Page 39 of The Love Shack

“Right, okay.” He cleared his throat. “Wow, you’re right, it is crowded. Sure, we should definitely share a table. That is, if you’re not here with anyone else?”

Her heart gave a little jump of joy at his interest, but she did her best to play it cool. “Nope. I was just helping a friend get Kathleen out of the rain, and then in you came. Oh, and that reminds me!Cat yoga.”

His brows twitched down in confusion. “Okay, sorry, I was keeping up just fine until that last part.”

Seriously, she needed to slow down and think before speaking, not just blurt out whatever was in her head. Then again, he was here with her now, sharing a meal and no longer so put out with her. “Go ahead and eat and I’ll tell you all about it, and then you can tell me how I’m the answer to all your problems.”

“Allmy problems, huh?”

“Well, obviously I don’t know every problem you have, but I suspect your bad day was tied around your fitness center and has to do with the formidable Betty Cemetery, so in this case, I think I can help.”

His brows crowded closer together, but he huffed a laugh and dutifully dug into his food. “Can’t wait to hear it.”

Lark knew she had to pitch this right, to really sell it, and with any luck he’d start to actually like her—because already she more than liked him.

Oliver had to admit, he was impressed with Lark’s pitch. She seemed to be full of creative solutions to problems. “If you ever lose interest in being a stylist, you should go into marketing.”

She gave him a beautiful smile, and even with her dark hair limp from the weather, and her face a little smudged with the makeup she’d tried to remove, she looked incredible. Here, in the restaurant, the color of her eyes matched the stormy skies outside.

He asked, “Have you ever done any yoga?”

“Tiny bit,” she said. “Just at home by my lonesome, not out in a class or anything. I was...” Her words trailed off, and a nearly painful expression fell over her face before she blinked it away and produced an unconvincing smile. “I had a rough patch, you know? I was trying to figure out how to get back to my happy self, and yoga sounded like it could be relaxing.”

“Physically,” he agreed. “Emotionally, too, if you can get into the right frame of mind and adjust your breathing with it.” Oliver couldn’t imagine anything dampening Lark’s spirits. She was always so cheery, practically bubbling over with enthusiasm. Curiosity gnawed on him, but he wouldn’t ask.

However, if she ever chose to share, he’d listen.

She changed the subject. “I have other marketing ideas, if you really wouldn’t mind hearing them.”

“Only if you let me pay for your dinner.”

Her gaze searched his.

He said easily, “I used to pay marketing people, and you’re just giving away incredible ideas. It’s the least I can do.”

“Oh. Well, then...”

Her uncertainty made him feel like a jackass. He’d done that to her, being so cross and cold. Hoping to repair some of the damage, he said, “I’d like us to be friends.”

She said quickly, “I’d like that, too.”

“Perfect. So let’s continue with the do-over. You’ll forget my grumpiness and accept my offer of dinner, and you’ll share these brilliant ideas of yours with me, all in the name of friendship.”

A smile teased her lips. “Okay, then. Thank you.” With a breath, she announced, “Other ideas—although they might not apply to everyone who visits your fitness center. I assume people will be looking for different outcomes?”

“Very much so.” The idea of discussing business with her appealed to him. There hadn’t really been anyone, not since the death of his father. He rubbed his mouth, considering how much to say. This wasn’t a date—it absolutely wasn’t—but if it was, he wouldn’t talk about endless, dull business stuff. So he’d hit the highlights, and if she had questions, he’d answer them.

She watched him as he considered things, then snickered. “You are always so serious.”

And she was always happy. “Just trying to decide how much to share.”

“Your secrets are safe with me.”

Odd, but he believed her. He didn’t know her that well, yet he instinctively trusted her. “Thank you, but we won’t talk secrets tonight.”

“Darn.”

She so easily made him laugh. “I just don’t want to put you to sleep.”

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