“Okay, same question,” her words came out rushed and she shoved another bit of food in her mouth.
“You are diverting.”
“I’m an expert in that, so yes, I am. Answer the question.”
“Answer what I would have done differently if this were a date?”
“Yes.” I had never heard a more concisely spoken yes in my life than the one she had just quipped. Now, she sat beaming back at me, akin to a student ready to be enlightened.
“Well, for starters, I would have—” I leaned forward, savoring the look of anticipation on her face.
“—Everything alright here?” Tammy popped her head between us as she bustled past.
I had seen Tammy coming, but Clover jumped, almost startling right off her seat. In fact, I had planned on the interruption because there wasn’t any way I was going to tell Clover what I would have done on a date. I looked at Tammy. “It’s excellent.”
“Good. Glad to hear it.” She nodded, while grinning at both of us, and then she slipped the receipt on the table. “I’ll leave the check right here.”
“I reckon that’s a good idea.” I watched her walk away, and once she was gone, I was slow to look back at Clover. I figured she had been perched on the edge of her seat, and I pretended to be preoccupied with getting my wallet out. I slowly found the right amount of cash. She was still quiet as a mouse when I finally hooked my eyes back to hers. “I wasn’t really gonna tell ya.”
Her smile fell, lower than a snake’s belly in a wagon. Although, I had meant to flirt, I didn’t mean to make her sad, so I did what I had been dying to do all night. “Well, all jokes aside, I’ve been hunting for a girl who smiles real pretty and likes to have fun. At first, I’d never thought it was you because you seemed like all you knew how to do was make announcements. After seeing this side of you tonight, I think I’d be right set if you’d say yes to going out on a date with me some time, but I won’t ask you tonight.” I winked at her and tacked on, “Since we are workin’ so hard and all.”
A new smile graced her lips. This wasn’t her flirtin’ smile but something sweeter. Her lashes lowered to her plate—which was already half empty—and she dug back into her food and smiled at me between bites. “So, tell me,” She started after we ate in comfortable silence for a while. “What other special projects do you have that you haven’t told me about?”
I groaned, not wanting this to be about work, but she read my mind and said, “I’m not trying to exploit it. I am curious to learn more about who you really are.”
“Well, I have a bunch of projects, but I don’t put them on lists. Or social media. I have them up in my head.”
Her lips curled into a grin steeped with anticipation. “You aren’t going to tell me, are you?” Her voice came out languid, in a direct flirtation, and we hooked eyes, both feeling the chemistry.
I let my eyes slowly trace the lines of her face, knowing she’d be watching me watch her. I figured it would drive her crazy because she was waitin’ for me to answer her. If she was gonna flirt with me, then I for sure was gonna give it right back. I swapped my smile for a new one. This one matched her flirtation. “Same question back at you.”
“Huh?” Her back straightened, as she seemed to sit taller but kept her gaze fixed on me.”
“What secret projects are you working on?”
“Oh.” She dropped her eyes back to the table, and grabbed her napkin, dabbing her lips. “I guess the biggest thing I’m working on is that center for Poppy. I actually found a building that I love, and it passed inspection. It’s right across from my office, which would be a Godsend. Other than the location, though, it’s so stinking cute because it’s that old train depot, so it’s architecturally beautiful and has a lot of open space and offices.”
“I love that building, too.” I was surprised she was answering my question so honestly. I had half expected her to divert to somethin’ else. “I didn’t know they put it up for sale.”
“They didn’t, really. I have done a lot of work with the city green projects, and I knew some people who kept tabs on it. I asked about it last year, hoping they would give me a deal if I offered programs that would benefit the city. They didn’t want to give it up due to its historical importance. Thanks to the recent economic woes, they started to consider getting it off their maintenance list. My contact let me know. It was perfect timing because that’s when I signed the contract with you.”
“That’s amazin’,” I said, without breaking our eye lock. “So, is it a done deal?”
“The contract isn’t signed because I’m still waiting on my approval of additional funding, but I’m hoping to make everything official this week.”
“That sounds like a big project. It’s admirable that you would do all that for Poppy.”
“I don’t think I could not do it. She doesn’t have anyone but me.” She let her eyes drift to the side as she seemed to be in her own daydream now. If she had looked like a horse with a trotting harness on earlier, that had all changed. From dancing her heart out for hours and ridin’ in the dusty wind on my scooter, she now looked rode hard and put away wet. Lucky for her, I wasn’t fancy—just a country boy at heart—and I had an affection for things that looked homespun.
After she caught me studying her the second time, she smiled coyly. “What?” She brushed the side of her cheek. “Do I have gravy on my face or something?”
“Nah.” I quickly replied. “You look beautiful.” I clamped down hard on my lips, hoping that didn’t make her feel uncomfortable, but when she fixed her eyes on mine and came at me with one of those smiles that was so beautiful it hurt, I knew she took my compliment the way I intended.
It was a little compliment, and I could have gone on with more, but I was testin’ the water. I wasn’t going to rush this. Whatever it was. Clearing my throat to make a change of subject, I stood up and stretched. “It’s late. Let me get you home.” Her eyes washed over her empty plate, and without a rebuttal she slid off the stool. I waited for her to walk first, and quickly followed her because now I lookin’ forward to the snuggle up on the scooter ride home. I reckoned that scooter wasn’t so bad after all.
thirteen
Clover
