Page 38 of So Right
Chapter Seven
It was nearly six when Luke strolled up Main Street to pick up Kelsey. She was already standing on the sidewalk, waiting. He quickened his pace.
Kelsey smiled at him in greeting, raising her hand in a friendly wave. “Hey, Luke.”
“Hey there, nice night, right?” The day had been uncharacteristically warm, and though it had cooled off, it was still very pleasant. He wore a long-sleeved T-shirt with a flannel button-down thrown over it. It was just right for this temperature, but after looking at Kelsey, he wished he’d taken a little more care with his appearance. Maybe worn his favorite field jacket.
Skinny jeans encased her sexy legs and terminated in dark brown suede ankle boots. She wore an olive-green jacket with a light patterned scarf, and her dark hair hung past her shoulders in long, glossy waves. She was stunning.
He tried not to stare, but it was hard. “You look great.”
“Thanks. You do too. I like that shirt.”
He glanced down at his favorite flannel and still wished he’d worn the jacket instead. “You’re too kind. Most of my wardrobe makes me look like a lumberjack.”
She laughed. “Goes with your perennial stubble.”
He brushed his hand along his jaw, feeling the scratch of hair against his fingertips. “I hope that’s a good thing.”
“It’s certainly not bad.” She said this with a twinkle in her eye, and he had the distinct, wonderful feeling that she was flirting with him. “Ready?”
“Absolutely.”
He pivoted so that she could walk up beside him, and they strolled to the corner. The Oktoberfest was held in the park, which was a mere two blocks away. They paused to look before they crossed the street. The Arch and Vine was on the opposite corner.
“Do you usually have Saturday nights off?” he asked.
“Most of the time. Sometimes I fill in for people, but generally speaking, it’s one of my two days off from the pub. The other being Monday.”
They moved past the pub. “So you don’t have a weekend?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I get Mondays. No pub. No library.”
“Except you said you usually work. Do you ever plan to cut back?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know why I would.”
He glanced up at the almost clear, darkening sky. “Maybe you’ll fall madly in love and want to start a family or something crazy like that.”
She slid him a probing look. “Is that what you want?”
He’d walked right into that one. And he actually didn’t mind. “I don’t know. I can honestly say I really haven’t thought that far ahead. I figure those are things that happen…later.”
She paused as they reached the next corner. “I’d agree with that sentiment. I’m quite content with my life as it is. I’m busy. I love my job. It’s all good.”
Across the street, the park was lit up and lined with booths selling food, beer, and various arts and crafts. The party vibe was loud and joyous.
They crossed to the entry gate, where Luke paid the admission, which was actually a donation to charities benefiting the local area. “Where should we go first?”
They meandered into the central area, where tables were set up in clusters. A band was on stage at the other end of the park. Right now it was playing something that had all the kids up and dancing in a pint-sized mosh pit.
She glanced around. “I don’t know. I guess I could go for a beer?”
“Beer it is.” He reached to touch her lower back but wasn’t sure if he should. Why not? This was a date. He’d told her so, and she hadn’t balked. He let his hand graze the base of her spine as they moved toward the beer garden.
She slid him a quick look but didn’t say anything. Nor did she step away.
At the beer garden, they flashed their IDs and the enforcement officer gave them wristbands, which they had to don immediately.
