His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes did.
"Okay," he said.
I waited.
"Coffee?" he asked.
"Yeah." The word came out easier than I expected. "Coffee sounds good."
"When?"
"Saturday? I'm off at noon."
"Saturday." He nodded once. "I'll pick you up."
"Okay."
He called Scout, clipped on his leash, and headed for the door. Then he stopped and looked back.
"For what it's worth," he said, "the dog really did have an ear infection."
"I know he did."
Something happened to his face that might have been a smile, if you were feeling generous.
Then he left.
I stood there for a moment, Daisy sitting at my feet. Through the window, I watched him load Scout into his truck, and something in my chest felt lighter than it had in a long time.
Saturday, coffee with Caleb.
I could do this.
Lucy appeared in the doorway, all messy bun and cartoon-cat scrubs and barely contained glee. "Did I just hear what I think I heard?"
"I don't know what you think you heard."
"Caleb Wright just asked you out."
"He asked me for coffee."
"Same thing." She was practically bouncing. "You said yes. You actually said yes."
"It's just coffee, Lucy."
"Uh-huh. Sure." She was still grinning as she grabbed her bag from under the desk. "I'm taking my break. Margie should be back in ten. You good covering the front for a bit?"
"Yeah, I'm good."
She left, and I went back to the reception desk. The schedule for tomorrow was pulled up on the computer, a few phone messages waiting to be returned. I sat down and started working through them.
The bell above the door chimed.
I looked up, smiling. "Forget something?"
But it wasn't Caleb, or Lucy, or anyone I was expecting.
Matt was standing just inside the door. In uniform, khaki and navy, badge on his chest, the Millbrook County Sheriff's Department patch on his shoulder. He was holding a manila folder.
