The Dating List by Jean C. Joachim Page A

hazel eyes.
    "What happened to you?"
    She tried to move away but his lips closed on hers
before she could. His kiss was so soft and easy, her body relaxed,
falling against him. His arm held her to him, steadying her. A
sense of lightheaded giddiness, as if she had had too much to
drink, shot through her body. A tingle rocketed along her nerve
endings all the way to her fingertips before she eased away from
him.
    "I…I…still don't want to fall in love." She
stammered. I don't, do I?
    "And I still don't believe you. We have a
stalemate."
    A group of five people strolled into the room
removing the couple's privacy.
    "I could use a cup of coffee," Leah said, heading
toward the exit.
    "How about I buy you some lunch?" Colin took her hand
in his. "Which way to the café?"
     
    ****
     
    Colin couldn't believe how beautiful Leah looked,
shivering on the steps of the museum in her cream-colored sheepskin
coat which matched her boots. Her unsophisticated fuzzy pink hat
looked cute in a little girl way, striking a chord in his
heart.
    He bolted up the cement steps easily, a lightness in
his step and in his heart. While the art museum wasn't his favorite
place, he preferred science museums, he was looking forward to
learning from her and about her. What Leah thought of this painting
or that sculpture suddenly seemed to be the most important opinion
on Earth. He knew he'd become more cultured under her tutelage. Another step closer to her world. He wanted that. For the
first time, Colin was embarrassed about his lack of knowledge about
art. Grey will be impressed. He chuckled to himself as he
bounded up the steps to join his muse.
    He meant to listen intently, take mental notes of
everything. But watching her talk, his eyes focused on her lips,
the tantalizing pinkness, shape and softness called to him. So
kissable. When she guided him into the tomb, he seized the
chance to kiss her. The heat from having her pressed against him,
the power of that kiss almost knocked him on his butt.
    Now he wanted more, needed more. Colin had to find
out why she didn't want to fall in love. He followed her into the
café at the museum. Leah led him to the Petite Court and Wine Bar
on the first floor.
    After they ordered, she opened the conversation.
    "I don't want to talk about falling in love."
    The waitress brought their coffees. Colin sat back. She's tough.
    "Then let's talk about dreams. Did you always want to
go to Paris and design lingerie?"
    Leah laughed. Her lips curved up in the most charming
way, her eyes sparkled. "I grew up in a small town in Connecticut.
Mattan Ridge. I was a change-of-life baby. Mom was forty-seven when
she had me. Because I was the last child left at home, I was always
close to my parents. They had a wonderful life, but being a lot
older, they died before I graduated college. My dream was to have a
big farmhouse like they did and a couple of kids.
    "What happened to that dream?" Colin took a sip of
his coffee.
    Leah added sugar and milk before answering.
    "My last year in college I met Hank Golden. Before we
got married, I agreed to stay in the City while Hank pursued his
dream of success on Wall Street."
    She stopped to take a breath and taste her
coffee.
    "Go on." Colin sat back in his chair.
    "Chasing success was harder than we thought. It kept
being one more year, one more year. Two years turned into ten.
While he was building our fortune, I became a buyer at Franklyn's,
a women's clothing store, where I met Delia, Carrie's Aunt."
    She took a sip of her coffee when the waitress
arrived with their food.
    "What happened…to your dream, I mean," Colin
said after the waitress left.
    Leah stopped her fork in midair, a small sigh escaped
her throat.
    "Hank died, taking my dream with him." She paused to
chew, lowering her gaze.
    Colin placed his hand over hers. She forced a
smile.
    "Now I have a new dream. Go to Paris and become a
famous designer."
    Silence fell on the table. Leah focused on eating her
salad while Colin's