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Things had been so relaxed last night at the bookstore when we met that it isn’t until he’s headed to pick me up that I start to get nervous.
I’ve been texting my best friends, Harlow and Aurora, asking for advice but they haven’t been much help. Neither of them date a lot either. Aurora owns the arts and crafts store and Harlow owns the pet store on either side of my bookstore and they saw Spencer coming into my store as they were closing up theirs last night. They had both stopped by after he left and demanded to know all of the details. When I told them that he had asked me out for dinner, they had squealed and happy danced with me.
What am I supposed to wear? Should I have asked him where we were going so that I knew how to dress? What are the rules?
Growing up, the romance parts of fairy tales were always my favorite. I know what people say about me. That I’m naïve and a hopeless romantic, but it’s not really my fault.
Growing up, I heard all about the family tradition. For as far back as my grandparents could remember, everyone has taken one look at their future spouse and fallen head over heels in love. There would be this spark, this connection, and you would just know that you had found your other half. Your happily ever after. I can’t help but wonder if Spencer is going to be that for me.
Now that it’s almost time for Spencer to pick me up, I’m starting to wish that I had asked more questions about the dating part of those stories. In my head, I always pictured a big movie moment where the woman jumped into the arms of her true love and they shared a swoon-worthy kiss in the rain. The details of how exactly they got there didn’t interest me, but they sure do now.
Do I hold his hand? Was I supposed to play hard to get when he asked me out last night?
Spencer hadn’t seemed put off last night when I had said yes right away. In fact, I would say that he seemed excited about it so I’m guessing I didn’t mess that part up at least.
I had been shocked when he asked me out. He was so hot, the most attractive person that I’d ever laid eyes on with his mussed dark brown hair and those piercing blue eyes. When we shook hands, I swear I felt a spark of something between us. His brilliant eyes held mine captive, searching them as if looking for answers. It was intense and a little too much for me, so I had to pull myself away before I did something stupid like kiss him or ask him if he believed in love at first sight like in the fairy tales.
My phone dings and I check the screen, smiling when I see I have a message from Harlow and Aurora, both wishing me well tonight. I’m sure that they’ll be calling me tomorrow or stopping by the store to get all of the details.
The doorbell rings and I know that he’s here. I make sure that I have my phone and keys in my purse before I cross the room and open the door. Spencer is standing there with a bouquet of flowers and the sight of him takes my breath away.
He’s wearing dark blue jeans and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The outfit itself isn’t anything special, but the man wearing it… well, let’s just say he’s filling out those jeans quite nicely. And those forearms… good lord.
“Hey,” he says with a grin, his blue eyes sparkling at me as he passes me the flowers. So far, this date is already a hundred times better than my “date” with Robby.
“Hey,” I say and I start to feel myself relax.
There’s something about Spencer that puts me at ease. He seems so laid back and sweet and I feel like I can be myself around him.
I head into the kitchen with the flowers, finding a vase and filling it with water before I arrange the flowers in it.
“Are you ready to go?” He asks and I nod as I grab my purse.
I lock my apartment door behind us and follow him down the front porch steps to his big jeep.
“You look beautiful,” he says as he opens the car door for me.
I grin at him as he closes the door and heads around the hood to slide behind the wheel.
Maybe I’m not messing this whole thing up as much as I thought I would.
“Where are we headed?” I ask and he waits until we’ve merged with traffic before he answers me.
“How do you feel about Italian food?”
“I love it.”
“Is Carantino’s alright?” He asks me and I nod, giving him a small smile.
Carantino’s is a fancy upscale restaurant on the north side of Sunny Bend. I’ve always wanted to try it but I never had a reason to go or anyone to go with. Until now.
“Sounds perfect. I’ve never been there but I’ve heard good things.”
I ask him about the skydiving today and how he got into that line of work as we drive.
“I was in the military. Army and then I became a Ranger. I just got out last year actually,” he says and the short haircut clicks.
It’s done in the traditional military style. Him being in the Army also fits with him. He seems like a good guy, a protector. He’s capable and strong.
