fool not to pursue it. And that’s the end of the sales pitch. I promise.”
“Not so fast,” I said, closing the white clamshell container. “I can’t believe you’d be interested in a long-distance relationship with me, when we couldn’t even manage to get together when we both lived in the same town.”
“Try me. I don’t mind driving, and my schedule’s pretty flexible. It helps having a branch office here, so just give me an excuse, and I’ll be here.” He shook his head as he laughed. “I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything today. I just wanted to enjoy your company, but what can I do? You seem to have that effect on me.” He looked down at my lunch. “Are you finished?”
“I’m stuffed,” I said as I pushed some of the remaining rice around in the box.
“Me, too.” As he gathered up our trash, I couldn’t help noticing again the air of confidence he had about him. This was indeed a changed man, and he was clearly still interested in me, which was a nice stroking for my ego. But Joe was still in my heart, and I wasn’t sure there would ever be room for anyone else there.
If there was, though, I couldn’t imagine anyone better than David to find his way into my heart.
“I’d walk you back,” David said, “but I lost all track of time, and I’m going to be late for a meeting as it is. I’m working seven days a week right now. Thanks for seeing me, Eleanor. It was great fun.”
He leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I caught the hint of aftershave on his neck as he did. I had to admit that I enjoyed his proximity, and wouldn’t have minded one bit if it had gone on a little longer.
As he started for the alley, I said, “If you have a chance, stop in and say goodbye before you go.”
“I will,” David said, and I watched him walk away with a new spring in his gait.
My, my, my, how things could change.
I walked back to the Slice, and found Maddy, Greg, and Josh standing out in front of the pizzeria.
“Our lunch breaks are over,” I said as I glanced at my watch. “What happened, did you forget your key, Maddy?”
“No, it’s right here,” my sister said. “The only thing we’re missing is a single customer to serve.” she gestured to the area of the promenade in front of Italia’s. It was full of dozens and dozens of people, many of whom I recognized as our regular customers. “We can’t really blame them. Everyone wants to see what Italia’s has to offer.”
I’d nearly forgotten about the opening, which was a true indicator of how much I’d been enjoying David Quinton’s company.
“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go, too,” I suggested as I reached past Maddy and locked our door.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Why not? It couldn’t hurt to scout out the competition, and it’s not like anyone’s going to come to us.”
I started toward the new restaurant, and the other three followed close behind. Maddy caught up with me and asked, “How did it go? Did he take you somewhere elegant?”
“In Timber Ridge? You’re joking, right?”
“Well, someplace nicer than the Slice, anyway.”
“We had a picnic at the shortcut,” I said. “He’d been craving hibachi steak from Nara’s since he moved to Raleigh, so we dined alfresco.”
Maddy frowned. “Eleanor, maybe I was wrong about David. I just don’t understand it.”
“What don’t you get?” I asked.
She shrugged as she admitted, “I thought for sure he’d pull out all the stops on his chance to take you to lunch.”
“The old David would have, but I’ve got to tell you, Maddy, the man’s changed.”
My sister touched my arm lightly, and as I turned to look at her, I found her staring into my eyes. “What are you looking for?”
“To see if you’ve changed, too,” she said.
“No, I hate to disappoint you, but it’s the same old me,” I replied.
“Then why are you grinning like a teenager?”
“I hadn’t realized that I was,” I said, trying to wipe any
“Not so fast,” I said, closing the white clamshell container. “I can’t believe you’d be interested in a long-distance relationship with me, when we couldn’t even manage to get together when we both lived in the same town.”
“Try me. I don’t mind driving, and my schedule’s pretty flexible. It helps having a branch office here, so just give me an excuse, and I’ll be here.” He shook his head as he laughed. “I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything today. I just wanted to enjoy your company, but what can I do? You seem to have that effect on me.” He looked down at my lunch. “Are you finished?”
“I’m stuffed,” I said as I pushed some of the remaining rice around in the box.
“Me, too.” As he gathered up our trash, I couldn’t help noticing again the air of confidence he had about him. This was indeed a changed man, and he was clearly still interested in me, which was a nice stroking for my ego. But Joe was still in my heart, and I wasn’t sure there would ever be room for anyone else there.
If there was, though, I couldn’t imagine anyone better than David to find his way into my heart.
“I’d walk you back,” David said, “but I lost all track of time, and I’m going to be late for a meeting as it is. I’m working seven days a week right now. Thanks for seeing me, Eleanor. It was great fun.”
He leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I caught the hint of aftershave on his neck as he did. I had to admit that I enjoyed his proximity, and wouldn’t have minded one bit if it had gone on a little longer.
As he started for the alley, I said, “If you have a chance, stop in and say goodbye before you go.”
“I will,” David said, and I watched him walk away with a new spring in his gait.
My, my, my, how things could change.
I walked back to the Slice, and found Maddy, Greg, and Josh standing out in front of the pizzeria.
“Our lunch breaks are over,” I said as I glanced at my watch. “What happened, did you forget your key, Maddy?”
“No, it’s right here,” my sister said. “The only thing we’re missing is a single customer to serve.” she gestured to the area of the promenade in front of Italia’s. It was full of dozens and dozens of people, many of whom I recognized as our regular customers. “We can’t really blame them. Everyone wants to see what Italia’s has to offer.”
I’d nearly forgotten about the opening, which was a true indicator of how much I’d been enjoying David Quinton’s company.
“I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go, too,” I suggested as I reached past Maddy and locked our door.
“Are you serious?” she asked.
“Why not? It couldn’t hurt to scout out the competition, and it’s not like anyone’s going to come to us.”
I started toward the new restaurant, and the other three followed close behind. Maddy caught up with me and asked, “How did it go? Did he take you somewhere elegant?”
“In Timber Ridge? You’re joking, right?”
“Well, someplace nicer than the Slice, anyway.”
“We had a picnic at the shortcut,” I said. “He’d been craving hibachi steak from Nara’s since he moved to Raleigh, so we dined alfresco.”
Maddy frowned. “Eleanor, maybe I was wrong about David. I just don’t understand it.”
“What don’t you get?” I asked.
She shrugged as she admitted, “I thought for sure he’d pull out all the stops on his chance to take you to lunch.”
“The old David would have, but I’ve got to tell you, Maddy, the man’s changed.”
My sister touched my arm lightly, and as I turned to look at her, I found her staring into my eyes. “What are you looking for?”
“To see if you’ve changed, too,” she said.
“No, I hate to disappoint you, but it’s the same old me,” I replied.
“Then why are you grinning like a teenager?”
“I hadn’t realized that I was,” I said, trying to wipe any
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