Does he feel a connection too? Are his words filled with the undertones I’m hearing? Does his anything mean what I think? Am I fucking misinterpreting this whole damn day? For all I know this man has a whole ass family back in Missouri.
Before I can think, process my words and thoughts, or even put together a more posed question, I blurt, “So who did you leave in Missouri?”
Shit!The perplexed look on his face matches the regret on mine.
After taking a gulp from his cup of water, he stares at me for a moment, then finally just says, “Nobody.”
My functioning brain knows I should just rock with his response but my damn mouth just won’t. “No wife, no girlfriend, no kids there?” falls off my lips.
“No,” he says while slowly shaking his head.
Again, my damn mouth explodes. “Well, are they anywhere?”
This time, he gives me more. He smiles then shrugs. His elbows rest on the table then he leans forward. While enunciating every word as clear as rain, he says, “I have no wife, no girlfriends, no situationships, no kids, nothing and no one in any states. And no one internationally before you even ask.” He smirks and I shrug and smile. “There’s only one woman I’m even interested in at the moment and I’m sitting here looking into her pretty ass eyes.”
“I like that,” I admit honestly.
“Good because I like you,” he says, still staring.
“Be careful; it’s hot,” our server says. She places my plate down in front of me. I was so mesmerized by his eyes that Ihadn’t even realized she was back with our food. I don’t think he noticed either, but when she turns to him, he removes his elbows from the table and sits up. She places his plate down next. “Do you need anything else?” she asks.
“Can I have a side of green onions please?” I ask, for my soup.
“I’ll bring some right out,” she says.
When she steps away, he reaches his hands across the table for prayer. I grab them and bow my head. He blesses the food then tastes his soup first. After cutting my sandwich in half, I start with it. I’m waiting for the onions for my soup.
“You don’t have a problem with what I said, do you?” he asks.
“About liking me?” I question, just to be sure.
“Yeah. I can’t lie; I would hate it if you do but I’ll fall back. I have no issues with separating business and pleasure.”
“I don’t have a problem with it.”
“Good ’cause I have a feeling that the pleasure with you would be amazing.”
Well damn. So do I.My mind instantly stops churning. It’s confirmed; the connection I feel is genuine. He’s feeling me as much as I’m feeling him.
“Am I wrong?” he asks.
“I hope not,” I admit with a smile.Lawd, I hope not.
When his beautiful smile spreads across his handsome face, I feel it beaming in my core.This man is exactly who he thinks he is and I love that for me.
As we eat and have small talk about rewiring the barn and my business, I’m pretty sure my smile stays cemented on my face. Things are so easy and natural between us and I can truly relax and just be me.
“Would you like a to-go box?” our server asks when she returns. There’s nothing left on his plate but I still have half of my turkey melt, so I ask for a small one. “I’ll be back with it and your donuts,” she says before walking off.
“Amara is going to love this and the donuts,” I say, and it hits me.I have to pick her up.I glance at my phone at it’s already five after three. “It’s time to get her and we don’t have enough time to go back to the house for my ride.”
“We don’t need your ride. We got her. How far is the school from here anyway?”
“About fifteen minutes. We need to hurry. My little sister hates it when I’m late,” I say, then grin because she is a mess when I’m even a minute behind schedule.
“I can see that too. She has personality for days,” he says.
“And she likes you,” I admit. “She’s definitely full of personality but it usually takes months for her to show it to people.”
