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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lissa
Close Call
“I had a lot of fun with you today,” I began. “So much fun that I don’t want it to end.” I stopped just before adding that I didn’t want to be alone. I didn’t do desperate. It had to be the mimosas talking, as is, since I had absolutely no problem admitting to Montie that I wanted to spend more time with him. We had already spent the evening together, sitting at the restaurant laughing and talking for hours on hours.
“I had fun with you, too. You really have a good sense of humor, Lissa.” A grin creeped up on his cheeks, causing an adorable crease. “Like when you told the waiter that knock-knock joke, I thought I was going to die of laughter because of how silly you were,” Montie cracked up, reminding me of just how carefree I allowed myself to be with him.
“I made a fool of myself, I’m sure,” I said, giggling.
“No, it was cute actually. I like that about you. You don’t mind exposing your fun side.”
“So, do you mind if we go for a walk? I’ll tell you more jokes,” I probed.
He stared into my eyes. I was sure he was considering if he wanted to spend more personal time with his colleague with whom he’d just signed a lucrative contract. I weighed the same thought and my desire to be in his presence longer won.
“I mean, if you don’t want to, that’s fine. I have a good book to read at home,” I pushed back my invite to avoid his rejection. “I just thought it would be better to talk to an actual human for a while longer,” I admitted, while running my hand slowly up and down my bare arms.
Montie took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders to ward away the April night’s air. Again, a slight dimple creased his right cheek as he smiled. I should’ve ran in the opposite direction the first time my panties started melting over the sight of that dent. Instead, I moved even closer to where he stood and waited for his answer to my offer.
“I didn’t have anything but cleaning my patio planned for this evening. I’d much rather spend my time in the presence of a pretty woman, who’s smart and hilariously funny.”
“Don’t you flirt with me,” I said, patting him on the shoulder as the effects of the mimosas turned up a little more.
“Okay,”
he shrugged his shoulders.
“You give up quickly,” I laughed.
“You’re too much, Ms. Lissa.”
We began walking toward my car.
“I just like to have fun.”
He scanned the area, looking at the random people walking around. “How about we walk in my neighborhood? It’s pretty safe there.”
“That’s fine by me,” I agreed.
“Follow me, then,” he said.
Anywhere, I thought as “sure” slipped easily from my mouth.
***
“I can do the whop and the cabbage patch better than you,” I said and doubled over with cackles when Montie started rolling his shoulders to do the cabbage patch. We had walked for an hour around his quiet neighborhood, and I house- and people-watched, while we got to know more about each other. To avoid getting deep into our pasts, we talked about what we wanted out of the future. I found that Montie wanted nothing more than to be an outstanding father to his children, and watching his passion as he talked about them let me know that he already was. I didn’t have any children, so I couldn’t opine on the feeling of being a parent, unless you count the unspeakable joy I had for my god children. Therefore, when it came time for me to talk about myself, I told him of one of my well-kept secret joys, my love of dancing. That’s how our dance off began. Standing there watching Montie cabbage patch was funnier than any of my knock-knock jokes.
“I thought you said you could dance,” Montie said when he started kicking toward me, engaging me in a Kid and Play footwork battle. I joined him and we kicked. Our feet interlocked and we spun around.
“What just happened?” I asked, when he ended up with his arm around my waist pulling me to stand straight up. “Did your house just shift or is the earth moving?” I asked, knowing either one meant I needed to lay my drunk tail down.
“You almost fell when we spun around.”
“Good catch,” I said and touched the side of my head that was still spinning in circles.
“Come on, let’s sit down a minute. You had quite a few mimosas at the restaurant and now you’re drinking more wine.” He picked up the almost empty bottle of red wine on his table to show me how much I’d drank, alone.
