Page 9 of Undaunted

“Oh, I believe so,” I reply, grinning. “Very much.”

“Even when he knows she won’t have time for anything serious? She does have an internship to finish and after that, a board exam to pass so she won’t have time for relationships.”

“I believe he’ll take whatever he can get.”

Claudia holds out her hand. “Where’s your phone?”

I don’t give her a chance to change her mind. My phone is in her hand within seconds, unlocked and awaiting whatever it is she wants it for.

She types something on my messaging app and presses Send. Her phone vibrates and as she confirms that the message went through, she hands me back my phone.

“There you go.”

I look at what she typed on my message app.

Claudia: That woman from that night.

I chuckle. “You’re not just any woman. You’rethewoman I’m taking on a date tomorrow.”

One corner of her mouth curls in a smile. “A date. Is that what we’re doing?”

“It is.”

“What time?”

“I’ll be at your door at eleven,” I say. “Wear comfortable shoes.”

“Just shoes?”

Her playfulness has me catching my breath, bringing back everything from the night we first met, the playful banter between us, the flirtation, her mischievous smile most of all, one that tells me there’s so much more to her than meets the eye.

“As much as I’d like to say yes, I’m going to be good and suggest you wear something comfortable to go with the shoes,” I say. “I like sundresses personally.”

* * *

The next day, I knock on Claudia’s door at eleven. She looks beautiful in a sleeveless blue sundress that skims her calves, the slits along the sides revealing her smooth toned legs. Canvas shoes complete her look along with a cardigan tied around her waist, her hair secured in a loose bun.

“Does this work? You did say casual,” she says as we make our way to the garage.

“You’re perfect just the way you are,” I say. “I was thinking we could check out the Boardwalk first, then maybe the fishing pier. Have you ever gone fishing before? Not that we’re going fishing or anything, but you never know.”

“There are a few fishing spots around Taos and my friend’s mom used to take us when we were teens.”

“What’d you catch?”

“Rainbow trout, walleye and large-mouth bass,” she replies. “And you?”

“My friend owns a boat and we’ve gone to the Norfolk Canyon area a few times.”

“What’d you catch?”

“Grouper and sea bass. Mackerel is plentiful.” I pull open the passenger door of my truck. “Maybe we can go fishing sometime.”

“Isn’t there a fishing pier near the Boardwalk?”

I nod. “There is, although I doubt I’d be patient enough to sit at the pier and wait for something to bite.”

“What if I’m the one biting? Would you reconsider?” Claudia asks as she gets in, smoothing the skirt of her sundress playfully. When she catches me staring at her, she laughs. “You should see your face, Trevor, but I was only kidding. Come on, let’s go.”

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