Free Mine to Keep by Sam Crescent Page B

before I got a chance to see you.”
    He moved the flowers away. “What do you think? Do I scrub up nicely?”
    She nodded. “More than nice.”
    “These are for you. I wanted you to have the whole experience. A guy asking you on a date, a dress, and flowers.” He handed the red roses to her.
    “They’re beautiful.”
    “I can wait while you put them in a vase.” Amy laughed and went to put them in a vase before going back to him. He stood at the door with his back to her.
    “You know this is your house?”
    “I know.” He held his arm out to her, and she took it. Gabriel led her to his truck. “In you go, my lady.”
    She relaxed against the seat, putting her seat belt on while he got into the driver’s side.
    “Where are we going?” she asked.
    “This is a surprise. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy.”
    Amy did as he told her. He drove out of CapeFalls. The lights passed, and she looked back to see home disappearing with every mile he drove. They talked about their day. Gabriel told her he was handling the move for William.
    “He is putting down roots here?” she asked.
    “Yep. He finds the little town charming.”
    They drove for an hour before he pulled up outside the restaurant. There was a man waiting to take the car from Gabriel. He helped her out of the truck and escorted her inside. She knew he’d taken her to a French restaurant. Her nerves picked up as she’d never been anywhere so grand.
    The maitre d’ showed them to a private booth. Gabriel waved him away and seated her himself.
    “This is a really nice place,” she said.
    “I know. I hope the food is as good as the service.” He seated himself opposite and ordered her a wine. She didn’t have the heart to tell him she wasn’t a huge fan of French cuisine. She liked items like onion soup and crème brûlée, but everything else never sat well in her stomach.
    She took a bread stick and nibbled on it as the waiter poured their drinks before leaving.
    “Did you order food?” she asked.
    “Not yet. You look so nervous I wanted to make sure you’re happy here before I order.”
    “Being truthful, I’m not keen on French food.”
    “Neither am I, Amy. You’d be surprised how much we’re alike. I want you to be honest with me tonight, so I’m going to share something with you as well.” He took a sip of his water, and she waited for what he had to say. “I’ve been wanting to ask you out on a date since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
    Amy reached across the table and held his hand. “I always looked forward to your company. The days you came to see me in the shop were my favourite. I’m going to say something now, and I don’t want you to get angry, promise?”
    “Promise.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
    “I think Steven knew that I felt something for you, and that’s why his temper got the better of him that night.” She saw Gabriel tense the moment she said her ex-husband’s name. “I’d never felt anything for him they way I feel for you. In his own way, he was jealous that you could make me want in the short time you knew me whereas he couldn’t in all the years we were together.”
    It was her admittance to herself as much as to him.
    “I don’t like you talking about him. He hurt you, and I can’t stand to think of you in pain. I’m pleased it wasn’t just me having these feelings.”
    The waitress came to take their order. Gabriel ordered steaks with potatoes and a garlic and pepper cream sauce. She sat back and watched him. The way he talked and sat said to anyone who knew him that he was in charge.
    When the waitress left, Gabriel turned back to her. “Mia and Billy are settling in nicely.”
    “They adore you. I know this is wrong, but I heard them the other night talking about you being their daddy. I know you’re not, but if they ask you to be, would you let them down gently?”
    ****
    Gabriel felt his world fill up with more happiness than he could imagine. Mia and Billy wanted