Page 41 of A Perfect Pairing
“I’m ready anytime you want to go. But can we go somewhere else? I’d like to eat in peace.”
“We’ll go wherever you like. Is there anywhere in particular you had in mind?”
“No.” As long as she didn’t have to worry about people staring at her, he could take her to a fast food joint for all she cared.
“I’ll think of some places and let you know.”
“It’s about time you two got yourselves together. Don’t mess it up this time,” Ms. Della said as she passed, not breaking stride.
Natasha and Antonio startled slightly, then laughed. He said, “And now it begins.”
Natasha did a quick scan of their surroundings and, indeed, saw several pairs of eyes trained on them. But none of it mattered. Not when she had her Tonio back.
Antonio expertly tied his tie and adjusted it. He surveyed his reflection. This was the man he’d left behind in New York. Six out of seven days a week, he’d had to be impeccably dressed at the firm where he worked or for some other function. He’d been home for more than a month, and tonight would be the first time he donned a suit. It would also be the first time he had gone on an actual date—not counting the dinner in with Natasha—in almost six months, shortly before Thanksgiving.
They had been dating only a couple of months, but the woman had spent the entire evening hinting at her hope of not being alone for the holidays. She’d also had the audacity to suggest that he let her move into his house, so neither of them would have to suffer the loneliness that often accompanied that time of year. Antonio had wasted no time letting her know it wasn’t going to happen and had dropped her off at home that night and never looked back. Shaking off the irritating remembrance, he grabbed his suit coat and keys, then left for the florist.
As soon as he walked through the doors of Beautiful Blooms & Blossoms, he saw the owner, Mrs. Dunbar. The petite woman had a line or two bracketing her dark-brown face and a few strands of gray in her hair, but her bright smile hadn’t changed.
“Antonio Hayes, it sure has been a long time. How are you?”
“Doing well. I’m here to pick up an order.”
“No doubt for Natasha,” she said with a little giggle. “So, how long have you two been back together?”
“Mama, can you please give the man his order and not get into his business? How’s it going, Antonio?”
“Hey, Casey.” He mouthed a thank-you for the save. After being away for so long and not having to worry so much about people asking questions about his personal life, it was taking some time to get used to it again. Her mother came back with the half dozen pink roses arranged in a vase he’d selected, and he said his goodbyes.
In the car, Antonio carefully placed the flowers on the passenger seat. Casey had graciously provided a transportation box to keep them from spilling out of the vase. Two minutes into the drive, his brother called. He engaged the Bluetooth and said, “What’s up, Nate?”
“Hey. Noelle wanted to talk to you.”
He smiled. “Put my beautiful niece on.”
A few seconds passed, then Noelle’s sweet voice came through his speakers. “Hi, Uncle Tony.”
“Hey, baby girl. How are you?”
“Good. When am I gonna come to your house? You said I could come.”
The following Saturday evening, Antonio had completely forgotten about his promise. “I’m not at home right now, but how about I pick you up next Saturday, and you can spend the night with me?”
“Yay!Daddy, Uncle Tony said I can spend the night on Saturday,” she yelled.
Her delightful squeals filled his heart. He longed to hear that sound from a child of his own.
“Uncle Tony?”
“Yes?” He turned onto Natasha’s street.
“How long is it before Saturday?”
“Seven days.” She didn’t quite have a sense of time, and Antonio knew she would be bugging her parents about it every day.
“But that’s a long time,” Noelle said sadly.
“It’ll go by fast, sweetheart. I promise.” He parked and shut off the engine. “How about I come by in the middle of the week? That way you’ll get to see me two times.”
