Begin Again by Kathryn Shay

around and get her feelings hurt
.
    “Hold on!” This time he caught her hand, pulled her around and didn’t let go. “Why do you keep running away?”
    She took in a deep breath. “I guess becauseI can’t read you. You flirted, asked in an email if we should meet, then said never mind.”
    “I did.”
    No hedging. No denial. She liked that. “Why?”
    “Because I wasn’t sure we should…do anything like this.”
    “Adam, it was only a kiss.”
    His expression said it was much more than that
.
    “But I liked it,” she continued. “Still, don’t worry. I’m not asking you for anything.”
    Jamming his hands in his pockets, he rocked back on his heels. “What if
I
want something?”
    “Damn it, Adam, just say what you mean. What you want. I don’t have time for or interest in being coy.”
    “Let’s go out.”
    She watched him.
    “You’ve dated since your husband died, right?”
    “No, but recently I made a decision that I wanted to get into the…the swing of things. I’m seeing someonetonight for supper and a movie.”
    His brows knit together. “Is it serious?”
    “I met him on first base.”
    “Excuse me?”
    She laughed at her expression. “At a softball game. I got a hit, and he…never mind all that.”
    “So, you’re a free agent, so to speak.”
    And would probably stay one. But she’d like to see this man. “I am, but I’m not interested in anything serious. Just some fun.”
Some hot sex
. She didn’t say that aloud, thank God. Though she knew one thing: she was attracted to him big-time.
    “Have dinner with me this weekend.”
    “Sofia’s taking the boys on Sunday for the day. I could do an early dinner.”
    “All right. I’ll pick you up at five.” He added, “Wear something nice, but no ball gowns.”
    Did he think he had to tell her what to wear? What was all thatabout? Maybe it was nothing. She just wasn’t used to this dating scene. Had never really been in it. He was probably being thoughtful.
    “Hey, Paulie, you back here?” Frank’s voice came from the end of the yard
.
    She said, “I have to go.”
    He grasped her arm again. “Would you wear your hair down Sunday?”
    “Maybe. Let’s wait and see.”
    oOo
    “So, how’d it go?” Joe askedthe question after Paulina left and Adam went to the car.
    “The ribbon cutting? You were there.”
    “No, I mean afterwards when you followed Paulina to the backyard.”
    “Could you see us from the street?” God, he hadn’t thought of that. He hadn’t thought of anything but how she fit him perfectly, how she wanted him.
    “At the picnic table. Then you dragged her into a bunch of trees thatcovered you. But you should be more careful if you don’t want spectators to see what you do.” He glanced in the rearview mirror and started the car. “What
did
you do?”
    “None of your business.”
    “I can fill in the blanks.”
    “Just take me downtown, please. I don’t want to talk about this yet.”
    “Sure thing, boss.”
    When Joe dropped him at his building, Adam went upstairs and intohis office. Until now, he’d resisted the urge, but today, he strode to the storage area built in behind the whole left wall. From it, he took a rectangular-framed photo, two feet by three feet. Bringing it to the sitting area, he rested it against the back of the couch and sat across from it
.
    And stared at the lovely faces of the Ludzecky sisters. One in particular. And he noticed something.Not only was her hair shorter but her whole demeanor, even just standing there, was different. She seemed relaxed, despite the formal occasion, and there was mischief in her eyes, as if she was just about to whisper something naughty to one of her sisters. And those eyes were clearer, brighter. But the biggest thing was she looked younger. The wedding had been only a few years ago, but in the photo,Paulina could have passed for a teenager. No longer. Nobody could mistake the sad wisdom that had taken up permanent space in her eyes
.
    It