"Then I’ll be happy I don't have to be your only source of dinner conversation," he joked, though his eyes remained soft. "Seriously. You spent twenty years putting me first. It’s okay to let someone else in now. I’ve got the shop covered tonight. Go to the gallery."
"And I think I might say no," Elena admitted. "It feels... complicated. Being a widow, running this place, having you here. I don't want things to get messy." mom mature son sex
"Living with a bookworm for two decades," he grinned. "Now, go upstairs. You have that silk dress you never wear, and the rain is letting up. Don't make the man wait." "Then I’ll be happy I don't have to
Elena felt a weight lift, one she hadn't realized she was carrying. She reached out and squeezed his hand. "When did you get so wise?" It’s okay to let someone else in now
Elena sighed, leaning back in her chair. "I was actually thinking about the gallery opening tonight. Marcus asked if I’d go."
Julian stopped his work and turned. Marcus was a local painter—kind, talented, and clearly smitten with Elena for months. "And?"