She gave an excited squeal and a bounce as she walked to the door. “Yay! Five o’clock, right?”
“Yes, that’s what he said.”
“OK. I’ll make sure we get everything done on time.” And she went out the door, practically skipping. I chuckled, shaking my head. Jack had no idea what he was in for.
I was keeping an eye on the clock to make sure I had time to change and clean up my desk before five. I was ready to go at four fifty when Diane buzzed my office phone. I hit the speaker to answer, “Yes?”
“Miss Lambert, your five o’clock appointment is here.” I could hear the giddy note to her usually cool, professional tone.
“Please tell him I’ll be right out.” I clicked off the speaker, gathered my bags and headed to the outer office.
Jack was leaning against the wall outside my door, looking hotter than a man has a right to look wearing a chunky sweater and jeans.
“Hey, Eve, you ready?” he greeted me.
I nodded and hoisted my bags to show readiness. He took in my thick sweater and jeans and a slow smile crept across his face. “Damn, you look good, even in camping clothes.” I wanted to return the compliment, but I’m pretty sure he knew he looked good. He always looked good.
He took my biggest bag from me and kissed me on the cheek, sending shivers down my neck. Then his free arm slid around my waist, and he walked me around the corner. Diane was standing by her desk holding a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, looking like she was hyperventilating. I raised my eyebrows at her, and she giggled. As Jack helped me on with my coat Diane flashed me a grin and a thumbs up sign. “Thanks for the flowers, Jack!” she called as we walked out the door.
In the elevator I turned to look at Jack. “Are you hitting on my PA?” I asked teasingly.
He grinned. “Not a chance, Eve. I just figure if she’s important to you, I should have her approval. Easiest way to get that is to bring her flowers or chocolate. And I knew you’d be pouty if I gave someone else chocolates.”
“You got that right! I’m glad you’ve been paying attention, Jack.” I smiled up at him and took his hand.
We walked out to the cab which had been patiently waiting for us and got in. Since Jack had already given him our destination, I had no clue where we were going. The sun was almost finished setting, and we sat in companionable silence, holding hands, watching the last shadows of twilight fly past.
“How much longer till we get there, Jack?”
“You sound like a cranky toddler. Are you always this impatient when it concerns a surprise?”
“I’m always this impatient when it involves dinner. I’m hungry!”
He chuckled and squeezed my hand. “Almost there. And if you don’t think you’ll be able to make it, I can ask the driver to pull over at a gas station for a hot dog that’s been under a heat lamp for a couple of weeks.”
“When you put it that way, I think I’ll be able to make it.” I smiled at him, loving the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled back at me.
A few minutes later we came to stop at what was, apparently, our destination. I had no idea what to make of a building in an industrial area. This was it? If this was a joke, Jack was going to find out just how cranky I could be.
As we hoisted our bags and walked toward the building, we were joined by another couple, also wearing cold weather gear, so I had some confidence that this wasn’t a total hoax.
Jack led the way to an elevator and the four of us, plus our bags, crammed into the space. Jack hit the button for the roof. The female of the other couple, who was standing next to me, turned to me and said, “Have you been here before? I’m super excited. This is our second time, and I can’t wait!”
“Uh, no, I haven’t been here before,” I answered. “Can you tell me what it is?”
As she was about to answer, Jack cut her off with, “Please, don’t spoil the surprise for her!” She laughed, zipping her lips shut, delighted to be in on the secret.
When the elevator slid open, I was expecting an empty, dirty rooftop with HVAC equipment. Instead, I gasped with surprise. It was a garden, a lush garden in the middle of a barren landscape, like an oasis in an urban desert. The elevator opened onto an area of flagstone pavers with moss growing between them. On the far side of the flagstone area was an enclosed structure, and surrounding the open area were raised beds thick with green plants. There were strings of Edison lights with red bulbs connecting the elevator housing and the enclosed area and there were several other couples wandering around.
“Jack, what is this place? It’s amazing!”
Laughing, he pulled me forward toward the structure. He beamed with excitement. “I hope you like it, Eve.”
“Like it? You knocked my warm, wooly socks off, Jack! This is incredible! I never even knew something like this existed. How did you find it?”
“The band practices a couple of blocks from here and I ran into a guy at Famous Vinnie’s Pizza who works here, and we got to talking. He told me all about this place and I knew I had to bring you here.” He looked at me with intensity. “You’re not easy to impress, Eve, so I knew I had to find something really special for our third date.”
He leaned down and kissed the side of my neck. I sucked in a breath. Oh wow, oh wow. I wasn’t going to last long if he was going to be doing that kind of stuff.
