The Dating List by Jean C. Joachim Page B

appetite went out the window. Pain stabbed
through his stomach in a flash and was gone. Leah…so much
loss.
    "What about your dreams?" Her gaze connected with
his.
    Colin took a halfhearted bite of his sandwich before
answering.
    "Teaching and coaching at Kensington State would be
my dream."
    "Is that all? No family?" She gave him a flirtatious
glance.
    "Add a spectacular woman plus a couple of kids to the
mix and it's complete." His gaze returned to his sandwich.
    "Oh? Spectacular? She has to be spectacular? What
mortal female can fulfill that?"
    "I'm looking at her." Colin put down his sandwich to
stare at her.
    She spit coffee into her cup and started to choke.
The waitress rushed over to their table to pound Leah on the back.
Colin waved the overzealous woman off while Leah cleared her
lungs.
    "You hardly know me," she choked out.
    "I've known you for several days…I'd like to get to
know you better, a whole lot better." His gaze caressed her
body.
    "I've heard that before." She wiped her mouth with
her napkin.
    Blood rushed to Colin's face. Caught leering. Grey
would have my head.
    "Not just like that." He covered his embarrassment by
eating.
    "What exhibit do you want to see next?"
    You, naked, in my bed. "Doesn't matter. I'll
follow your lead."
    "I love the French Impressionist paintings. Let's go
there."
    Colin wiped his mouth with his napkin and picked up
the check. Leah sat back, grinning at him while he pulled a few
bills out of his wallet and dropped them on the table.
    "Thank you for the lunch. It was delicious," she
said.
    Not as delicious as you. "You're welcome." He
stood up and offered her his hand while his gaze rested on her
breasts.
    She led him through the archway toward the huge room
filled with beautiful paintings.
    "Any favorites?" She asked, turning to face him?
    "Don't know enough yet. Which are your
favorites?"
    "I love Van Gogh, Renoir, and Monet," she said.
    "Then they are my favorites, too."
    His thumb caressed her hand as they walked through
the exhibit. Leah explained the use of light and shadow, color and
texture to him. Gradually the great works of art captured his eye.
As he listened to her words, he studied the paintings, finally
understanding how they reached out to her with their beauty.
    After an hour they sat on the bench in the entry,
their coats on their laps.
    "Can we go somewhere for coffee?" Colin asked,
standing up to hold Leah's coat for her.
    "How about back to Nina and Clint's? They have some
fabulous coffee from Zabar's there."
    Oh, yes. Alone with you in that apartment. Wishes do
come true.
    "You've twisted my arm. Let's catch a cab."
    Leah received a text from Carrie: Making chili.
Come for drinks now.
    "Carrie and Grey want us there for chili…cocktail
hour starts now."
    "Damn! I was looking forward to some alone time with
you."
    "Perhaps this is safer," Leah said, scanning the
traffic on Fifth Avenue for an empty taxi.
    Colin spotted one first and raised his hand high in
the air.
    "Safer? Are you afraid of me?" He asked as the cab
screeched to a stop in front of them.
    "It's not you I'm afraid of…" Leah said as Colin
opened the door for her.
    "Then who?"
    She slid across the seat then he followed.
    "Me. I'm afraid of myself. Driver, we're going
uptown…West side."
    Colin closed the door with a chuckle then the taxi
sped away from the curb.
     
    ****
     
    Carrie sat by the window, looking out at the gray,
cold day. A shiver ran through her body. Perfect day for
chili. She picked up her phone and sent a text to Grey at
work.
    Chili tonight with Leah and Colin.
    His response was almost immediate.
    Great. Be home at five thirty.
    Carrie sent a text to Leah, then put her phone down.
She opened the refrigerator and began to take the ingredients out
for her chili recipe when the phone rang. It was Delia.
    "Hi, pumpkin. How are you?"
    "Good. What's up?" Carrie opened the door to the
freezer.
    "I've talked to three caterers. I'd love your
input."
    "Wedding plans. Can you send