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“I knew it.” Callie tapped the side of her head and her lips pulled into a small grin. “I bet he can’t be too happy about that. Hard to believe he’s only hit eight of your twelve rules, though. He’s a solid nine at least from the way he fills out a pair of jeans.” Her friend’s eyebrows shot up with her hands at her confession. “Just sayin’.”
Juniper shrugged. “They are not rules, per se. Just solid guidelines. I’m giving him time to work up to all twelve. Seems fair, no? I mean, he doesn’t even know what he’s competing against.” Juniper added to Callie’s surprise, judging by how her mouth gaped open.
“You’re kidding. He doesn’t know? Awkward. What about the dimples? That should earn him a reprieve from a couple of your rules at least.”
Juniper smothered a groan with a half-hearted chuckle. “I’m a terrible date, Cal. My history should speak for itself. Maybe I should come with a warning label and an instruction manual.” Regardless of her desire to be counted among the married, she didn’t hold out high hopes of it happening any time soon.
“I don’t know. That’s probably true with half the population of California. Hell, the world. Do you know what you’re going to say when he asks? Do you think he’s the one?”
“I…” Juniper furrowed her brows. What would she say? Until that very second, she thought for sure the answer would be yes. At twenty-five, she wanted safety and reliability. Not the struggle and daily dread of the unknown. Where was a magic eight-ball when a girl needed one?
“I don’t really know. I guess we’ll both find out.” She needed to let go mentally and let her man list do the heavy lifting.
An hour later Juniper finally skidded into the restaurant they agreed to meet at and stopped to catch her breath. Running four blocks from her office in heels took almost the last of her energy. Luck had to be the only way she didn’t break a heel and take out all the misfortunate pedestrians.
She smoothed down the soft pleats of her skirt as she sidestepped a couple on their way out.
The hostess ushered her in and she gave Eric’s name. By the time she got his last name out, he was already on his feet and walking toward her. His shoulders were a little stiff and the smile he flashed didn’t offer any more comfort than the quick peck on the cheek he gave.
Uh-oh. She turned to the hostess who caught the exchange and took strength from the small smile she offered.
Her heart finally settled after the sprint. She glanced at her watch. Only a few minutes late and Callie had told him she would be running late. Juniper weaved between the tables and followed the direction he pointed her in for their table.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Thank you for waiting.”
Juniper slipped from her coat and Eric pushed in her chair as she took a seat. “This place is beautiful. I had no idea it even existed. I’ll have to add it to my list for clients.”
Large enough for a crowd of your most intimate friends and family yet big enough not to feel cramped. She loved everything down to the gold thread cloth napkins.
That made number nine on her list: Know what she liked.
Focus, Juniper.
Forcing herself to take a breath, Juniper counted silently to five to settle her nerves.
“I’m glad you like it. My parents come here often when they visit the city.”
“I don’t know how I missed it.”
Piano music filled the spacious dining area and worked at the knot of tension between her shoulder blades. Soft light bathed fellow diners in a warm glow as they enjoyed their meals by candlelight.
Tall windows climbed the length of the stone walls and offered a unique view over the Pacific. Waiters weaved in between the small tables-for-two with ease, and the aroma of something buttery caused her stomach to rumble with appreciation.
After leaving the final tasks of their client’s wedding in Callie’s hands for cleanup, Juniper had returned to her office and made record time in changing from her wedding gown to a sexy mid-thigh skirt and a soft blouse with a deep V neckline. On went another pair of heels and she’d made a mad four-block dash for their date.
“I can’t thank you enough for waiting for me. It took a little longer to get the last of the guests on their way after the bride and groom left. I hope you didn’t wait long.”
As they made their way back to the table, a waiter brought a house wine before moving on to the next patron.
Eric smiled and held up his glass. “A toast. To the best and sexiet wedding planner.”
He touched his glass to hers, his words warm yet the opposite of what his eyes said. They refused to hold her gaze and that wasn’t like Eric at all. That sent her Spidey sense into hyper mode.
The compliment rolled off his tongue easy enough but she caught the nervous tic in his jaw and the way his eyes kept darting to the windows. Anywhere but her.
“Um, thank you.” Warmth filled her cheeks as she took a sip and let the sweet flavor of the wine play over her tongue.
“I took the liberty and ordered while I waited for you. I hope you don’t mind.”
