Page 9 of The Enemy's Daughter

“Wait. Hold it. Someone asked you on a date?”

“Yes. A customer at the veterinary practice. He came in with this gorgeous little puppy. He was a little cocker spaniel, so sweet.”

“What was his name?”

“Buster.”

“The guy’s name was Buster? The guy who asked you out?”

“Oh, no, silly. The guy’s name was Blue. His puppy was called Buster.”

She heard Rebecca scream. “Seriously? You think I care about the dog. What did you say? What did you do?”

“I told him there was no need for him to take me on a date. I didn’t do anything special.”

“I’m going to hit you.”

“What?”

“I’m going to hit you when I see you, and that way I may be able to force some sense into you.”

Bella chuckled. “He wasn’t asking me because he wanted to date me.”

“How do you know that?”

“He was a good looking guy. Older than me as well.”

Rebecca sighed. “I’m going to need to take you to the hospital to have your head examined. An older, hot guy asks you out, and you say no? Who does that?”

Smiling, Bella was rounding the corner, when she bumped into a very hard male chest. She gasped, and held the phone away from her.

“I’m sorry,” she said, and looked up to find Mr. Patterson looking at her.

“Oh, Bella, hi.”

“Bella, what is going on? Who is that with the sexy voice?”

“Er, I’ve got to go.” Without explaining to her friend, she hung up the phone, and smiled at the man in front of her. “Hey,” she said. She was sure there was a frown on his face until he realized that he’d bumped into her.

“Good morning, Bella. You’re not working today?” he asked.

“Not on a Saturday. I catch up on errands. How is Buster?”

“He’s doing great.”

She glanced past his shoulder to see the coffee shop just a few feet ahead. “Well, I’m sorry for bumping into you.”

“Would you like to go for a coffee with me?” he asked. “That’s what you’re staring at, right?”

“You’ve got me.” She smiled. What would be so wrong about having a coffee with a guy?

“And call me Blue, remember?”

“I remember.”

Walking beside him was kind of surreal. At least to her it was. They entered the coffee shop, stood in line, and gave their order. Blue took her toward the back of the coffee shop, and for a split second she wondered if he was hiding them.

“We don’t have to stick around for coffee. I’m happy for us to head out.”

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