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Shawna
I’m on cloud nine. My date with Nate was beyond all expectations. As always, our conversation was great. The more I learned about him, the more I liked him, and by the way he kissed me, I can tell he likes me, too.
And he’s coming over today.
“Mom!” Noah calls from the top of the stairs. “What time will he be here?”
“Any minute!” I answer as I continue loading the dishwasher.
Noah’s been excited for Nate to come over ever since I told him this morning. He certainly has a thing for Nate, which is surprising since he just met him yesterday. Apparently, Nate made a good impression on him.
I guess Nate has that effect on people.
“So your date went well?” Mom casually asks from the couch as she takes a sip of tea.
I glance at her and try to stifle a smile. “Yeah, it was nice,” I say, not wanting to appear too eager about Nate with my mom.
“I mean, it must have gone well if you invited him to come over.”
I shrug. “Yeah. We had a nice time together, and I thought it’d be nice to see him again today, so …” I don’t want my mom to get the wrong idea—or, rather, the right idea, I suppose—about my feelings for Nate. I don’t want her to think the first guy who comes along and takes me out can have such an effect on me. I’m a strong, independent woman who has been through a lot in my life so far. I’m a single mom, and I run a business. I’m not going to allow a man to shake things up for me.
Although that’s exactly what’s happening.
I can’t help it. There’s just something about Nate I can’t resist.
“He seems very nice,” Mom continues.
“He is.” I nod as I pour the detergent into the dishwasher.
“How long is he in town for?”
I close the dishwasher and start it, then turn toward Mom and shrug. “I-I actually don’t know for sure. I mean, he doesn’t even know for sure. He told me they’re here indefinitely until their work is finished or their commander calls them back. Whichever comes first.”
“What kind of work is he doing here, exactly?”
Great. Here comes Mom’s inquisition.
I walk into the family room and sit next to her on the couch. “He’s stationed at Bremerton’s base. He and some other guys are here doing work at Fort Worden. I don’t know the specifics, but you know how the military is always doing different things at the fort.”
Mom nods, then places a hand on my knee. “I just don’t want you to get your hopes up. You haven’t dated since you were a teenager—”
“I know,” I say, interrupting her. “Believe me, I’ve thought this through. I’m just having fun. Getting my feet wet, so to speak, as I enter the dating pool.”
I hope what I’m saying is true. I want to believe my own words.
We’re interrupted by a loud knock on the front door. He’s here.
I stand as Mom replies, “I love you, Shawna, and I want you to have fun. I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
Me, too.
I walk down the hall toward the front door, and Noah runs down the stairs at the same time. “I’ll get it!” he says enthusiastically, jumping off the second to last step and rushing to the door. He unlocks the deadbolt and swings the door open. “Hi, Nate!”
Nate looks undeniably sexy in blue jeans and a Navy T-shirt that’s taut across his chest and chiseled arms.
“Hey, bud,” he says to Noah, then looks up at me. “Hi, Shawna.”
“Hi,” I reply.
