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We finished the interview questions, and then I walked around the corner and toward the small café seating area. There was a camera on him, but I knew by the angle that it was picking me up too. I was both excited and a little nervous as I stepped around him.
“Hi,” I said with more bubble in my voice than expected. His eyes snapped to mine, and a wide grin spread over his features as he quickly came to his feet.
“Wow, I hoped you’d pick me, but I was worried you wouldn't.” He put his hand out. “I’m Blake Monahan.”
I shook his hand. “Ali Davidson,” I replied.
“Can I give you a hug?” he suddenly asked, and I grinned up at him and stepped forward. The hug was lovely, and for only a brief moment, I thought about the fact that it didn’t make me tingle. I didn’t need tingle; I needed reliable.
“Have a seat.” He held my chair out for me. “Wow, I can’t believe this. What a ride this has been, huh?”
“Yes, it has been crazy.”
“That last dance we did, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to learn it.”
“You?” I laughed as a drink was put down in front of me. “I was the one that had to learn all those in the air things.”
He chuckled, and I smiled. I liked the sound of his voice and his laugh. “So, what do you do, Ali? Are you a professional dancer?”
I threw my head back and laughed. “Oh, god! No! Normally, I can’t even dance at all. Not sure what came over me during the last two weeks, but don’t depend on that.” I smiled at him, feeling very comfortable. “I’m a chef.”
“What? Like you like to cook?”
“Yes, I love to cook, but I’m a Head Chef at Randolph’s French Restaurant. Do you like to cook?”
He snickered. “I have issues boiling water.” At least he admitted it, and I wouldn’t have to deal with him cooking in the kitchen. “You are welcome to cook for me anytime, although you don’t have to cook.” He backpedaled as if he wasn’t sure he should have said that.
“It’s okay; I enjoy cooking. I’d love to cook for you sometime. What do you do?”
“I work in finance.”
“Finance?”
“Yeah, I manage a bank.”
Well, you couldn’t get more stable and reliable than that, now could you? The two of us finished our drinks and took a walk in the nearby park. The camera crew followed us for a little while, then quietly disappeared. I enjoyed my conversation with Blake and honestly felt that I had made the right decision.
At the end of our time, we traded phone numbers and made a date for lunch later in the week. Our schedules were going to be a little tough to work around, but if it was meant to be, it would work itself out. I felt good about my decision, and as I caught a ride to the restaurant, I returned the phone call to Charlie.
“So is he as sexy in person as he was on camera?”
“I didn’t pick Harvey.”
“Harvey? That was his name? Wait! You picked the blond guy? Why?” she cried over the phone.
“Because I needed safe, not sexy in my life, Charlie. You know I don’t have time for a crazy romance. I need to find someone who can slip into my world and not make waves. Harvey looked like he would have brought along hurricane-sized waves.”
“Oh, my god! Have I not taught you anything? Damn, Ali! You should have gone for the sex! Just once, you should have listened to me!”
“Blake is really nice. I think we are going to be able to build a nice relationship. You’re going to like him.”
“Blake? He sounds like a surfer dude. What does he do?”
“He manages a bank.”
“Bor-ing! Holy smokes, Ali. I can’t believe you picked Mr. Safe. You are going to regret it.”
“No, I’m not. Charlie, can’t you just be happy for me? He’s a really nice guy, and I know that we are going to get along really well.”
