Page 8 of Burning Caine

Is there more than one Caruthers?

No - I’m sure he’ll be there soon

At 8:15, the server returned, asking if she could interest me in an appetizer. Smiling as politely as possible, I ordered bruschetta, something so classic it would be an easy win when he arrived. If he arrived.

I was supposed to be in Yosemite that weekend. Me and my rock-climbing guide doing a two-day ascent of El Capitan. It would have been my best time. But instead, I was sitting in a booth by myself, waiting for a blind date who was fifteen minutes late. Because my sister thought controlling my life would make her feel like she had control over her own. As if I hadn’t already given up everything to move home and help her, she thought throwing me in front of men was the best plan. Like I’d fall in love and never leave Brenton again.

8:20

Why did I go along with it? Placate her. Make her happy. Relieve some of her stress. But it was stressing me out.

People arrived, people left, people enjoyed their meals. And I sat alone. The way I preferred life. Except I’d rather be alone at home.

A laugh caught my attention. Two men at a table nearby regaled each other with funny stories while the women at the table talked quietly. I watched them for a moment when someone walked behind their table, and my eyes moved to him.

Tall, broad-shouldered, wearing dress pants and a button-front shirt, all black. The Italian lawyer from the fire site yesterday? Somehow looking even more astonishing tonight. Heat rose in my cheeks just watching the way he walked. Stalked? No, he strode. One of the women at the table with the laughing men nudged her friend and the two of them watched him go by. I couldn’t blame them, and they weren’t the only ones. I wouldn’t mind ifhewere a half hour late.

I lost track of him when the server arrived with the bruschetta. 8:30. Still no Cameron.I sighed, my shoulders sagging. I cast a look around to spot the hot lawyer for a momentary distraction, but he was nowhere to be found. Probably in a private booth, talking in that deep, velvety voice to some gorgeous woman. Not stood up, for sure.

Half hour, I texted Cass.

WTF?

Guess I’m eating alone tonight!

As I took the first bite, a piece of tomato fell on my lap. Perfect. I picked it up, placed the napkin I’d forgotten about on my lap, and Cameron arrived. Also perfect.

“Sorry I’m so late,” he said.

I stood to offer my hand, the napkin fell to the floor, and he sat opposite me without a second glance. He was shorter than me by a couple inches, with shoulder-length dirty blond hair and a goatee. His face was haggard, as though he’d been working too hard and not sleeping well. He was thin and wore torn jeans and a T-shirt reading “Stay calm and paint on.”

I was overdressed. No, a two-second scan of the other patrons was enough. My date was underdressed.

“Hi, I’m Sam.” I held out my hand again, which he shook and introduced himself. It was a loose shake, like wilted celery, and there was something strange about the way he said Cameron. “Sorry, how do you pronounce that?”

“It’s hyphenated. Cam, then Ron. Not Cameron. Cam-ron Parker.”

“Okay.” I hesitated, but I rolled with it. “I ordered an appetizer. I haven’t looked at the menu otherwise.”

I pushed the plate of bruschetta toward the middle of the table to offer him some, but he put up a hand.

“I’m vegan. There’s butter and cheese.”

“Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.” This wasn’t going well. Par for the course for my non-existent love life.

“I must have forgotten to include that on my profile. Doesn’t matter anyway, you go ahead and order. I’ve already had dinner.”

I paused mid-reach for the menu. “You already ate?”

“Yeah, about an hour ago. That’s why I’m late.”

“But, we have a dinner date?”

“Don’t worry about it—I’ll just have some beer.” He pulled the drink menu closer.

Don’t worry about it? Talking about the food was the saving grace of a dinner date. It gave you something to talk about if you didn’t have anything in common. Or something to share if it went well.

Alright, next up, we had a love of art in common.

---