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June didn’t move either, not backing down as Gigi climbed into her lap once more.
“Question number four,” she murmured, not looking away from him. “Why me?”
Ian didn’t look away from her as his eyes searched hers.
“Why not?” he said simply.
“No,” she whispered, not backing down and holding his gaze. “I want a real answer, Ian. Why me? Why are you this pushy? Why are you trying so hard with a woman you don’t know and met by sheer chance?”
“You want the real answer?”
“Don’t hold back…”
“Why you?” he said hoarsely, swallowing audibly as his eyes searched hers, revealing a vulnerable side to him that shocked her. He was scared to open up, but doing so because she requested it. “Because I’m a romantic at heart, and believe in fate with every ounce of my being. I could have gotten any name when they were handing them out, but something made me pick your email – leading me to you. I believe heavily in God and Divine Guidance… and I think with everything in me that I was being led to meet you, now, when you needed me most – and I need you, June.”
His voice trailed off as he looked at her.
She could hear Gigi shuffling around, sniffing at the tray of fruit between them, and the crickets were starting to chirp in the shadows, but in her mind she was replaying his words repeatedly, feeling tears sting her eyes.
Ian was indeed a romantic… and she was lost, unsure how to proceed.
“If you need space or if it’s too much,” Ian whispered softly, not backing away from where he sat, poised inches from her after sharing the strawberry. “If you need time to realize that I could be good for you? I do understand. I know you loved your husband and miss him. I accept that, but I don’t accept someone so lovely as you fading away from a chance at happiness.”
“That’s not your decision,” she whispered tearfully, hearing the pain in her voice and seeing it in his eyes.
“You’re right,” he admitted. “It’s your decision, but I’ve got a couple of days to make you realize that you’ll miss me when I leave.”
“I’m wondering if you should leave now,” she said in a shaky voice. “I never intended any of this to happen, and the questions probably need to stop.”
“If that’s your choice – but will you have dinner with me tomorrow night after you get off of work?”
She opened her mouth – only for him to continue.
“Please? We can have sushi, if you like?”
Nodding, she smiled nervously at him.
“I’ll go,” she began and hesitated. “But take it easy on the charm, okay? You are a lot to handle, and I need to focus on us becoming friends.”
“So, slowly woo you to win your heart? I can certainly do that,” he smiled tenderly at her, his eyes relaxing slightly as he dipped his head, trying to hold her gaze that looked away. “We can pretend we are teenagers and hold hands, or…”
“Ian, let’s see how this goes,” she chuckled nervously. “I need to slip back into my comfort zone, and that means you backing off slightly.”
“You know you have the cutest little divot on the tip of your nose that is enchanting?” he grinned. “Can I leave the lawn chairs here – and maybe we can sit together again tomorrow evening?”
“I’d like that,” she smiled nervously. “Do you want me to put Gigi in a carrier for you or something?”
“Me?” he chuckled. “My precious Minx, that’s our baby girl. I can’t take her back to Ghazni with me, and was hoping you could keep her.”
“Me?” she laughed. “You got me a dog without asking if I could take her? I mean, she’s adorable and so sweet, but I don’t have a leash or a little tote… or even puppy food. How? Why? Ian, you should ask people…”
“Honey,” he smiled as his lips twitched. “There’s never a good time for us to have children. There’s aways a bill, the timing is wrong, or…”
“This is not a child, Ian!” she laughed outrageously, and saw his smile spread wider as he tried his best to look shocked.
“Aww Gigi, baby - Cover your ears, precious. Mommy is just mad at Daddy. She wants us to go shopping together, hold hands, and get you some pretty puppy stuff.”
“Oh my gosh…” she smiled shyly at him, realizing he was absolutely incorrigible. He was calling her ‘Mommy,’ claiming the dog was their child? He was ridiculous and whatever he was doing, whatever spell this was, it was certainly working. His smile, combined with the puppy licking his chin – oh yes. It was enchanting. “She’s adorable.”
