Page 32 of That Time in Venice
Reed laughed and set down his menu. “How about I order the fried chicken, mac and cheese, and the collard greens. You get the catfish and whatever sides you want, and we couldshare?”
Anika tilted herhead. “Deal.”
Her eyes didn’t leave his, and a sense of the familiar shadowed the table. They’d shared meals in a similar fashion in Venice, making sure to always order different items so they could sample a variety of food. One time she’d ordered the pumpkin gnocchi and he’d ordered the seafood vermicelli. Another time his meal had consisted of roasted lamb chops while she’d craved grilled fish. Despite all the time that had passed, it seemed only natural to do the same duringthismeal.
Moments later, they’d placed their orders and had beverages in front of them. As an appetizer, they shared an order of green tomatoes, fried with aged Parmesancheese.
“How is it?” Anika asked, slicing into atomato.
Reed finished chewing. “Delicious.” He set down his fork. “I know I’ve said this before, but thanks again for helping withBrielle.”
“I was happy to help. Now stop thanking me.” Anika held up her glass of ginger ale. “To little girls with the lungs of an opera singer.” She tookasip.
He laughed softly. The sound was warm and inviting, as if he were laughing at a private joke. It made her want to lean in and find out what the secret was. “You’re in a good moodtonight.”
It was true. Dating, especially the first few dates when a man and woman were initially feeling each other out, could be tense and quite nerve-wracking. That wasn’t the case here. The initial nervousness didn’t exist and a comfortable familiarity was firmly inplace.
“I’m trying to be nice. Don’t spoil it,”Anikasaid.
“Okay, okay. I won’t. I’m enjoying this moment,that’sall.”
Reed sipped from a bottle of Full Moon lager, watching her the entire time. “So tell me, what have you been up to during the past seven years or so? I mean, other than interiordesign.”
Anika shrugged. “Nothing much. Work has consumed a lot ofmytime.”
“What aboutboyfriends?”
The direct question made her skin tingle. “Alrighty then. Just come right out and ask the toughquestions.”
“Too personal?” heasked.
“I wasn’t expecting that question until dessert. I haven’t even had my meal yet. We’re still on theappetizer.”
“We can wait if you prefer, but it’ll come upagain.”
“Hmm…then I’d rather bite the bullet and dive right in.” Anika brushed a strand of hair from her brow. “Like I told you before, I’m not seeing anyone seriously. I’ve dated, of course. Lately I’ve met men through onlinesites.”
He tapped a finger on the table. “How’s that working outforyou?”
“I’ve had good and bad experiences. Mostly good, but every now and again there’s a bad one in the bunch.” Sheshrugged.
“Any bad onesrecently?”
She thought for a moment. “A few weeks ago I went out with a guy who was nice enough, but halfway through the dinner I knew he wasn’t rightforme.”
“So this was afirstdate?”
“Yes.”
“After one date, how can you be sure he wasn’t rightforyou?”
“Nospark.”
His finger stopped tapping. “Oh. Gotta have spark. It’s a lot more important than peoplethink.”
“Agreed.” Anika dug her fork into a piece of tomato and popped it into her mouth. He wasn’t eating, his sharp blue eyes rested on her as he leaned back in the chair and gave her his undivided attention. “How about you? Are youdating?”
“Not since I moved here.” He rubbed condensation from the outside of the bottle with his thumb. The same thumb he’d traced her lips with before he took her mouth in ahungrykiss.
