Page 15 of Keep My Heart
‘I have a family thing tomorrow. My dad’s having a surprise party for my mom’s 60th birthday. That’s why I’m here.’
‘He’s throwing her a party? That’s so sweet.’
‘Yeah, he’s not really the romantic type, but now and then he does something like this and surprises us all. Anyway, the party’s tomorrow night but he wants us all there early to help set up.’
‘So when are you leaving?’
‘Monday. I need to get back to work. I’ve only been gone a few hours and I’m already behind.’
‘Diane said you’re a lawyer,’ Lyndsay says, glancing down at my suit. I was going to change into something more casual but didn’t have time. I left for the airport from work and didn’t want to change clothes in an airport bathroom.
‘Yeah, I’m hoping to make partner one of these days.’
‘I’m sure you will. You were always really smart.’ She looks away, then back at me. ‘So how do you like New York?’
‘It’s good.’ I pause. ‘How did you know I live in New York?’
‘Diane told me.’
I smile, still confused what’s going on here. ‘You were asking Diane about me?’
‘No,’ she says, her cheeks turning a slightly deeper shade of pink. ‘I mean, we talked about you, but only because I told her I saw you at the airport.’ She looks at her phone, then at the row of salad dressings beside us. ‘She’s waiting for me in the car. I should probably get going.’
‘Yeah, me too.’
We both turn toward the shelves and I search for the marinade.
‘Oops!’ Lyndsay says, dropping the bottle of dressing she was holding. She seems really flustered today.
I reach down to pick up the bottle. As I give it to her, our hands touch and I swear I feel a spark, or maybe I imagined it. My body’s doing some strange shit right now. I’m not sure what the hell’s happening. My heart’s beating way too fast and I can’t think straight. My mind keeps flashing back to high school, then returns to the present, looking at Lyndsay and wondering if she’s really here or if this is all a dream.
Damn, she looks good. She’s got on these sexy little jean shorts and a pink tank top with a cropped white hoodie over it. It’sunzipped and my gaze keeps lowering to her breasts, then her tan legs, down to her painted pink toes peeking out of her flip-flops.
Lyndsay puts the bottle back on the shelf and continues to look for whatever she’s here to get.
‘Can I help?’ I ask.
‘I got it.’ She takes a bottle of dressing from the shelf, then turns to me. ‘How about you? Need some help?’
‘Um, yeah, I’m looking for this.’ I get out my phone and show her Tessa’s message.
‘Oh, I’ve used that one before. It’s good.’ She finds it on the shelf and hands it to me. ‘Need anything else?’
‘No, that was it.’
‘Okay, well, I better get going. Good seeing you again.’ She smiles at me, pausing a moment before going around me to leave.
Shit, I didn’t get her number. We’re supposed to meet on Sunday.
‘Lyndsay!’ I call after her.
She turns back. ‘Yeah?’
‘Would you want to come to dinner tonight? At Matt’s house?’
What the hell? Did I seriously just say that? I was supposed to ask for her number, not invite her to dinner.
She walks back to me. ‘I’d love to, but I already told Diane I’d have dinner with her and her family.’
