Page 35 of Carly's Heart

Since the other server didn’t come in until seven-thirty, she had no choice but to wait on him. Filled with hope and trepidation, she snatched up their laminated, single page, breakfast menu and headed his way. Mentally, she braced herself to apologize.

He hung his jacket on the rack attached to the bench. “I’m sorry,” she said as she reached the table just steps behind him. He apologized at the same time. They shared a wry laugh. Her next smile was genuine.

He held out a dry-cleaning bag. Her sparkling heels were looped over the hangar. “I had your dress cleaned. They got the juice and glue out.”

She traded the menu for the bag. “Oh, thank you so much. I was worried it was ruined.”

“You’re welcome.” His cheeks pinkened. He slid into the booth and looked up at her as he removed his hat and set it on the bench.

She took a deep breath. “Look. You startled me on Sunday. I honestly had no idea you liked me ... that way. None. I kind of freaked. It’s just weird hearing that a man has been going to great effort to be near me, to get my attention. It’s...” she paused to find the right word.

“Stalkerish?” he said with a wince.

“Maybe a bit.” But that’s not what I meant.” Her heart lightened knowing he was willing to make amends.

“I’ll give you that much,” he said. “I’m sorry I didn’t make my feelings more obvious. I was waiting for you to notice me. Not my most brilliant dating strategy.”

“Oh, I noticed you all right.” She laughed at her own behavior. “Being nervous around you, even when I liked being near you, worried me. I could barely talk to you even when I wanted to. I didn’t know how to deal with the conflicting emotions. I could handle casual, but not personal. So, I kept my distance. Maybe that was a mistake. Because I wanted, I do want, more than friendship.”

She swallowed away a lump of emotion. “I’m a grown woman. I should have had the courage to approach you. I tried. But I was afraid of rejection.”

An uncomfortable laugh broke from his lips. “You and me both. I asked Tanya to partner you with me at the wedding,” he said. “I was mad, I still am, that she bumped you.”

Heat rose in her face. “Ya, me too. I wanted to dance with you.” She resisted the urge to rip the menu out of his hands and fan her overheated face with it. Instead, she poured him a coffee, hoping he didn’t notice her trembling hands. “I’ll let you look at the menu and be back in a moment.”

She walked away, wishing she had the courage to sit with him until it got busy. Of course, why would today be any different? She always wished that. Filled with sudden resolve, she turned back. “Mind if I join you?”

His eyes widened and he smiled from ear to ear. “I’d like that.” There was a pit-a-pat in her heart that felt suspiciously like a giggle.

She draped her dress over the adjacent bench and slid into the seat across from him and stared at the coffee pot she’d set on the table. Neither said anything until the silence grew too long.

“I got a text from Tanya. It was a picture of them at the Eiffel Tower the night they arrived,” he blurted.

“I got one too. Maybe the same one. The moon in the background was lovely. I’d like to Paris, but I’d rather go to a beach vacation someday.” That was civil and friendly, right? Not too silly?

“I think England and Wales would be a nice trip. I haven’t been since I was fifteen and I love the old stonework. But a beach would be okay too,” he agreed.

She looked up and him and the discomfort of their blow up faded away. “I could do that. Of course, I have a daughter now, so travel becomes harder.”

“We could take her along. I mean, you could take her.”

“I never thought of that. Or I could get Mom and Dad to visit and watch her.” She shrugged. “Dreaming in color now, I guess. It could be a while before I travel.” Did his slip of the tongue mean he was interested in traveling with Carly and Layla? A happy shiver danced over her skin at the thought. Being with him, actually talking, brought her whole body to life.

“Me too, this month is going to be crazy. I’ve got a showing every day, and a couple of show races every weekend. It’s putting a damper on my style, because there’s this girl I want to ask out. She works at the diner.” He grinned at her.

“Oh? And is she interested?” She asked because it was foremost on her mind, even if she didn’t know what show races were.

“I hope she’s interested, but I think she’s shy around me for some unknown reason. I mean, it’s not like we haven’t known each other for years.”

“Could you take her to your races? Show her what your work is about?” She threw it out there, hoping they were on the same page about a prospective date.

“Do you think she’d be interested?” His smile had a nervous edge that tickled her heart and left her breathless. A thousand butterflies of hope danced in her tummy.

“Why don’t you ask her?”

A customer came in and without looking, she called out, “Please take a seat, I’ll be right with you.” She needed to get to work, but she didn’t want this awkwardly sweet moment to pass without securing her date.

“Carly, will you go out with me?”

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