Page 66 of Savannah Sweethearts

She laughed. “No. All my professors are women or gay. But his office is next door to one of my professors and we kept bumping into each other and one thing led to another…” Her voice trailed off and her gaze shifted out over the ocean.

“Mom is not going to approve and you know it.” Shaking my head, I could envision Anya Journet pitching a royal fit over her youngest daughter dating someone so much older.

“Which is why I want you to meet him first and let Mommy and Daddy know that you like him.” She flashed a brilliant white smile at me and brought her hands together to plead.

Scowling, I pulled my sunglasses off. “I already don’t like him.”

“Please, Amaya. He’s a great guy. He teaches American Literature so you should love him. We can do a double date.” Big, doe eyes batted at me as she begged.

Which led me to one question. “Who would I take as a date?”

One person came to mind. The same face that had been occupying my dreams for a week. Orlando Daniels. But I had barely met him, how could I ask him out on a date? I supposed I could call up The Promenade and leave him a message. What if he said no? What if he said yes? Could I face him when I was working if things didn’t work out between us?

“Amaya, where’d you go?” Fingers snapped, popping the image of Orlando from my mind.

“Sorry, just trying to think who I could ask out for a double date. I met a sweaty balding groomsman with a wedding ring mark last week.” I shuddered at the recollection of the guy who had a distinct ring mark. “Speaking of, this guy you met doesn’t have a wedding ring does he?”

Linaya sighed. “I knew that was coming. He’s never been married, if you must know. And no kids attached. His name is Josiah Whitman and you can look him up easily enough.”

I assured her I would indeed look him up and she begged me to find a date and let her know when I could meet this man. Could I call up Mr. Daniels and ask him out? A double date would give us some buffer. And he seemed like the type who could hold his own with a professor – he had class and finesse. I guess the worst he could say was no.

He said yes. My heart hammered in my chest when I called him at The Promenade and pretended to ask for the perfect “meeting the new boyfriend” restaurant. When I told him I needed to hang up and find myself a date, he offered to be my plus one. So, technically, I hadn’t asked him out at all, but that was a minor detail.

We agreed to meet separately. It made sense in case things didn’t go well. Or I needed to grab my sister and run away from a lunatic guy. I wore a light pink swing dress that skimmed mid-thigh. It showed my tanned and toned legs, which I thought to be one of my better assets.

Mr. Daniels, I supposed I should think of him as Orlando, came around the corner as I approached the door. “Amaya, perfect timing.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek lightly.

I blushed like a schoolgirl, but I tried to cool my gaze. “Mr. Daniels. I mean, Orlando. I appreciate you coming. It saved me from calling half of Savannah asking for a favor.”

With a wink, he offered me his arm. “The most beautiful bridesmaid in Savannah needed a date. Who am I to turn down such an opportunity?”

Inside, my sister waved from the table. I pointed her out to Orlando. “My sister, Linaya. She’s a fashion major and loves the idea of being in love. She’s a serial monogamist. Apparently this guy is a literature professor, though not her professor. I’m sure that’s still frowned upon, though.”

“So we’re feeling him out?” The smile fell from Orlando’s face and was replaced by what I could only call a soccer goalie expression. Like he would rip the legs off this man if I commanded him to.

I had to appreciate his desire to protect the little sister of someone he barely knew. With a chuckle, I patted his arm. “Down, boy. I am feeling him out. You are the arm candy who looks and talks nice.”

Orlando stopped in his tracks. “Wow, that’s incredibly hot.”

As if we were old friends, I huffed and pulled him forward while I hoped he didn’t see the pink that bloomed on my cheeks. Linaya jumped up and hugged me while her new beau stood and shook hands with Orlando.

Light radiated from my sister as she took the man’s hand. “Amaya, this is Dr. Josiah Whitman. Josiah, my sister Amaya, and her friend…”

“Orlando Daniels. It’s nice to meet you both.” Orlando pulled out a chair for me across from my sister.

I shook Josiah’s hand and noticed how hairy it was. Is that what happened when a man got older? The back of his hands sprouted hair? Amaya, be nice. Your sister likes him. Give him a chance. I looked at Orlando’s hand. It was not covered in long, coarse hairs. I breathed a sigh of relief.

As we sat, Josiah asked after Orlando’s family and merely nodded at the reply. Then he turned to me and asked after my career. Linaya filled that in for him, making my job sound much more glamorous than it really was.

“Amaya studied English,” my sister said as the server filled our water glasses and brought out tiny puffs of bread.

“Did you? Where?” This came from my own date.

“At SCAD. I graduated a few years ago, but while I was trying to decide what to do with such an illustrious degree, I started my business and now this is full-time for me. I love it.”

“I thought you were familiar. You were in my class. American Literature two-oh-three.” Josiah sat forward, studying me.

I shook my head. “No, I had Dr. Jackson for that. Though I think some TA did the actual teaching.”

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