Page 34 of A Breeze Over Rosewood Beach
“It’s just coffee, Vivian,” Sally insisted, trying to get a hold of herself. “It’s not really a date.”
“Are you sure?” Vivian cocked one eyebrow just slightly.
“I’m sure that whatever it is, it’s not a big deal,” Sally said, making sure her tone sounded smooth and serene. Her heart, however, was jumping around in her chest, and she couldn’t ignore the fact that she was secretly becoming more and more interested in Oscar.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you,” Vivian said, still looking impish. “Let me know how you like the coffee. And let me know how it goes with Oscar.”
“I will.” Sally smiled at her friend. Although she felt a little flustered, she appreciated Vivian’s enthusiasm.
She hugged Vivian goodbye and got into her car. The drive to Seaside Sweets Bakery was a short one, but it had never seemed so long to her before. She felt as light as a feather, and her brain buzzed with excitement.
Am I this excited just because it’s kind of a date, and I thought I’d never go on one again?she wondered as she parked outside the charming little bakery.Or am I this excited because it’s Oscar?
She went inside and was greeted by the wonderful scents of pastry and coffee. Oscar was already there, standing in front of the counter and inspecting the bakery display with a frown onhis face, looking as serious as if he was about to be tested on how to perform emergency surgery on one of the muffins.
“Hi, Oscar,” Sally said, a bit breathless, and he turned to her with a smile.
He seemed to have put in a little extra effort as well, and she was thrilled about that. He was wearing a nice coat which he’d already unbuttoned, revealing a dress shirt collar poking out of a cashmere sweater. His hair was combed back neatly, and he smelled faintly of expensive cologne.
“Good morning, Sally.” He cleared his throat. “You look very nice today.”
She grinned, feeling her stomach flutter at the compliment. “Thank you, so do you. Do you know what you want to eat yet?”
“I was thinking one of those lemon sugar cookies,” he said. “I haven’t had one since I was a kid. I want to see if it tastes anything like the ones my grandma used to make.”
“I hope it does,” Sally said. “And I think you’ll find that Seaside Sweets Bakery usually lives up to grandma standards.”
Oscar laughed at her joke, and she smiled. He really did have such a nice laugh. It completely transformed his face.
“What about you?” he asked her. “What do you want to get?”
“Oh my.” Sally turned toward the bakery display case. “I’ve had everything they offer here at least once. You’d think that would make it easier to decide, but it doesn’t, it makes it harder. There are so many things I like.”
“Why don’t you order a few things, and you can eat them later?” he suggested. “I’ll buy them for you. My treat.”
Sally’s heart skipped a beat. His gentlemanly offer certainly made her feel as though they were on a date, and that it was more than just a friendly post-business meeting.
“That’s very sweet of you to offer,” she said. “I guess I’ll take a chocolate croissant and a lavender vanilla cookie. Those two are probably my favorites overall, if I really had to pick. Unless we’retalking seasonal treats, like pumpkin muffins or gingerbread cookies at Christmastime.”
Oscar watched her with a curious expression on his face for a moment. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, but he appeared to be bewildered and delighted by her at the same time.
“You got it,” he told her. “A chocolate croissant and a lavender vanilla cookie. And then just some plain coffee?”
“No, I’ll take a latte,” she said, feeling slightly guilty since he was paying for it.
“Mm, I’ll do the same. Do they have good lattes here?”
“Oh, excellent. Almost as good as the ones we make at Ocean Breeze Café.” She winked.
Oscar smirked and stepped up to the counter to order. While he was speaking with the barista, Sally looked around the bakery, looking for a nice table to sit at. She still felt giddy over the fact that she was on a date. She noticed a few people who she knew watching her and Oscar curiously, and she felt as proud as a peacock, being out on a date with a handsome, distinguished man like Oscar.
“What do you think about that table?” she asked him once he’d finished ordering. “Over there, in the corner? I love that bookshelf. It always makes me happy.”
He smiled. “A lot of things make you happy, don’t they?”
“They could make you happy too, if you’d let them,” she responded breezily.
Oscar’s eyebrows rose and he grunted a little, but he didn’t argue. Their bakery and lattes were ready a moment later, and they sat down at the table that Sally had suggested.
