Page 65 of When Love Is Lost and Found

"I'll get the bags," she says.

"Don't worry about that," I say. "I'll get them later."

We walk inside the quiet house, and I head for the stairs to take Noah up to his room. Sharon goes into the kitchen.

When I return, I find her pouring some lemonade into a glass.

"You didn't answer my question," I say.

"I'm not mad," she answers. "Do you want some lemonade?"

"No, thank you."

"I just want to know why you dislike poor Patrick so much. He's been nothing but nice to both of us."

"Because I'm jealous." There, I said it.

"I thought you understood."

"Understood what? I told you how I felt just last night, and today you waste no time agreeing to go out with another man."

"It's only a walk."

"It's a date," I say.

"Neither of us called it a date. You're the only one putting a definition to an innocent walk through a farmers’ market."

"I'm not stupid, Sharon. Maybe you're just that young and naive not to know that what you agreed to is a date."

"Are you calling me stupid or too young to know what I'm doing? Or both?"

"Neither!" I exclaim, walking toward her until she's less than a foot from my reach.

"Remember when I said you were kind and sweet?” she asks, "I take it back!"

"Well, at least you still think I'm handsome."

She doesn't smile.

"I thought I made myself clear. You are my boss's son. If my going out with a male friend is going to create an issue for you, maybe we can't be friends and need to keep things strictly professional."

"Is that what you want?" I ask, inching my way towards her.

"You're leaving me no choice."

"You have a choice."

"Oh yeah, what's that?" Her green gaze bores into me like a dagger, and her chin is defiantly tilted up.

I get closer, our faces only inches apart.

"Cancel your date with Patty and go out with me."

Chapter 13

Sharon

He wants me to go out with him? On a date? Why complicate things? How would his parents feel about their son going out with the babysitter?

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