Page 27 of California Waves

She wished she hadn’t said anything. It had been the impulse of a moment. What on earth was wrong with her? She shook her head, but she had to be honest. “I went online and watched the video of you singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to your mom in space. I remember seeing it at the time, but I’d forgotten how adorable it was. And then, you know how YouTube delivers you the next video on a topic you’re interested in? It was, well, the rescue operation.” She couldn’t go on, because she would tear up if she said any more about what she’d seen and how she felt.

He had a strange look on his face, and she thought maybe she’d upset him just by mentioning that terrible incident, but when he glanced up and caught her gaze, she saw a rueful twinkle. In a quiet, almost reverent voice, he said, “I watched you too. Old videos of you surfing. And then the same thing happened to me. I saw your accident.” He blinked a few times and then swallowed hard. He held her gaze and said, “I’m so glad you’re still alive too.”

Mila’s heart thudded, and her throat choked with emotion. Those awful moments flashed into her brain, and she could almost feel the searing pain as she hit that reef in Australia.

They gazed at each other, bodies just inches apart. She wanted so badly to reach up and touch him. To whisper, Everything is okay, everything is okay. It was a tenderness she wasn’t accustomed to, and again she was taken by surprise.

She would cry if she didn’t shift the energy right away—and if there was one thing Mila didn’t do, it was cry over the past. In a lighthearted way, she said, “What? That was just a normal day out in the surf. People break bones all the time, and they come back, and they heal, and they move on.” She took a deep breath, and she could see that he wanted to say more, but she couldn’t handle the emotion right now. “Listen, given that we’ve just done the quickest deal ever in real estate history, and you’re getting the keys only a few days after seeing the house, I’m taking you out to celebrate.”

He looked almost taken aback, and then he grinned. It completely transformed his face, and she felt herself melt a little as he said, “I was actually going to ask you out to dinner to celebrate. How’s tomorrow night?”

She laughed, delighted that he was obviously interested in continuing to spend time together. “Great minds,” she said. “We can fight over the check at the end. Sound good?”

“Sounds great,” he said, “but I’m going to win that fight. My mom did not raise me to let a lady pick up the check—especially when she’s found and delivered my dream home.”

She laughed and was thankful that not only did she have a date of sorts, but the awkwardness between them had fully disappeared.

“And more good news,” he said, glancing at his watch. “If I call before noon, I can get my bed delivered today.”

At the mention of the word bed, she suddenly felt like a blushing virgin as the image of the two of them tangled up in his brand-new sheets engulfed her with such a powerful burst of lust that she had to take a breath. She glanced up at him to find such an intensity in his gaze that she knew he was feeling it too.

But first things first. All business now, she said, “Let’s get these papers signed, and then I can give you the keys.”

“I am very much looking forward to that.”

“And,” she continued, “since this is my hometown, and you’re new to the area, I’ll book us a restaurant. Seven sound okay?”

Again, he looked a little surprised that she’d taken the lead, but then he said, “Perfect.” He looked down at himself as if he’d just remembered he’d come to her office still in his workout gear. “I’ve got lots to do until I see you tomorrow.”

Chapter Fifteen

Maybe she had been a tiny bit worried that Herschel would show up for dinner in clueless, badly chosen clothing, but she was pleased to find, when she picked him up outside his hotel the next evening, that he was wearing a stylish pair of designer blue jeans and the nicest shirt she’d yet seen him in. It wasn’t that she was shallow—although a man who took pride in his appearance was a turn-on—but she’d spent more time that she’d admit picking out her outfit for the evening and didn’t want to feel foolish. It wasn’t like this was even a real date—just a dinner to celebrate the house deal, which was more than the usual glass of champagne with clients, but not enough to make her think Herschel was going to make a move.

Slipping into the passenger seat, he said, “You look beautiful.” He said it not the way a practiced womanizer tells every woman she’s beautiful, but like a man who was genuinely taking in and appreciating what he saw. Somehow that made her feel way more beautiful than usual. Because, although she’d been blessed with her mom’s good genes, a man hadn’t made her feel special in a very long time.

She thanked him and then looked down at herself. She wasn’t sure how smartly dressed Hersch would be, so she’d chosen a very simple coral cotton dress from the dozens she’d tried on. Now she realized she’d made the perfect choice. It was cut beautifully, with a scoop neck, and it clung in all the right places. She’d added minimal gold jewelry, gone light on her makeup so that it left her bronzed and glowy, and let her long blonde hair flow free.

“We’re heading to Bentley’s,” she said. Because she knew the owners, she told him, she’d made sure to reserve her favorite table—in a corner with a view of the ocean. It wasn’t until she saw his reaction that she realized her mistake. She paused and then said, “I didn’t even consider you might not want to have an ocean view. I’m so sorry. They just have wonderful food, and I figured—”

But he cut her off. “That’s okay. I’ll just be looking at you anyway.”

If there had been any doubt in her mind whether this might actually be a date, then some of that was squashed by that cute, flirty comment. Again, she felt a sweet stab of lust. Because he didn’t pay idle compliments. He always told the truth. It was charming and refreshing.

She relaxed and drove the familiar streets, enjoying the soft evening light and pointing out a few of her favorite cafés and bars, already hoping Hersch might want to extend the evening with a nightcap after dinner.

When they entered the restaurant, they were hit with the warm, buzzy atmosphere she loved so much about the place. The lights were low, and the room glowed. She turned to see his reaction. He looked around and then said, “This place is packed. How did you get a reservation on such short notice? And, I’m guessing, one of the best tables in the house?”

She was pleased he’d noticed that this place was in demand, but shrugged as though it were nothing. “First of all, I’ve lived here all my life. Between me, my mom and dad, and my brothers and sisters, there’s pretty much nobody we don’t know or at least know of. And then, in the business I’m in, you get ’em coming in and you get ’em going out. I sold a house to the owners’ son and his wife. It was a difficult deal, and I saved it for them. So yeah, I can always get a table here.”

He looked impressed. “I can see you’re a good woman to know.”

There was a kind of flirty undertone, and she responded in kind. “You’d better believe it.”

Apart from making sure to get her favorite table, she’d also made a few requests ahead of time. After they’d been seated at the most intimate, candlelit table, two flutes of champagne appeared in front of them. He raised one eyebrow at her, and she lifted her glass to tap his. “Congratulations on your new home, Hersch.”

Before he sipped, he said, “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

This was, of course, true, and she was glad he’d noticed. She’d even surprised herself with how fast she’d acted on the house and then wrapped up this deal. Was it just good fortune, or had she worked even harder for this hottie of a client? They sipped the champagne, and she sighed with pleasure. She loved a glass of vintage champagne.

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