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She laughs hard and gives me a lustful eye.
“You are funny, John Peterson.”
“You are too kind, Reese Grafton.” I narrow my eyes at her playfully. Seeing her empty cup, I ask, “Do you want a refill?”
“No, um, I’m good.” She smiles.
“Well, I’m going to get a refill. I’ve been waiting this whole week for you to talk to me. Now that you’re here, I’m going to take full advantage.”
She gasps. “You could have talked to me!”
“I never imagined you’d say yes. So, this right here, I’m going to savor.”
As I get up from the table, I raise Reese’s hand to my lips, brushing a kiss across her knuckles, before leaving to walk up to the barista behind the counter.
“Give me a decaf black coffee.” I look at the selection of pastries behind the food window. “And that.” I point to the chocolate chip croissant.
The barista hands over my things, and I turn back to see Reese texting on her phone. As I approach, she quickly places it in her lap.
“I don’t mean to be forward, but I should’ve asked whether you had a boyfriend before we started talking,” I say, shaking my head. “Of course you do. A beautiful, funny, intelligent woman like yourself. I was crazy to think you were single. I’m so sorry—”
Reese cuts me off. “No, I’m single, I’m just, um…” She looks around. “I’ve been trying to get hold of my brother. He’s been ignoring me.”
Sitting back down, I ask with concern, “Why would he do that?”
She nibbles on her bottom lip and shifts nervously in the chair. I can tell by the movement of her shoulders and upper arms that she’s flipping her phone over and over between her hands under the table. “Not sure. He said he had a business trip, and I haven’t heard from him in over a week,” she worriedly replies.
I nod my head. “Well, give it a few more days, then call his work. Or maybe he will answer back.”
Sighing heavily, she tells me, “Kevin does these disappearing acts, but this time, we fought beforehand.” I give her a sorrowful look, at least I hope I do. “We fought over me investing in his company. I did it without telling him. He said they needed money, and he was working on something and got mad when I made the deal without telling him about it first.”
Stop the fucking press.
“I can’t undo it, I tried,” Reese rushes on.
“What happened?” I ask, needing more information.
“I contacted his supervisor, Greg, and he said he’d help me with this gift. I didn’t think about it.” She shrugs her shoulders. “Kevin got pissed.”
“Well, give it some time. He’ll come around and be thankful. Hopefully he’ll realize you did it because you love him and want to help him.”
“Maybe.” She eyes the chocolate chip croissant.
“Please tell me you eat carbs. ’Cause that’s a strike if you don’t.” She reaches over and takes a piece, popping it in her mouth. “That’s my girl,” I say with a grin.
Her already pink-flushed face is now burning red.
“Your girl?”
“Right now, yes, at this moment, you’re my girl because you’re here with me.” I lean closer to her as she takes another piece of croissant. “So, what do you say about going on a second date? I’d like to get to know you more.”
Reese’s lashes flutter with amusement. “Who said we’ve had a first date?”
I motion to me, the coffee, the croissant, then to her. “This is our first date. And I’d like very much to take you out on a second. A proper one.”
“I’d like that, John.” She hands her phone to me. “Put your number in, and I’ll call you.”
Cute. I set my phone on the table and put hers on top. I click on the contacts and enter my number, with John “The Best” Peterson as the name. When I hand it back, she laughs again and honestly, I could listen to it all day.
