“Nice.” He cleared his throat, swiped his forearm across his forehead, and said, “I’m three miles into a five-mile run.”
“Oh, then by all means don’t let me stop you.”
“I’m the one who stopped, so you’re good. I’m in no hurry. Besides, I need to ask you why you didn’t use that number I gave you.”
I pinched back a smile and said, “I figured there were a good number of women already using it.”
“There isn’t.”
“Sure.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“Not at all.”
He smirked. “I’m a doctor. I have a reputation to uphold. I’m not the type of man to get mixed up with a bunch of women.”
“I see.”
“What’s your name by the way?”
“Cyn.”
“Sin? Like being disobedient to God, type of sin?”
“No. Like, short for Cynnamon.”
He bit back a grin and asked, “Your name iscinnamon?”
“Yes, but with a Y instead of an I. My mom is a baker.”
“Ah. I got you,” he said. “I want to take you to dinner tonight, Cynnamon.”
“That’s too bad,doc. I have a full day.”
“Plans are made to be cancelled.”
“Notmyplans.”
“Then perhaps you would seriously consider canceling thisonetime. I’m off work today, which is surprising in itself, but what are the odds I would run into you again?”
I shrugged. “It’s just a coincidence.”
“Albert Einstein once said that coincidence was God’s way of remaining anonymous.”
I chuckled and said, “Oh, so you think God arranged for us to meet serendipitously in the park today?”
“I tell you what–meet me at Derita’s this evening at six and we’ll find out.”
Man, he’s a smooth one with his biceps, heat-seeking eyes, and tall stature. Dare I say no to his request and miss the opportunity to see that handsome face in dim lighting? I may be a little peeved about how he approached me that night while I was dining alone, but I ain’t crazy. Something tells me he’s oneof those once-in-a-lifetime men. I could, at the very least, go and see what he’s all about. I think that’s what my grandma calls seeing a man about a horse. This horse got some giddy-up and a bag.
I said, “Alright. I’ll be there.”
He flashed that brilliant white smile again and said, “Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
He restarted his watch and continued running. Turning toward me again but jogging backward, he said, “Don’t be late.”
“I won’t,” I said.
