s prudent.”

Kate glanced at the scenery. “How long is this drive?”

“Not far. I believe it’s eight miles from Downtown, so a little more from your place.”

“Okay.” Then her weight shifted in the seat. “Don’t know how much longer I’ll be there,” she muttered.

Was that an open invitation to discuss her dimmed mood when I arrived?

“What’s happening to your apartment?”

“Nothing…except I’ll have to find a new roommate or downsize.”

“Ah.”

“They’re going to get a condo.”

“Will you get mad if I quip about there being room in California?”

An eye-roll, so, “No…”

“What would you like me to do?”

“Distract me. And hate them a little.” The latter sentence said with a bit of a pout.

“Done.”

Her head turned to me. “You’re kinda good at this dating thing. So far.”

“Kinda?”

“Night’s still young.”

I laughed. And then the sign appeared for Cheekwood Estate and Gardens.

“No.” Kate sat up in the seat and peered out the windshield. “Really?”

“Really. I take it you approve.”

“Always wanted to see it but never justified the tickets. We’re here for the lights, right?”

I grinned at her enthusiasm. “One million holiday lights. Last night is tomorrow. With your tradition of roaming Christmas displays with your brother, I figured this was up your alley.”

“I owe you big time.”

“Enjoy it. All the payment I need.” I found the parking lot. “We’re missing food truck night, but they do have hot beverages and s’mores.”

“I can’t remember the last time I had a s’more.”

I hurried around to her door and for once she hadn’t opened it before me. Definitely making progress. I offered my hand. Gloves on, she set hers in mine and I tugged her out of the car and into my arms. “Anything you want tonight, Kate.”

The cold was already turning the tip of her nose pink. “Anything?”

“Within reason.” I winked.

“Oh, okay.”

Smiling, I kept hold of her hand as I started for the entrance. She didn’t pull it away.

How easily I used to toss an arm around her shoulders when we were teens…

Cheekwood was a fifty-five-acre botanical garden and art museum located on the historic Cheek estate built in 1929. The printed reservation was in my pocket. Reminded me of the Huntington Library Gardens, only they didn’t decorate for Christmas.

“This is pretty epic.”

“It is impressive.”

“Thank you, Sam.”

I leaned down for a short kiss. “You smile and all is right with the world.”

“Stop…” By how she ducked her head, I guessed she was blushing.

I loved affecting her.

And that I didn’t have to hide how I felt like in high school.

I handed over the tickets and we got a map. The gardens had lights in all colors—some wrapped around tree trunks and branches, some hung as giant ornaments, and there were several arches to walk under. Plus carolers and even reindeer (which were most popular with the kids).

But Kate’s face was just as lit up with wonder and appreciation. I wanted to see her delighted every day. How could I not enjoy her happiness?

Part of me was desperate to believe this would work.

As we strolled, she wrapped around my arm, occasionally leaning into me when we paused to study an arrangement. It reminded me of how much fun we had at Disneyland.

“We could do this all the time,” I murmured.

“The lights only come out for Christmas, silly.”

“I mean nighttime strolls enjoying each other’s company.”

“Sam, be present, please, okay? I don’t want to think about the future tonight.”

“I—”

She put a finger on my lips. “Let tonight be a perfect moment.”

When she had a pleading look in her beautiful green eyes, I couldn’t disappoint her. “Okay.” I kissed her softly, mindful of passersby.

We continued through the winter wonderland, taking photos of scenes that particularly caught our eyes. The gardens didn’t close until ten, so there was plenty of time to see everything. I couldn’t wait to show the kids and resolved to find somewhere doing this at home.

They’d love it next year.

I could easily indulge in her fantasy, but pretending came with bittersweet consequences when you had to return to reality—and the reality was that Kate wasn’t mine, yet.

Yet.

Still Miss Right Now versus Miss Right.

Was it stupid to hope we could build enough foundation in five days to convince her to take a chance on more?