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“It’s clear. Don’t let the kitties out.”
The door opened and I swallowed hard when my eyes met in real life the ones I’d been daydreaming about not five minutes before. Although I dressed for the summer temperatures, I suddenly felt far too warm. He entered quickly and shut the door behind him. All three cats gravitated towards him. He scooped up the tabby who was the first to arrive and bent towards the tortoiseshell. I was just about to warn him not to pick her up when his deep voice rumbled out in a low murmur.
“I remember you; you don’t like to be picked up, do you sweet baby?”
I melted.
“She doesn’t. She’ll rub all over you though just to show you how much she loves you and to make sure there are no hard feelings.”
“I should be so lucky,” he murmured, and I blushed, wondering if I imagined the undercurrent to his words.
He placed the tabby on the cat tree, slid his big hand over the back of the third cat, then ambled over to face me.
“Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” I smiled. “Sit down?”
He folded his long body into my comfy chair and the tortie jumped into his lap.
“Oh, my goodness! She never does that!”
“I’m good with the skittish ones.” he stroked his big hand down her back and studied me from under his brow. “Like you.”
“I’m not skittish!” I protested, laughing, though my heart pounding in my chest screamed otherwise.
He didn’t laugh, just looked at me steadily. “Aren’t you?”
“No, why would you say that?” I was used to being called out and I’d perfected the art of not reacting with guilt.
He smiled then. “Because you haven’t called me yet.”
Relief that he’d been joking washed over me. He’d hit a little too close to home for my comfort.
“Maybe I wasn’t sure if you were serious.”
He looked at me steadily. “No, you’re smarter than that, and I’m too smart to fall for that. Try again.”
I sat up straight in my chair. It had been a long time since I’d felt so personally challenged. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks even as I nodded in concession to him.
“Indeed. The truth is I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.”
“Now, that sounds true. Why would it be a bad idea to take me out for dinner to thank me for rescuing you?”
I laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, it seems ridiculous.” I looked at him, he wanted the truth, I’d give him some truth. I could give him that. “However, we work in the same place, and I sense a tension between us that might be one-sided on my part, but I don’t think it is.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise, and I saw respect light his eyes. He nodded. “The direct approach. I like that. Tension is good, healthy, bodes well for future activities.”
I shook my head. “Not for me. Not with you. We work in the same place, a place that is important to me, a place where I don’t want to be uncomfortable if things were to go south. And they would go south. I’m not a long-term type of girl.”
He nodded and stood up, placing the tortie on the chair he’d just vacated. My chest filled with dismay, and I hoped it didn’t show on my face when I noted his eyes were on me.
“Fair enough. We’ll be friends. Are you available this weekend?”
Relief, confusion, and alarm battled for dominance. “Um, I’m available on Saturday night and Sunday.”
“I can do Sunday. I’ll pick you up. You like hiking?”
“I do.” I nodded.
