Page 8 of The House on Blueberry Lane

“Yes, for dinner.”

She held his gaze. “No, I don’t have plans.”

“Neither do I. Would you join me?”

Velvet hated seeming dense, but she was having a hard time keeping up with him. One minute they were discussing the job fair and another minute he was asking about her dinner plans. “You want to take me to dinner?”

“Yes.”

Velvet looked straight into Jaye’s eyes, figuring there had to be a catch somewhere. “Why?”

“Why not, Velvet Spencer? You did just say you didn’t have plans. Do you not plan to eat later?”

“Yes, I plan to eat.”

“Is there any reason you can’t do so with me?”

As far as she was concerned, there were a number of reasons, but she decided to state the main one. “I don’t know you.”

“I don’t know you, either, but I would love getting to know you. I’m especially curious about your name.”

“Most people are.”

“So what about it, Velvet? Dinner?”

Velvet hesitated briefly before glancing at her watch. Then she looked around. The job fair was officially over. All the students had left and the businesses were packing up to leave. He was the top donor to the high school as a job fair sponsor, and she had a feeling her principal wouldn’t like it if she rubbed the man the wrong way. “Okay, I’ll join you for dinner. It will take me a few minutes to break things down, though. Charlotte, my job fair team partner, had to leave early.”

“I’ll help.”

“You sure?”

“I’m positive.”

“Okay.” She thought that was considerate of him.

Silently, he helped her take down the banners and she was glad he was there. Otherwise, she would have had to stand on a chair. But he was tall, probably at least six two, and easily took down the hanging signs. He also helped pack up the streamers and stack of leftover handouts.

She tried not to look at him but found she couldn’t help herself. He had removed his jacket and tie and she thought his white dress shirt and dark gray slacks looked good on him. Some men wore the clothes and there were clothes that wore the man. Jaye Colfax definitely wore the clothes. He had looked darn good in his suit and now she couldn’t help noticing how well he looked in shirt and slacks.

He glanced up at her, and her heart started pounding. She wasn’t used to so much masculinity on display.

“What do you intend to do with this?” he asked, picking up the box like it weighed nothing, when it had taken both her and Charlotte to carry it in.

“It needs to go to my car. I can get a cart for you to roll it out.”

“No, I got this.”

She nodded, thinking he most certainly did. He lifted the box to his shoulder, and she could clearly see muscles flex beneath his shirt.

“Alright then, please follow me,” she said, grabbing her purse. She also gathered up his jacket and tie. Maybe she was imagining things, but she thought she could feel his body heat in them. She certainly picked up his masculine scent in the clothing.

Velvet led him out the building to where her SUV was parked. After unlocking the trunk, she stepped aside for him. He placed the box inside with the same ease as when he had lifted it to carry it outside. The man didn’t break a sweat.

He closed the trunk and turned to her. “So, what type of foods do you like to eat, Velvet?” he asked her.

She handed his jacket and tie to him and watched him slide into his jacket, then tuck his tie into the pocket.

“I enjoy seafood,” she answered.

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