Page 13 of Fierce-Michael

“Have you been here before?” she asked.

“A few times,” he said. “They’ve got good food and the tables aren’t all crammed together.”

Awww. He was being considerate so that they had some privacy to talk. That meant more to her than if he was being chipper and peppy right now. That would have felt forced. This might be more of his personality.

“That sounds good,” she said. “I’m not a fussy eater, but I am spoiled working above the restaurant and pub. I like to go down and get food once a week. I told myself if I didn’t limit it to once a week, then I’d do it all the time, and even at a discount, it adds up, not only to my wallet. Can’t have the hips expanding.”

“You’ve got some nice hips on you too,” he said.

“You know, Michael, I think you’ve got a great personality in there somewhere. You’re just shy with it.”

“No one has ever said I was shy,” he said.

“Then you’re slow,” she said. “And slow isn’t a bad thing. Maybe I’ve been too fast in life and that hasn’t worked either. I don’t know. I’ve tried it all and nothing seems to work.”

“Tried it all?” he asked. “Then why are you with me tonight?”

They got out and he opened the restaurant door for her to go in front of him. She wasn’t sure the last time she was on a date and a guy had the manners to hold a door for her. Pretty sad state of affairs.

“Not everything,” she said. “When we get in I’ll tell you something that not many know if you can keep a secret.”

“I can,” he said.

She wasn’t sure why she was going to share this with him, but maybe he’d open up more and she’d get a better idea of what he was looking for or what was going on in his life.

Maybe he only wanted to date a woman for sex and no commitment. That wasn’t what she was looking for.

They took their seats in the back at a booth. There were walls up and though she could hear voices they were more muffled than anything.

“So, I’m thirty-one and still single. I’d like not to be single and have been trying for a long time to find someone. Dating apps, which suck. Mixers at events. Not much there either.”

“You’d be the hottest thing and everyone would come flocking to you at something like that.”

Her train of thought flew out the window faster than tumbleweeds in the desert during a sandstorm.

“Why, thank you. And not to sound cocky, but that was the case. I’m not all about looks, don’t get me wrong.”

“Looks play a part in things. You can have an intellectual draw to someone. You can have fun with them too and have a lot in common, but if you aren’t attracted to them on a physical level, it doesn’t go any further than friendship.”

“I’m so glad to hear someone else say that. I feel shallow when I do. Looks aren’t everything because a hot guy could be good in the sack, but you don’t spend all your time there. Usually that is the least amount of time spent together.”

“Then you’re with the wrong person.”

“I want to ask if that is a joke again, but I can tell by your eyes maybe not.” She fanned her hand in front of her face. “Okay now. You’re getting the upper hand here and I hadn’t expected that to happen.”

“I’m not trying to.”

They paused to place their drink orders and decided on the salad bar over appetizers once they picked their dinners. Thiswas supposed to be a drink, but it was turning into dinner. She felt bad because he lost and was paying, but she’d put half in like she always did on a first date.

“Which is better in my eyes. You’re being you. I like that in a person.”

They went to the salad station and their drinks were there when they returned to their table. She’d gotten a glass of wine and he’d ordered a Fierce beer. Many restaurants in the area carried the beer.

“Tell me this secret you have,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot,” she said, laughing, and then wished she hadn’t when he glanced up at her. “Not bad. But don’t we all have them?”

“I suppose,” he said.

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