Page 39 of Sweet Somethings

He smiled at her enthusiasm. "Happy to hear that," he said, as he took a bite.

"Well, what do you think?" she asked, wiping her mouth with a napkin.

"Fantabulous."

She laughed. "It's the perfect word, isn't it?"

Everything about the moment was perfect: the scenery, the food, the beautiful woman across from him. There weren't that many times in his life when he wished he could freeze time, but this was one of them.

They ate in happy silence for the next few minutes.

When Juliette was done, she let out a sigh of satisfaction and sat back in her chair. "That was amazing. I only wish I had another one."

"You can get one."

"No, I'm full. And since I don't run miles every morning like you do, I need to have some restraint."

"You could go with me."

"Oh, no, I couldn't," she said, shaking her head. "I am not a runner. I will do yoga, a spin class, maybe the elliptical, but running…not my thing. It's too boring."

"I don't think it's boring at all, especially not when you're outside. You get to breathe in clean air and enjoy nature at the same time you're exercising."

"Yeah, but there's weather to deal with. It's too hot or too cold or too rainy. And I have never felt that rush of endorphins that runners talk about. When I try to run, all I can think about is how tired I am, and I've only gone like half a block."

"You ran farther than that when you were chasing Cameron."

"But that was because I had a goal."

"So that's what you need to run…something to run for."

"I played soccer when I was younger. I like running after a ball and kicking it in a goal. But to run just to run…" She shrugged. "Not really my thing."

"Well, it doesn't have to be. It works for me, whereas trying to turn myself into a pretzel in a yoga class sounds painful and not at all interesting."

"The positions are to get your mind ready for meditation."

"Yeah, okay."

"I take it you don't meditate."

"Actually, I have done some meditation."

She raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

"In the Marine Corps. There are certain jobs and skills that require absolutely no movement. You have to be able to control your breath, your brain, be completely still. While it wasn't the same kind of meditation you're probably talking about, it was similar."

"I can see you being very good at controlling your breath."

"Should I take that as a compliment?"

She smiled. "You should. I meant it that way. I'm scattered. My mind jumps from one thing to the next. I always seem to have a million ideas at the same time. Focus is something I have to work at."

"Maybe all those ideas are what make you creative. Don't try to stifle them too much."

"As if I could."

He liked how easy it was to talk to her, how open she was about her strengths and her weaknesses. He also liked how the sun captured her face and how the breeze lifted her hair and warmed her cheeks. Looking at her could become a lifelong obsession if he wasn't careful.

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