Chapitre 11: chapter nine
“Take a break,” Bryan said from the other side of the counter. He'd been dogging her all afternoon, Helping around, making somewhat fruitful conversations with Cedric– Cedric liked him, but was trying not to, she could tell– Attending to customers. She thought, with a smile, she just might give him a raise.
“ In ten minutes.” she looked at the clock, “make that fifteen ”
Bryan lifted his eyes upward which made Aine giggle, and peered down at the book in front of her.
“Inventory?”
“uh hun.”
He looked back at her and got lost in her eyes.
“I wonder, ” he started, “I wonder if I distract you, the same way you distract me.”
Her smirk came quickly but it soon faded as she began to study him.
“you do.” she said honestly, “but today, you've been such big help, you've made up for my shortcomings.”
“Good. I'm glad it's not just me.” she smiled, and he leaned forward to kiss her smiling lips.
"I've been dying to do that."
"Then what took you so long?" She asked in a husky voice,
"I don't even know."
She reached out to caress his cheek.
"Thank you." She said,
He placed a hand on her caressing hand, and said,
"For what, Babygirl?"
"I don't even know." She said mimicking his words, but she knew. He was filling her heart with Love, and she was grateful to him, For him. She was grateful to God for him.
He looked to the clock, she followed his gaze and looked back to him.
"Soon." She said with a quiet smile. And oh, he was in love with that smile.
°°°°
“candy floss? ” he asked her as they approached a confectionery stand. It was finally her break time, he all but carried her out of the shop. She always had a break time, but she didn't always leave the shop. however, she did sometimes nap in the storeroom when she was really tired, whenever customers came around asking for her during those times, both Bridget and Cedric would say she was 'out', always with impish smiles.
“sure, thank you.”
He looked at with a smile, “been saying that a lot lately”
“what? Thank you?”
“yes.”
“One candyfloss, Two popcorns and Two apple cedars.” he said, when they got to the stand.
He handed her goodies, and paid.
“Thank you.” she couldn't help herself
“there it is again.”
“ I'm just really grateful.”
He nodded. “would you like to go sit in the park ?”
She instinctively looked at her watch and then toward the park that wasn't so far off
why not? She thought to herself, and said so out loud, he led the way.
“hey, how did you know I had a thing for Apple cedar?”
“ you ordered it that first time when we met at the pub. I just thought you'd like to have it today.”
His observation and thoughtfulness shook her.
She looked at him as they walked toward a bench.
“But dear Lord, what did I do to deserve him?”
She didn't know, but as she felt the breeze caress her cheek, she hooked her arm through his, and let that gratitude wash over her.
“Bryan,” she began as they sat.
“If you're going to say thank you again, I'll tempted to stuff a great portion of cotton candy down your throat.” he said it with a smile, but wondered if he was going to have to.
“No.” she dragged out the know, feeling somewhat caught, but went on,
“ I was just wondering what a great guy like you is doing with little ol’ me.”
He looked at her then, she reached out to caress her cheek with the back of his hand, since his palm was buttery,
“funny, cause I wonder the exact same thing.” she let out a small laugh.
“ you wonder what you're doing with me?”
“No, Aine, I wonder what you're doing with me?” it pained her to see the hint of sadness she saw in his expression when he said those words.
“Well, that's simple, you're Handsome, You're Hardworking, you make me laugh, you're wise, you have a quiet thing for God that is very Beautiful, Have I mentioned you're Handsome” she fanned herself at the last part, “you're a good man, Bryan.”
“You make it sound like you're saying Goodbye.”
It was her turn to caress his cheek,
“ I'm not going anywhere.” she leaned forward to kiss his cheek, then his lips.
Sugared- Buttery lip met Sugared-Buttery lip and Hearts soared. When she pulled away, She looked into his eyes.
“will you stay, Bryan?”
“ I'd be a fool not to.” she smiled at that.
“will you stay, Aine?” he asked after a while
“ I'd be a fool not to.” He let out a warm booming laugh, and she was glad to see the sadness from a moment before fall away. Glad and grateful they were both choosing to not be fools. Glad and grateful to God for this time with him.
°°°°
He walked her back to the shop, stole several kisses before he finally said goodbye, leaving her wanting more of him.
“Good time?” Cedric asked, as she dusted vases, humming 'human nature' by Michael Jackson.
“yes I did.” she turned to look at him, “Do you like him, ric?”
“you want the truth, cousin?”
“ I do.”
“then I'll give it to you straight. I do, he treats you right, he cares about you enough to try and make you happy, he's a sweetheart to Bridget. He seems like a good man. But if he hurts you, Cousin, he'll wish he was never born. ” he meant every word. It made her eyes sting and she reached upward to trace her thumb across her cheek.
“ He isn't Callum, Ric. ”
He just smiled at her, but the jaunty Cedric wasn't there.
She wrapped her arms around him and listened to his heartbeat.
“ we can't let that excuse for a man dictate our happiness.”
“you're willing to risk Loving another.”
She looked up at him.
“ How do you.. What makes you think–”
“ That's the only way you'd be so happy with another, Love. You risk it, because you're falling for him”
She knitted her brows.
“ it's all over you. But I'm not in love with him, so I'll watch.”
“while I sleep?” she asked goofily, but he's reply startled her,
“while you fall in Love.”
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone