AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Five
Joseph, like all good South Indian boys who were born and raised in America, was well educated and quite handsome. He was a whole foot taller than her, was incredibly well-groomed with shiny straight white teeth that dazzled every time he spoke. Ollie noticed all of this in the 30 seconds as the hostess led her to their table.
Joseph was early, earning a point in his favor. He also stood up when she was escorted to the table and offered to pull her chair out which was another point. Of course, Ollie said she could pull out her own chair, because it was always so awkward trying to sit and match the pace at which someone else was adjusting your chair.
Once they were seated, Ollie and Joseph pondered over the menu and settled on a bottle of Riesling and starters before thanking the waitress.
“Thank you for taking the time to meet me.”
Ollie smiled as she crossed her ankles, smoothing her soft peach dress over her thighs, “I should be thanking you for coming all the way to Wilmington and making this easier.”
“I’m glad it all worked out.” Joseph told her with a smile before reaching for his water.
“So, NASA. How on earth did you get there?”
Joseph laughed and Ollie was glad he didn’t frown at the way she put the question across to him. “Didn’t all of us grow up wanting to travel amongst the stars?”
“Totally. I built myself a spaceship out of empty cartons one time in the driveway before my dad destroyed it by accident.”
“Ouch.” Joseph touched his chest like he was hurt for her. “I think you beat me in the desire to travel the stars, but I had a telescope to watch satellites and the planets. All I wanted to do was be there.”
“I hear a but…”
“But…” Joseph laughed, Ollie smiled when she noticed his blush. “I have an insane fear of flying.”
“That’s a logical fear, but you’d think NASA would have a way to make the whole experience easier.”
“Right? I hoped they would; they areliterallyrocket scientists. But no, I could not travel to the stars.” Joseph smiled as their waitress came back and poured out their wine. “I could, however, work on the ground and be part of the team that makes better spacecraft.”
“So that’s what you do now, I assume?”
“Yup, I’m a rocket scientist.”
Ollie grinned, raising her glass of wine to cheers him, “Here’s to being an actual rocket scientist.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.”
The waitress came back with their appetizers, served them both before vanishing again. Ollie ate a piece of the gnocchi and looked up to find Joseph watching her. She covered her mouth with her free hand and arched an eyebrow as she looked at him. “What?”
“Nothing…you’re a lot more beautiful than the picture I saw.”
Ollie swallowed her food and leaned back with her glass of wine in hand, “I definitely don’t do well in photographs.”
“Don’t get me wrong, you looked beautiful there too. But in person, you’re…”
For a brief moment, Joseph’s words and the way he was talking to her reminded her of Jackson and it made her heart stall. No, she shouldnotbe thinking of Jackson or the handsome face she’d put a frown on the last time they saw each other. Instead, she focused on Joseph.
“Gorgeous. Stunning. Spectacular. Breathtaking. Am I close?”
Joseph laughed and Ollie smiled, “All of the above.”
“Sadly, I can’t say the same for you,” Ollie told him, watching the color drain from Joseph’s face. “Because your family didn’t send me a picture.”
“Oh god,” Joseph gasped, making Ollie chuckle. “For a moment, I thought you were going to break my heart.”
“The night’s still young.”
Once they’d finishedtheir appetizers, Joseph and Ollie spent another few minutes going over the best dishes on the menu. She liked the rapport she was forming with him, but it was more of a friendly connection. Sure, he was handsome, smart and charming, but the spark was missing. She’d met tons of guys like this, set up through their families, and all of them expected something from her. But there were a few like Joseph, who enjoyed being teased and could keep up with her banter, who joked and laughed with her.
