“Why?” She seems shocked at my suggestion.
Instead of answering her question, I take a different approach. “Have dinner with me. We can talk more about your work.”
“We did that. We talked here.” She points down at the rough hardwood floors.
“We’ve both got to eat, right?” I’ve never worked this hard to get a dinner date in my life. Sure, that sounds arrogant, but it’s the truth. I’m a catch.
Not that I’m looking forthatfrom this woman.
“I guess.” She shrugs. “Sure.”
“Great.” I smile but there’s no truth behind it, because her shrug and “sure” bother me. I’m not used to women being this evasive. Either she’s got no interest in getting to know me, or she’s not used to getting asked out. I’ve got to believe it’s the former rather than the latter because this woman is a stunner. She’s got to have men crawling out of the woodwork.
I look at my watch. Not sure why but it’s a habit. “I’ll pick you up at….”
“Oh. Tonight?”
I’m not going to give her a chance to change her mind at this point. “Tonight.”
She’s biting one of her fingernails now. “We’ll have to go early.”
Early? I smirk because I’m starting to think this woman is a bit odd. “Early? Why?”
“I’ve, uh, got something else happening later.”
I’m intrigued. “Sure. We can eat early. Perhaps I could join you after….”
“No.” She shakes her head. “I’ve got plans with Bella. You know, the woman who owns the bakery.”
“I see.”
She’s now fidgeting. “We could do it another time.”
Is she trying to finagle her way out of this date? “No. Tell me where you’d like to go.”
“Okay.” Lou sighs. “There’s only two restaurants in Zodiac Hills worth a damn. Let’s say Norma’s?”
“Norma’s?”
“Yeah. It’s comfort food.”
I frown, because what the hell is comfort food?
She must have noticed my expression. “No?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Yes. I don’t know what you mean by comfort food.”
“Home-cooked. Like your grandmother used to make.”
I never knew my grandmother. Or my grandfather. Hell, I never knew my father either. My mom ran away from home at fifteen when she got pregnant with me and never looked back. “Ah. I see.” I nod even though I still haven’t a clue. “What time should I pick you up?”
“I’ll meet you.”
“Meet at Norma’s? Six?” That’s the earliest I’ve ever taken a woman out.
“Better make it five.”
Dinner at five o’clock? “Sure.” Early bird special, here we come.
