I still, his meaning sinking in. “Wait.Iplayed a part in you changing careers?” He doesn’t answer me but his expression tells me I’m on the money. “Wow. That’s…”
“Creepy? Crazy? Unbelievable?”
“I was gonna say amazing,” I reply.
“Really?” He looks at me like I’ve just told him I believe in Big Foot.Which I do, but that’s neither here nor there…
“You took a personal experience that obviously shaped you and realized that you wouldn’t be the only one being held back and controlled by their mental health. Then you decided tousethat as motivation to help others just like you. Yes, Sutton Cooper, that is amazing.”
His cheeks pink up a little and that just fascinates me even more. The more I get to know this man, the more Iwantto know.
“Can I ask you something?”
His mouth twitches up on the side. “Sure. I figure sharin’ dinner was all about gettin’ to know each other better.”
I snicker. “Yes, but this has the power to turn this thoroughly enjoyable dinner into something else entirely.”
Sutton cocks his head. “Well now youhaveto say it. Otherwise, I’ll start second-guessin’ and questionin’ everythin’ from the moment we left the hospital till now.”
“So basically, anxiety?” I deadpan, shooting him a wry grin and earning rolled eyes in return.
“OK. I’m ready,” He looks like he’s bracing himself for bad news when I can’t see this being anything other than good. Different and unexpected, sure. But no less invigorating–for me, at least. Iwanthim to do it, and Iwantto be able to say yes.
I don’t even know why, it’s just a feeling. A voice inside me saying thisneedsto happen.
“Having met me now, do you still want to ask me out?”
I’ve never seen a man more shocked and speechless in my entire life, and that includes my father on the day I told him I was moving to Boston to study medicine.
“Um…,” he coughs, clearing his throat. “Thatwas not what I expected you to say. I’ve been worried you’d be weirded out or somethin’.”
My head jerks. “Why? Twenty-ish-year old me caught your eye over ten years ago and without knowing me, you saw something that made you want to know me. Life, fate, whatever, got in our way and it didn’t happen. I call that a missed chanceand now that I’m here andyou’rehere, I’m taking that as the universe giving us a do over.”
He watches me closely, a myriad of emotions crossing his features. “Just like that?”
I bounce a shoulder. “Why not? Apparently there’s a fresh outlook and new opportunities on my horizon so this is me embracing the moment,” I say, shooting him a wry grin. “Besides, I’m a fan of coffee.” I hold up my beer. “And you can see I don’t mind a drink.” He laughs at that. “I’m just putting it out there. If youwereinterested in spending time together again–with or without a beverage–I’d be open to it.”
“I’m startin’ to see that,” he replies, lips twitching.He even makes that look good.
“You saved my underwear too remember, and I like talking with you. I’m new to town and I’m guessing that although you’ve been here for six months, you probably haven’t had too much time to explore the place in between wrangling wild donkeys and renovating the ranch. We could kill two birds with one stone and do it together.”
“Play city tourists in the Alaskan wilderness and fix the regrets of my twenty-two-year-old self?”
I can’t stop smiling and there’s no denying that the flutter in my stomach is butterflies.Haven’t felt those in a long, long time.
“I'd like that. Friends reliving their youth while discovering god’s country together. How doesthatsound?”
We both go quiet but I still can’t stop feeling giddy.It’s almost like I’m a teenager again. “Blair?
I look up from my plate. “Yeah?”
He holds his hand out for mine over the top of the table. “I’m Sutton Cooper. I’ve been wantin’ to talk to you for a while now, and I was wonderin’ if you’d like to get to know each other better and go out sometime? Maybe next Sunday?” Can hebeany sweeter?
My cheeks burn and my face hurts from how big my smile grows. Reaching over, I shake his hand and try to school my reaction when tingles not only spread over my palm but spread up my arm. The spike in my pulse has me wondering what the hell is going on too.Thump. Thump. Thump.“I’d like that.”
His tawny eyes sparkle in the diner’s bright fluorescent lights. “Me too,” he says.
I can see the change in him straight away. The last bit of tension he was holding on to has gone. Now he’s just a man enjoying a friendly dinner with a woman he used to like.
