‘Yep. Of course, that wasn’t a difficult case. The two of them were already well on the way even before the matchmakers stepped in.’
A sudden silence fell.
‘But—’
‘Then—’
They spoke at the same time.
‘You first,’ Justin told her.
‘Well, I was just going to say that you needn’t worry. We won’t offend anyone if we … if nothing … Well, you know.’
‘And I was about to ask you out to dinner and make their day.’
‘You don’t have to do that.’ Anna shook her head. ‘They’ll get over it.’
‘But I might not. I was looking for a chance to ask you out anyway. And this seems perfect.’ His heart was jumping about in a most ridiculous fashion as he watched her tug at a lock of her sandy hair, pulling it forward over her face. ‘Please, Anna. Have dinner with me.’
He thought she was going to say no and he struggled to think of the words that might persuade her to change her mind.
Then she looked up at him with those fascinating green eyes and nodded.
‘Yes.’
It was little more than a whisper but it was enough.
‘Thank you. Is tomorrow night too soon?’
‘No.’
His face broke into a wide grin and when she smiled back, it was all he could do not to kiss her. Or at least jump up and down a bit. He felt like a teenager about to go on a first date.
From the other side of the door, footsteps that seemed very loud were approaching. Someone coughed then the door opened quite slowly and Val stuck her orange-topped head into the kitchen.
‘I hope I’m not interrupting anything …’
Justin had a feeling that she was in fact hoping exactly the opposite.
‘No. We were just …’ Anna’s voice trailed off.
‘Getting some more milk,’ Justin jumped in, and strode over to the refrigerator at the back of the kitchen.
‘Ah. That was just what I came looking for,’ Val said with a knowing smile. ‘Everyone is waiting.’
CHAPTER
15
Why on earth had she said yes? And for tonight? She should have said next week to give herself time to prepare. Maybe buy a new outfit. Or some new makeup.
Or back out and cancel.
Anna avoided looking at her face as she examined herself in the full-length mirror hidden inside the wardrobe door. She had loved this dress when she’d bought it. Colourful and fresh, it had been exactly right for a newly graduated young woman, with her whole future in front of her and a boyfriend about to knock on her door to take her partying.
But as she was now, it looked ridiculous. Like she was trying to be something she no longer was. She pulled the dress over her head and tossed it on the bed.
She didn’t go on dates. Not anymore.
