Page 32 of My Heart Belongs to You

“Yup and pineapples.”

I reached for his arm, pulling him inside before going for the bag. He snatched it back, then shook his head.

“Hi, Goldie,” he crooned with pensive eyes.

Warmth spread throughout my center. “Hi, my darling.”

“That’s more like it.”

He handed me the bag then ventured to my kitchen to find food, probably. I opened the bag and inhaled, moaning in delight at the sweet aroma. My mind went wild with ways to use the fruits in the bag.

“What were you doing on that side of town?” I yelled from the living room.

When I moved to Roseville, Nadir took me on a tour of town. He showed me all the hidden gems, his childhood favorites, and up-and-coming attractions. The Fruit Stand was a place we frequented. I knew their harvest schedule by heart and loved their pies too.

“I went to visit Geneva and Angel,” he said as I met him in the kitchen.

A grin graced my face when I found Nadir eating the fried plantain I’d made before I started studying. He had three pieces on a napkin cupped in his hand. Leaning against the counter, he indulged in one of our favorite snacks.

“Gen was complaining about not seeing me in a while and Angel had a new whiskey he wanted us to try, so…” he explained while shrugging.

Geneva and Angel were the owners of the Concrete Rose Ranch, just outside of town. The three of them had grown up together and remained good friends over the years. Geneva rarely left the ranch, so Nadir made time to see her when he could. I’d hung out with them a handful of times and even rode a horse. I enjoyed the nights we spent around the fire while Angel played and Geneva sang or told stories. Their ranch was a prominent figure in the town’s rich history and was one of the biggest attractions in Roseville.

“Day drinking on a Thursday?”

“It was one drink. And Angel’s ass has no concept of time. He never has.” Nadir chuckled while shaking his head. “Anyway, wassup with you? I’m surprised you’re home.”

I went on to share how my siblings ambushed me during our meeting today. They went through my to-do list and delegated tasks amongst them and Carmen, leaving me with only a few tasks to complete. With my exam around the corner, they didn’t want too much on my plate. I didn’t protest because I needed the help. Once the call ended, I came home, cooked a snack, and had been studying ever since. After two hours of reviewing notes, I decided to take an extended break. A break that consisted of listening to music and eating.

Nadir stopping by was a treat I wasn’t expecting, but appreciated nonetheless. When he texted me to see what I was doing, I just figured he was checking in. Him dropping by wasn't unusual, but today it felt a little different. I hadn't seen him since Monday when I surprised him with food and drinks. Admittedly, I had put some distance between us after he broached the topic of us dating. I wasn’t ready to confront my feelings for him, but even with wanting distance, I missed him. Not being around him on the regular was weird.

“I know you don’t care for baking, but I was thinking, maybe you could make a cobbler or something.” Nadir’s husky baritone pulled me out of my thoughts.

“You want a cobbler?” I asked incredulously.

“You know pies are a big thing around here. You’ll see on Saturday.”

The annual Springville Festival was this weekend and I was looking forward to the food, music, and seeing the roses in bloom around the park. Last year when I attended, I was so overwhelmed by everything going on in my personal life that I didn’t really enjoy myself. This year, I could fully appreciate the festival. I was bringing Adrienne too, so we were guaranteed to have a good time.

“You want me to pick you up?”

I shook my head. “Nope. Adrienne and I are riding together. I’m sure I’ll find you though.”

He nodded, then picked up another piece of plantain and bit into it. Heat filled my cheeks when he closed his eyes and chewed each bite. When he finished eating, he looked at me. A charming half-smile rested on his full lips. I smiled back because I couldn’t help myself.

“Didn’t eat today?” I questioned as Nadir added more plantain to his napkin.

“I had a light breakfast. Gonna have Rob make something once I get to work.”

My eyes landed on the stove for the time. “It’s almost four o’clock.”

“I’ll eat a big lunch.”

“You mean dinner.”

Nadir sighed. “When are you making the cobbler?”

I shrugged while unbagging the fruits. Kneeling, I looked through the cabinet under the sink for my fruit cleaner. After finding it, I searched for a bowl. I cleaned, rinsed, and dried each apricot while Nadir watched with an amused expression. Slowly, his eyes raked over me. When his gaze met mine, he smirked.