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Bella glanced over at me and slowly shook her head. “I wouldn’t know how he is. We divorced seven months ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be, I’m not.”
The bell rang out above the door again as someone came in, and she jumped, looking over her shoulder. “I’ve got to go. Enjoy your dinner.”
Once she was gone, I turned my attention to my dinner. Occasionally, I’d look over at her and watch as she dealt with one customer after another. When my plate was clear, I shoved it to the side and turned my attention back to the pile of documents, reading over the contract this doctor had drawn up.
Reaching the last page of the contract, everything looked good, but I’d still needed to have my lawyer check it over before I signed. I was just about to send him an email requesting a meeting when Bella appeared at the side of my table.
“Would you like your desert now with another coffee?” I heard her soft voice ask.
I looked up and met those gorgeous dark eyes and nodded. “Only if you’ll join me,” I said, winking.
She softly smiled and shook her head. “I’d love to, but I’m the only one here tonight. It’s going to get busy.”
I couldn’t get over how much I loved that soft-pink hue on her cheeks. She was attractive in high school, and had Miles not gotten to her first, I’d have gone after her, but now there was something even more attractive about her. I wanted to get to know better. “Well, that is a problem,” I said.
“It is?” she questioned, looking around.
“Yes, well, I love desert, but I hate eating it alone.” There was that blush again.
“Oh, that is a problem.” She giggled. “How do you suggest we solve it?”
“Well, I was thinking, perhaps we could share a dessert later, after your shift is over,” I replied, meeting her eyes. It wasn’t like me to be this forward.
“Oh, I don’t know.” I watched her throat as she swallowed hard. She began fidgeting with the watch on her wrist as she stood there. “I’m really not looking for—”
“Just as friends. I’m not looking for anything either.” I winked, trying to make her feel a little more comfortable at my suggestion and not think I was some creep.
She thought for a minute, then smiled. “All right, I guess… we could do that,” she said, playing with the thin gold chain around her neck.
“Okay then. I’ll be right here.” I pulled my phone from my coat pocket, getting ready to email my lawyer. “I’ll sit here until you kick me out, then I will wait for you in the parking lot.” I winked.
She nodded, smiled, and turned away from me. Occasionally, I’d notice she was looking over my way, a soft smile on her lips as she served the rest of the customers through the evening.
Bella
I’d just lockedup the back door after letting all the staff out and went back out to the front to exit from the front door. I looked out the front window and could see Asher sitting in his car. Reaching into the display case, I pulled the last four double chocolate chip cookies and placed them into a bag, then I poured the last of the coffee into two paper cups, placing a lid on both. I shut the lights off, except for the ones behind the counter, and carried everything over to the door. I carefully punched the code into the alarm and then unlocked the front door, slipping outside.
Asher met me on the sidewalk, grabbing the bag and coffee from my hands so I could take my keys and lock the door. Together we walked to his car, where he opened the passenger side door for me and handed me the coffee and cookies. Then he ran around the front of the car and climbed in.
“I noticed you don’t have a car here?” he said, glancing at the empty parking lot.
I shook my head. “It’s nice weather. I prefer to walk. Besides, I’m near to here.”
“I see, even this late at night you walk?” he questioned. “Don’t you worry about safety?”
“Yep, and yep, but it’s a pretty safe neighbourhood.”
“So, where shall we go?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Well, we could go to the park, or to the waterfront, but if there is another low-key place you like to hang out at, say the word. We’ll go wherever you want.”
For a moment, I thought about it. I’d been back in Eastport for two months, and the only places I’d visited were The Cooling Rack, my condo, the grocery store, and Brielle and Sawyer’s. On my day off, I hadn’t walked through the park or the waterfront. I let out a breath and thought for a moment.
