“How do you always know it’s me?” he asked.
“Your scent,” she said. “It’s unique.”
“In a good way, I hope,” he drawled.
“Oh, yes,” she said. “A very good way.” She smiled and held the plate of cookies out to him.
“Thanks,” he said. “They look delicious.”
“Lemonade?”
“I’m not much into lemonade,” he said.
“Milk then,” she said. “Cookies are always good with milk.” She laid her cookie down and moved toward the fridge.
“I can get it,” he said. “Go on and enjoy your cookie. You don’t need to wait on me.”
“Okay.” She gave in with no argument and moved back to her own cookie to take another bite.
He went to the fridge, removed the milk, and then found a glass to pour it in.
“Emma makes the best cookies,” Cecelia said.
“She does,” he agreed. “I could get spoiled, working here.”
“I’ll bet you don’t get many cookies on your jobs,” she said.
“This is the first job I’ve had where I’ve received even one cookie,” he said, with a laugh. “My jobs have been chasing down bad guys, or guarding somebody, or something.”
“What, they never handed out cookies? As a reward?” She laughed. “Someone needs to renegotiate your compensation.”
“The bonuses were good. No cookies though.” He dunked his cookie into the glass of milk and took a bite.
“Her oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite,” she said.
“They are really good,” he said, still munching on a bite.
When they’d finished the cookies, he seized the moment. “This has been fun,” he said.
“It has,” she agreed.
“Let’s do this again,” he said. “How about dinner in Bozeman this weekend?”
“You don’t want to go out with a blind girl,” she said, shaking her head.
“Yes, I do,” he said. “But not with just any blind girl. I want to go out withyou.”
She laughed. “I’m nothing special. And anyway, I don’t date, I don’t do friends with benefits, and I’m done with relationships. But even if I did date, a relationship with me would be a lot of work. Men don’t handle that well.”
“I’m a Marine,” he said. “We’re used to a lot of work, overcoming obstacles, and succeeding at our goals.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not ready to go out,” she said. “I’m safe here, and I know where everything is.”
“You’d be safe with me, and I’d make sure you knew where things are,” he said.
“You’re going to keep trying to convince me, aren’t you?” She tilted her head toward him, looking upward, with an exasperated look on her face.
“Yes, ma’am, I am.” He nodded, then caught himself, realizing she wouldn’t see him nod. “What will it take to get you to say yes?”
