The waitress came up and removed the plates and wiped off the crumbs around Jed’s area. Mine was spotless. Jed ordered the chocolate cake, with two forks.
“And you, my dear Brooke. Has counseling been your passion since the time you were a mere lad?”
I laughed. Then, shocked at myself, I stopped. I didn’t remember the last time I felt comfortable enough with someone to laugh, at least with an attractive man. Most of the time, I would have run away as quickly as possible from someone who was flirting so boldly and syrupy, but with Jed, something felt different. “No, this is my first year of counseling, actually. I just got my bachelor’s degree last December. I just started the counseling job in January. It’s at a therapeutic treatment facility. Kinda like jail or detention, just less hard-core. I doubt real inmates bake cheesecakes.”
Jed’s brown eyes widened. “I can’t picture you in a jail setting. Don’t get me wrong, you’re tough enough—trust me, I’ve spent more than a little time taking in your ample supply of muscles—but you just don’t seem the type to be all rough and tumble.”
I’d never received so many compliments about my looks in one conversation before. I wished it wasn’t flattering me as much as it was. “I’m different with my kids. They’re easier to get along with, and you know more truly where you stand with them than you do other adults. They aren’t scary at all.”
“Wow, that says a lot when you feel you can trust kids in jail more than those around you. I’d like to hear those stories one day.”
The waitress returned with the biggest piece of cake I had ever seen, with icing nearly two inches thick on top. I turned my eyes on Jed.
“Those blue eyes look as thrilled as a five-year-old getting a pony on Christmas morning! Glad I ordered the cake. I’d offer to feed it to you, but even I’m not that cheesy.” He gave a crooked smile and plunged his fork into the cake.
The next several minutes were spent lost in moans of pleasure as the chocolate enveloped us. Finally willing to break the spell, Jed looked over at me. “So, jail, huh? Does that mean you got your degree in criminal justice?”
I grinned guiltily at Jed. “No, actually, I got my degree from a Christian university in youth ministry.”
“Youth ministry? No way!” Jed slapped his hand down on the table and laughed so loudly that several of the other diners looked over. I instinctively slunk down a bit into my side of the booth. I glanced at those looking at us and waved apologetically. “You mean to tell me I am out on a date with a youth pastor? Kinda like a preacher?”
“Yes, you are, actually.” Without realizing I was speaking out loud, I murmured, “It’s so strange to actually be out on a date.”
Jed smiled and took on a more serious tone, sliding his fingers into mine. “Is that okay with you?”
I looked at our fingers intertwined and then back into Jed’s eyes. “Yeah, it is okay.” The shocking thing, I realized, was that I meant it.
“You’ve really been hurt by someone, haven’t you?”
“Yeah. Two people.”
“Were you in love with them?”
“With the last one, I was.”
“What happened? Did he cheat?”
“No, he was a good man. A very good man. He just realized he really didn’t love me like he thought he did.”
Jed stroked the top of my hand with his thumb. We simply looked at each other for a while, until the waitress dropped off the check. Finally, I removed my hand and started folding my napkin so Jed could insert his credit card in the holder.
“So, youth pastor, why aren’t you pastoring?”
“The same reason I’m holding your hand, I guess.”
Jed paused for a moment. “Yeah, I can see how that would get in the way.”
The waitress came back with the credit card. “Which one of you is Jedediah Travazza?” she inquired.
Jed thanked her and took the bill and card from her.
I grinned. “Jedediah?”
Now Jed’s face reddened. “Yeah, my folks are Bible people themselves. My little brother is Sam. Samuel. We’re Catholics for as long as our family tree has had records.”
“Uh oh! Catholics, huh? My mom warned me about Catholic boys like you! Well, Catholic girls,actually, but I guess the same applies.” Who had taken over my body? I’d never been this flirtatious with anyone before.
Jed grinned. “Did she now? Good thing too. I have a feeling you’re gonna need it.”
