One Night With You by Gwynne Forster Page B

she ever needed to. He held her hand as they walked into the restaurant, a large but cozy room with hanging chandeliers, upholstered chairs, tables spaced far apart and the sound of soft, easy-listening music flowing around them.
    â€œIt’s beautiful, Reid. How did you find it?”
    â€œI saw it when I drove to Caution Point this morning and noticed that it was used for wedding parties, so I figured it would be nice. I called and made a reservation.”
    â€œYes, it’s beautiful,” she repeated, “and so are you. You clean up real good, as they say.”
    His smile told her that he appreciated her compliment, but he added, “Thank you, Kendra. I’m beginning to feel like my old self, but when I look at you, knowing who and what you are, I’m humbled. You are so beautiful. I love you in that dress.”
    She nearly lost her breath, although she knew there had to be more to that sentence. The maître d’ seated them in a corner near a fireplace, one of several in the room. The place was bound to be expensive, but she didn’t intend to insult him by suggesting that they split the bill. She ordered white wine, and he asked for a wine and club soda spritzer. “I’m driving,” he told the sommelier when the man looked at him disparagingly.
    A waiter took their order, and she noted the frown on Reid’s face when the man allowed his gaze to linger on her cleavage.
    Reid raised his glass. “Here’s to the loveliest of women.”
    â€œAnd here’s to the nicest, sweetest man I know.”
    â€œOkay,” he said. “I won’t push you. You don’t have to say anything about my…er…charm and—”
    â€œThen, I won’t. Did you rent a car today?”
    â€œMy boss let me use a company car.” He leaned forward. “Kendra, I have so much to tell you. The day got better by the hour.” He told her about his visit with Marcus, of Marcus’s request that he design a building for him, about his boss’s agreement allowing him to do it.
    â€œKendra, Jack invited me to lunch. He loved the sketch I did for the airport terminal in Caution Point, and another one that he thinks he can use for a deal he’s trying to make. But, Kendra, even before he saw my ideas for that airport terminal, he and Connerly, the junior partner, had decided to raise me from assistant to full architect with double the pay. Do you—”
    She interrupted him. “I think I’m going to cry. I—”
    â€œCry? Why, for heaven’s sake?”
    â€œI’m so happy for you. I…I’m…excuse me.” She stumbled from the table and rushed to the women’s room, where the tears flowed. Now maybe there was a chance for them. He would be his own man, the company recognized his value and he didn’t have to look up to anyone. She patted cold water on her face, dried it with a paper towel, buffed her skin and headed back to the table.
    The maître d’ intercepted her. “Is Madame all right?”
    â€œYes, indeed,” she said, and looked up and saw that Reid stood by the table waiting for her. If she had been at home, she suspected that she would have run to him, but she remembered who and where she was, controlled the urge and let her smile communicate to him her feelings.
    He walked to meet her. “What happened? Are you okay?”
    â€œI’m fine, Reid. Forgive me for letting it get out of control.”
    He assisted her in sitting down and walked around to his own chair. “I’m glad you’re fine, but I need to know what happened.”
    She took a deep breath. “Not since I met you have I seen you so…so full of…of hope, so happy, just bursting with joie de vivre. Seeing you that way, almost watching years fall away from you. I couldn’t help it. I’m so happy for you. It’s the first time I’ve ever cried because I was