Page 14 of Summer with a Single Dad

“What? I made sure to check out the goods that night. And what kind of friend would I be if I pushed you into the arms of an ugly guy?”

“True,” I agreed.

“Lightning doesn’t strike twice, but it did for you. And you were struck hard, Em. You can’t deny it. At least not to me. It seems to me like fate intervened. You’re both in the right place at the right time. You can continue to fight it or just admit you’ve been hit and enjoy the ride.”

“It was one hell of a ride, too.”

“And the fact that he’s still single after all this time? That’s gotta be a sign. Right?”

“He could be shacked up with someone back in Florida. Men can be real dogs, you know?”

“He’s not that kind of guy.”

“How would you know that?” I asked.

“It’s all in the eyes. He’s got eyes like a golden retriever. Which maybe is why you are afraid to go out with him. You’re scared you’re going to fall in love. Who can resist a golden?” She sighed wistfully. “Anyway, call him up. Invite him to dinner.”

“And then what?”

“See where the night takes you.” We stayed silent for a moment—her vicariously living out the night for me before it even happened and me wondering what the hell I was doing. Aside from fighting my physical attraction to Chris, I was also projecting my past onto a relationship that wasn’t even real.Yet.

My grandma’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.You are like your mother in the best of ways. All the bad stuff left withher. Your life will be wonderful because you have a huge heart and fierce loyalty.But what if it only was a matter of time before I turned out like her—an addict who cheated on her husband and splintered our family?

“Well?” Cassie’s voice came through like a foghorn.

“Okay, okay,” I said, finally mustering the courage to call Chris and invite him over.

“Why am I bothering with this stuff?” I asked Moose, who sat patiently next to me while I applied my lip gloss.

His tail thumped against the floor. I wished I was like him, happy and carefree. I didn’t know why my nerves were a wreck. I’d been around Chris enough that I shouldn’t be this jumpy.

“I know. You’re more excited about seeing Luke than you are for me finally going on a date.” I rubbed his ears the way he liked. “It’s not really a date, though. Right? It’s just dinner with a friendly man who happens to have a cute puppy. You and Rufus will keep him out of trouble, won’t you?”

Moose regarded me with puzzlement—cocking his head to the side.

“You guys will be fine. Chris and I will be fine. Dinner will be—” I rushed out of the room. “Shit!” I cried, running to the oven and ripping the door open. I breathed a sigh of relief. In my nervous state, I forgot to set my timer.

Rufus and Moose sniffed the air.

“Okay, guys. We’re okay here. I didn’t burn it.” The top covering of breadcrumbs was just beginning to brown but wasn’t quite toasted enough. I closed the door and set the timer for another fifteen minutes. Since Chris hadn’t shown up yet, I pulled the caprese salad and a bottle of wine out of therefrigerator. After checking that the table was perfect, I relaxed a little.

When the knock sounded on the door, my nerves jumped back into overdrive. I took a deep breath before I opened the door.

Then I lost my breath all over again. Chris, dressed in a pair of perfectly worn-in jeans and a casual button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows, awakened the butterflies. He looked amazing. And when I saw the dog bed tucked under his arm, my heart melted. He brought Luke’s dog bed so he’d be comfortable.

Chris’s eyes traveled over me. Simultaneously, my insides heated, and my legs wobbled.

Hunger filled both of our eyes as we stood two feet apart.

“Emily.” His deep and throaty voice saying my name reminded me of sugary sweet syrup drizzling over a hot stack of pancakes. “I’m so glad your friend had to cancel.”

“I lied!” I followed my blurt of omission with a groan.

“Are you going to invite us in?”

“Aren’t you going to chastise me for lying?”

“Maybe after you offer me a beer,” he said. “Plus, I don’t know how much longer Luke will behave out here when all he wants to do is be inside with Moose and Rufus.”

---