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“When are you free?”
“I’m volunteering at the USO on Thursday. I can meet you at the grill sometime after five.”
“I was thinking some place more upscale than the grill.” Graham drew out the words.
“Well, I’m just going to put it out there that you don’t need to impress me by going to a fancy restaurant.” Even though he asked her out, from things she’d heard about dating these days, he might expect her to pay for her meal. A forty- or fifty-dollar meal would bust her budget. “Having the wait staff hover over us isn’t conducive to being ourselves.”
“Good point. But, uh …” he hesitated again. “I might have eaten at the grill a few times last week, hoping to run into you tutoring again.”
Oh. Lordy. She fanned herself. “I’m flattered.” That he admitted trying to connect with her made Erin feel desirable in a way she hadn’t in longer than she could remember.
“If you like Italian food, the place we went for my son-in-law’s birthday a few weeks ago had great food and pizza.”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Do you want to wait until Thursday or . . .?”
“I’m free tomorrow or Friday if either works better for you.” It was a good thing they weren’t video chatting so he couldn’t see her silly smile, though she sure wouldn’t mind seeing his face.
“Tomorrow is better. What time would you like for me to pick you up?”
“How about we meet there?”
“Okay,” he said after a brief pause. “I’ll text you the name and address. Say eighteen hundred hours?”
“I’ll see you there then. Will you be in uniform?” Did she really ask him that?
“I’ll come by the house and change first.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Erin.”
A date. She’d just accepted her first date in nearly three decades, and it was with an Army colonel. A very handsome, real-life, widowed colonel.Take that Facebook scammers.
Still, it was better to proceed cautiously and meet him there. She wasn’t looking for a relationship, and definitely not marriage, but having someone to talk to over dinner would be nice.
Except she didn’t know the rules or lingo for dating in today’s day and age. Her friends had shared stories, though. Like inviting someone back for a drink or coffee meant you wanted to sleep with them. Or that after three dates, you wereexpectedto have sex with someone. Three dates? She’d dated Phil for eight months before losing her virginity. Not that she wanted to waitthatlong now. She wasn’t a virgin anymore.
However, she needed to chill rather than get worked up. This was one date. She was not going to be having sex with him. Just dinner. And maybe a kiss. That thought made her fan her face again. Only that wasn’t the only part of her all heated up.
ChapterSeven
After arriving even earlierthan he’d planned at DiLorenzo’s, Graham debated whether to get a table or wait near the entrance until Erin arrived. What was the proper dating protocol these days? He wouldn’t have to figure this out if she had let him pick her up. He went with being seated and ordered a glass of wine to take the edge off his nerves, then texted Erin so she would know he was here.
When she entered the restaurant, he got to his feet and smiled as she made her way to the table. “You look stunning.” He stood there awkwardly. It was too soon to press a kiss of greeting to her cheek, wasn’t it? Her turquoise blue dress highlighted her curves and made her eyes look even bluer. Tonight, her hair had soft waves, for a casual, and attractive, tousled look.
“Thank you.” She gave him a shy smile. “I haven’t had an excuse to get dressed up in a while, so I thought I’d take advantage of this opportunity.” She slid into the empty chair across from him.
Okay, no kiss. No handshake. Got it. He sat. Under the table, he wiped his palms on his pants.
The server was at their table within seconds. “Would you care for a glass of wine or something to drink while you look over the menu?”
“I’ll just have a glass of ice water, please. It smells amazing in here.” Erin picked up her menu, then laid it back on the table and placed her hands over it. “Look, I appreciate you inviting me out, but I’m just going to lay this out there and say that I’m beyond nervous. I haven’t gone on a first date in nearly thirty years.”
Whew.“Me either. Everything’s different these days, and I don’t know if I’m doing things right.”
“It’s been so long, I’m not sure I remember what’s right.” She gave a nervous laugh.
