mom’s because she forced it down my throat, but I could eat again.
“Uh, sure.” Rose was still committed to making the trip strictly professional. But she behaved differently toward me than she did everyone else, including her friend Florence. She was partially comfortable around me, always making eye contact with me when she avoided it with everyone else. There was hope there was something else there—that she felt what I felt.
“Great. Let’s hit the road.”
***
It was hard not to be offended that she didn’t want me in the house last night. I had to stay with my mother and be interrogated all night long. But I also understood the request. She didn’t know me very well and she was just cautious.
But it ruined my plans.
Sitting on the couch together in front of a roaring fire could have kindled a romance. One thing could have led to another, and maybe we would have spent the night together. The chemistry was there, that was certain. But she wouldn’t allow it to happen. She didn’t have a boyfriend so what was her hesitance?
“Where’s your place?” I reached the city along with the traffic.
“You can drop me off at my office.”
I hid my irritation at her need for secrecy. “Are you sure? Your suitcase is pretty heavy.”
“I’ll manage.” She looked out the window.
The logical part of me knew I should throw in the towel. She may be into me but she didn’t want anything to come from it. She kept walls of concrete erected all around her so nothing could get inside.
But I couldn’t give up.
When we reached the office I pulled up to the curb. “Thanks for coming out. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. I can promise you, this house is going to be beautiful. You can trust me to do a great job.” Her face always lit up when she talked about her architectural designs. Very few people loved their job the way she did. She clearly adored it.
“I’m sure I can.” If she were any other woman I would touch her hand or place my hand on her thigh, some kind of move. But she would detest that. I could tell. All I could rely on were my words. “Let’s have dinner on Friday night.”
I did it . The words were out there hanging in the universe. I kept my confidence high without being too pushy. A gentle smile was on my face, trying to lure her in.
She reached for the door handle and gripped it. “Uh, to talk about the project?”
Now I knew what her answer would be. “No. I just want to spend time with you.” This was the time when I would lean in and place a gentle kiss on her lips. But I knew that would just drive her away. I had to restrain myself and rely on my words to seal the deal.
She gripped the handle so tightly her knuckles were turning white. Instead of being excited she looked terrified. “Uh, that’s very sweet of you to ask but no thank you.”
No thank you? Who says that?
“I’ll talk to you later.” She got out of the car as quickly as possible. Flustered, she slammed the car door behind her and the impact shook the car slightly.
Ouch.
She walked to the rear of the car and knocked on the truck.
I stared at her in the rearview mirror, digesting the rejection. I struck out hard. I chewed my inner lip, trying to mask the disappointment. Rejection wasn’t something I experienced very often, and now I was getting it at a time when I really didn’t want it.
I wanted her.
I knew I should let it go but I couldn’t.
I had to try again.
I got out of the car and came to her side. With a click of a button the trunk popped open.
She stood beside me, her eyes downcast and her body tense.
I grabbed the suitcase and carried it to the sidewalk. It was heavy for a day and a half trip.
“Thank you…” She pulled out the handle and prepared to leave.
“Hold on.” I didn’t block her path but I steadied her with my voice.
She turned back to me, clearly uncomfortable.
“When we first met I thought there was something here. In that restaurant…did you feel
“Uh, sure.” Rose was still committed to making the trip strictly professional. But she behaved differently toward me than she did everyone else, including her friend Florence. She was partially comfortable around me, always making eye contact with me when she avoided it with everyone else. There was hope there was something else there—that she felt what I felt.
“Great. Let’s hit the road.”
***
It was hard not to be offended that she didn’t want me in the house last night. I had to stay with my mother and be interrogated all night long. But I also understood the request. She didn’t know me very well and she was just cautious.
But it ruined my plans.
Sitting on the couch together in front of a roaring fire could have kindled a romance. One thing could have led to another, and maybe we would have spent the night together. The chemistry was there, that was certain. But she wouldn’t allow it to happen. She didn’t have a boyfriend so what was her hesitance?
“Where’s your place?” I reached the city along with the traffic.
“You can drop me off at my office.”
I hid my irritation at her need for secrecy. “Are you sure? Your suitcase is pretty heavy.”
“I’ll manage.” She looked out the window.
The logical part of me knew I should throw in the towel. She may be into me but she didn’t want anything to come from it. She kept walls of concrete erected all around her so nothing could get inside.
But I couldn’t give up.
When we reached the office I pulled up to the curb. “Thanks for coming out. I appreciate it.”
“No problem. I can promise you, this house is going to be beautiful. You can trust me to do a great job.” Her face always lit up when she talked about her architectural designs. Very few people loved their job the way she did. She clearly adored it.
“I’m sure I can.” If she were any other woman I would touch her hand or place my hand on her thigh, some kind of move. But she would detest that. I could tell. All I could rely on were my words. “Let’s have dinner on Friday night.”
I did it . The words were out there hanging in the universe. I kept my confidence high without being too pushy. A gentle smile was on my face, trying to lure her in.
She reached for the door handle and gripped it. “Uh, to talk about the project?”
Now I knew what her answer would be. “No. I just want to spend time with you.” This was the time when I would lean in and place a gentle kiss on her lips. But I knew that would just drive her away. I had to restrain myself and rely on my words to seal the deal.
She gripped the handle so tightly her knuckles were turning white. Instead of being excited she looked terrified. “Uh, that’s very sweet of you to ask but no thank you.”
No thank you? Who says that?
“I’ll talk to you later.” She got out of the car as quickly as possible. Flustered, she slammed the car door behind her and the impact shook the car slightly.
Ouch.
She walked to the rear of the car and knocked on the truck.
I stared at her in the rearview mirror, digesting the rejection. I struck out hard. I chewed my inner lip, trying to mask the disappointment. Rejection wasn’t something I experienced very often, and now I was getting it at a time when I really didn’t want it.
I wanted her.
I knew I should let it go but I couldn’t.
I had to try again.
I got out of the car and came to her side. With a click of a button the trunk popped open.
She stood beside me, her eyes downcast and her body tense.
I grabbed the suitcase and carried it to the sidewalk. It was heavy for a day and a half trip.
“Thank you…” She pulled out the handle and prepared to leave.
“Hold on.” I didn’t block her path but I steadied her with my voice.
She turned back to me, clearly uncomfortable.
“When we first met I thought there was something here. In that restaurant…did you feel
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