Page 42 of Hope & Harmony

CHAPTER 3

Andi walked downstairs, silently loving the way Joel’s hand rested on the small of her back. It was a protective gesture, something she’d never experienced before. Andi had never had a lot of time to date.

Sure, she’d gone out with guys in high school and since then…sometimes to see a movie, sometimes just for drinks after work.

Dating those guys, however, felt different from dating Joel.

For one thing, he was older than she was, a real man, mature and experienced, while the guys she’d gone out with had been her age, though they’d acted and seemed younger. Less suave, more dude-like.

Andi gasped when they reached the street and saw the limousine parked out front. The driver was standing near the back door, and as she glanced around her neighborhood, she saw more than a few curious faces—from windows and on the street—peering in her direction. Limos weren’t a regular thing on her street, let alone one that was stopped rather than merely driving through after making what had to be a wrong turn.

She thanked the driver as he opened the door, climbing in and taking in the soft leather seats and the bar along one side of the vehicle. Joel followed her in.

“I’ve never been in a limo,” she admitted, suddenly feeling slightly self-conscious about her outfit. She was wearing black jeans and a white blouse—the best clothes she had. She hadn’t had time to shop for anything else, and even if she had, she couldn’t have afforded anything she might consider “limo-worthy.”

Joel was wearing navy blue pants and a white button-down shirt, so he wasn’t overly dressed up either. But even in the fairly casual outfit, he looked posh, and she suspected the clothing cost more than she made in a week. He looked like a man who could walk into any restaurant in the world and blend in just right.

She ran her hands over her jeans, her palms suddenly sweaty. She’d looked forward to this date all day, her daydreams running rampant as she played over his sweet, almost chaste goodbye kiss last night. She didn’t have a clue how he’d managed to make a gentle kiss so damn hot, but it had triggered an arousal that had her tossing and turning most of the night—despite the fact she was tired as hell.

“Do you think,” she started, before stopping. “Am I dressed up enough?” she forced herself to ask.

Joel didn’t even bother to look at her outfit, his gaze locked on her face. “You look beautiful, Andi.”

She’d never considered herself the type of woman who needed compliments about her looks or anything else. She figured it was good enough as long as she liked the woman looking back at her in the mirror.

But hearing those words from Joel warmed her soul and made her feel…beautiful.

“Thank you.” She rubbed her hands on her thighs again, the action drawing Joel’s attention.

“Are you nervous?” He plucked one of her hands up, clasping it in his.

“A little. I don’t have a lot of time to date. I couldn’t tell you the last time I’ve gone out with someone.”

“I don’t date much either,” he confessed.

She was surprised by that. “Really?”

“Like you, my work keeps me busy.” Joel lifted her hand and kissed it. “So I’m going to have to make sure this is a date we’ll both remember.”

“I’m pretty sure I’m never going to forget being picked up in a limo,” she said, giggling.

“You deserve to be taken out and spoiled. You work too hard.” He’d said the same thing to her countless times yesterday, every time with that same thread of concern in his tone.

“I don’t mind hard work,” she said softly.

Joel didn’t respond to that. Instead, he bent forward, pulling a bottle of champagne out of a chiller, popping the cork with an ease that told her this wasn’t his first rodeo. He poured each of them a glass, then tapped his against hers.

“To first dates,” he said.

She smiled, secretly loving how he called it a first date, like he expected there might be more. The pragmatist in her knew this was it—a one-off—but the dreamer couldn’t help but hope he might want to see her again the next time he traveled to Baltimore.

The ride to the restaurant was pleasant. They talked about the unseasonably warm weather they’ve been having in Baltimore and sipped their champagne. By the time they reached the restaurant, Andi’s nervousness was gone because Joel was easy to be with.

Andi was a friendly person by nature, but she’d never felt such an instant connection with anyone before.

The driver pulled up to the front entrance, and Andi’s concern about her outfit crept back in as she watched two very elegantly dressed couples enter the fancy restaurant.

Stepping out onto the curb, Joel reached in to help her, tucking his arm around her waist to draw her close.

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