Page 12 of And Then There Was Us
Brianna crossed her arms again. She looked at Hugh with those beautiful eyes that seemed to be filled with serious thoughts every second of the evening. “I have a daughter. Layla Michelle. She’s going to be six in a week. If you’d rather skip having coffee, that’s fine. I’d understand.”
One look in her eyes and he knew he wanted to get to know her better, but he also knew he’d have to be careful. Dating a single mother introduced all sorts of tangled webs into the equation.
“Brianna, I’d love to have coffee with you whether or not you have a daughter.”
“Really?” She arched a thin brow.
“Really.” Risking his emotions was new, considering the women he’d dated in the past never struck anything other than lust in him, but risking a single mother’s emotions—or her daughter’s—was dangerous. He thought of his own father and how he had never been with another woman after his wife died, and he wondered how he would have felt, as a child, if his father had.
His father’s voice sailed through his mind—though it was Hugh’s own thoughts that he heard.Tread lightly, son.Hugh didn’t know the meaning of treading lightly. He was an all-or-nothing guy who moved fast and trusted his gut. The thought of treading lightly scared him to death, but not enough to forgo coffee with lovely Brianna.
Chapter Seven
“I HAVEN’T BEEN on a date in almost seven years, much less had coffee with a handsome guy. I can’t even believe I’m doing this.” Brianna and Kat stood before the mirror in the cramped ladies’ room. She brushed her hair, and Kat handed her a tube of lipstick. “No, thanks.”
“Come on. You’ll look great with a little color,” Kat urged.
“He’s seen me working for the last seven hours. He knows what I look like.” She pulled away from the mirror. “He sat there all night, Kat.All night.Who does that?”
“The hottie who’s out there waiting for you now,” Kat pointed out.
“No, really. I mean, it’s one thing to hang around for an hour or even two, but all night? And did you see him? He didn’t watch the game.”
“Calm down. You’re having coffee, not going home with him. Although…”
Brianna narrowed her eyes. “No. No, no, no. Don’t even go there. Coffee. That’s it. And I’ll call you if he turns out to be a freak, so leave your cell phone on.”
THEY WALKED DOWN the quiet city street to the only place open so late, Dunkin’ Donuts. Brianna shivered in her sweater. Hugh shrugged out of his jacket and placed it around her shoulders.
“I’m okay,” she lied.
“I’m sure you are, but I was hot and you looked like a great coatrack.” He smiled as he opened the door to Dunkin’ Donuts. “After you, madam.”
A gentleman and funny? No way.“Thank you.” Brianna thought she’d be struck mute from nerves, but being alone with Hugh was easy. He didn’t make innuendos like the guys at the bar did and he didn’t look at her like she was a piece of meat, which she was thankful for. She still didn’t know what had possessed her to accept his offer for coffee, but now, sitting across from him in the corner booth, she was glad she had.
“So, let’s get past the awkward first-date stuff.” Hugh’s dimples deepened when his smile reached his eyes.
Did the walls just start closing in?She’d been so relaxed. She hated that the minute she realized there would be questions about her personal life her chest constricted.
“I was kidding, Bree,” he said. “You look like I asked you for your deepest secrets.”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t been on a date in a very long time. It’s all a little scary to me.” She wrapped her hands around the warm cup. “I’m afraid I’m not very good at small talk, either.”
He put his arm across the back of the booth. “Then I’ll make it easy for you. I’m the youngest of six. I’ve always had to be a little loud just to be heard. Tell me what you’d like to know and I’ll answer as best I can.”
“Gosh, I don’t know. You have five siblings? That must be fun. I’m an only child.”
“It is fun. I’ve got four brothers and a sister, and I love ’em all.” He took a sip of his coffee. “How long have you worked at the Old Town Tavern?”
She looked down, biting back the nagging embarrassment about what her life had become. Then she thought of Layla and her confidence returned. She looked him in the eye so she could read his response before she heard it.
“I’ve worked there since I graduated from college. I got pregnant the week I graduated. It wasn’t planned, and the guy was just a guy I hung out with for the weekend. I know that sounds awful…”I sound like a slut. I might as well leave now.
“Why? Anyone can get pregnant by accident. It’s a miracle there aren’t more graduation-weekend babies around.”
He smiled again, and she had an urge to thank him for not judging her. “I’ve never looked at it that way, but you’re right. I mean, tons of college kids have sex, but condoms don’t always break.” She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I just said that. I’m sorry.” She looked up at him and cringed. “I told you I’m not good at this.”
“Honesty is a good thing. Tell me about your daughter.”
