Page 98 of Cautious Love

He scrunches his nose and shakes his head. “I’m sorry that happened. Did you try again?”

“No,” I rasp. “I was heartbroken, and honestly a little afraid to try it again. But when I did try it, I thought it could be something. It had body to it, a few notes of cinnamon and brown sugar.”

He hums and runs a hand over my hair before kissing my forehead. “Sounds like you’ll just have to try it again.”

I shrug. “It’s whatever. Maybe it’s not meant to be.”

“Or maybe you had a setback, and it’s worth trying again.”

He goes back to the cutting board, and we’re quiet. The air changed, and wish I hadn’t said anything.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to … talk abouthimor bring down the mood,” I mutter and stare at the brown liquid in my glass.

“Shy, look at me.”

I obey, lifting my head.

“You didn’t bring anything down. I want to know these things,” he says.

The bumblebees buzz in my stomach and my body feels all gooey inside.

“Oh, okay.”

He chuckles. “Did you name it?”

“What? The whiskey?”

He nods and tosses the last of the carrots and adds some dried cherries.

I smile to myself. I’ve never told anyone this before.

“Yeah, I named it Wild Girl Whiskey.”

Ledger snorts and checks the potatoes again.

“What? Don’t laugh! I’ve never told anyone that before!”

He grins at me. “No, I wasn’t laughing at you. I actually think it’s perfect.”

I blink and my body tingles. “Really?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Thanks,” I whisper.

“I think you should try it again,” he says over his shoulder.

I bit my lip, staring at the wide expanse of his back. “Maybe I will.”

He turns and a small smile sits on his mouth, and for some reason, that makes me happy.

“Alright, I’m going to get these steaks on the grill.”

I hop off my seat and follow him. “I’ll come with you.”

“This is a one-man job, criminal,” he says.

I purse my lips and cross my arms. “I’m sorry, I thought this was a date, and we were supposed to be together.”