The man cocked his head, inspecting me. “Well, it seems I may have kicked loose my sense of humor when I stuck my foot in my mouth. I was making a James Bond reference. It was lame.”
“Oh, I see. I get it. Funny.” Perfect. Just perfect. Maybe I should have taken the amnesia excuse when I could. “Brooke is my first name, actually. Brooke Morrison.”
“Good to meet you, Brooke Morrison. Jed Travazza. What do you have there?” He motioned toward the box in my hand.
I glanced down. “Just a springform pan. The kids and I are making a pumpkin cookie-dough cheesecake tomorrow. We needed this.”
Jed’s grin deepened. “So, you teach home ec too, huh?”
“N-no, not exactly. I have a culinary club with the boys I work with. I’m teaching them to cook.” I’d neverrealized how lame that would sound if I was ever asked. I was going to have to find a different word other than culinary.
“Wow. Fancy.” He plucked the box from my grasp. “The springform pan is on me. Least I can do for nearly decapitating you.” He turned and headed to the registers in the front.
“Wait! No, you don’t need to do that. Really, I’m fine. Completely. I would feel bad if you bought that for me.”
Jed turned back to me and winked. “Well then, I take it back. It’s not for you. It’s my contribution to the culinary masters of the future. Heaven knows we need more people in the world who can make a good pumpkin cookie-dough cheesecake.” With a few more strides, he was handing the box to a salesclerk.
I watched in a near panic as he pulled out two twenties and handed them over. I had no idea what to say. No idea what I was supposed to do. What if I just walked away? Quickly.
“Don’t just stand there,” Jed said as he pocketed the change. “It wouldn’t do you any good if I ran off with your pan. It would be devastating to cause the children heartbreak.” He took long strides toward the front door.
I caught up with him outside the front entrance. “Really, you didn’t need to do that. I’m fine. Please, let me pay you back for that.”
“Now, quit thinking everything is about you. I’ve already told you, this is for the children, Mr. Self-absorbed.”
No words formed as my mouth continued to open and close. I wasn’t used to conversing with people I didn’t know, much less being teased by a total stranger.
“However, I am having a change of heart. I was feeling very philanthropic at the moment, but I’m having second thoughts. Now, I think I’d like to have some gratification from my good deed. Sometimes karma is a little slow with its retribution. Let’s speed it up a little bit, shall we?”
I was still staring blankly at him. “I can honestly say, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ll pay you back for the pan.”
“Oh goodness, what’s the fun in that? No, I’d prefer something much more intriguing. Let me think now….” He tapped his lower lip in mock pondering. “I’ve got it! I think karma would be served by you allowing me to take you out to dinner. Chinese? Maybe Indian or Thai?”
“Dinner?” I felt like my face was going to melt. “I’m not sure I understand.”
“Yeah, dinner. You know, most people sit down at a table this time of day and eat some sort of food. Many of those people call that experience dinner. Well, some call it supper, I suppose. But let’s not. So, dinner?”
“You want to take me to dinner? As in take me out to dinner?”
Jed’s face grew serious, and the amused glint faded from his eyes. His voice was hesitant. “Maybe I read you wrong. If I did, I’m sorry. I meant no offense. It’s just that I’ve noticed you at the gym several times and have always wanted to say something. Just never felt like the right time; I didn’t want to invade your space.”
“You noticed me? Why?”
He looked at me with narrowed eyes before he spoke. “You are a strange man, Brooke. Brooke Morrison.Most would say that you’re being coy on purpose, but I don’t think you are.”
I continued to stare at him, part in wonder, part in terror.
Jed reached out and put his hand on my shoulder, and I flinched at his touch. He kept his hand there. “So, what do you say? I don’t think I read you wrong. I’d greatly enjoy taking you to dinner. There’s no pressure. You say the word, and I’ll leave you alone.” He waited until I looked up into his eyes. “I hope you say yes, though.”
Jed’s hand was sending warm streams over my chest. I looked into his eyes. Brown eyes. Deep eyes. Eyes that seemed unguarded, kind, safe. I licked my lips cautiously and nodded.
Jed smiled and let his hand slide down to clasp my forearm. “Wonderful. Thank you.” His voice was so soft I had to lean forward to hear him. “Why don’t you come with me in my car, and I’ll bring you back here after dinner. You and your pan.”
I simply nodded once more.
Weended up at the Cherry Creek Grill. I’d heard of it and had always wanted to eat there but never felt right about the expense. Jed ordered the lobster tail, while I chose the prime rib French dip sandwich. I felt awkward knowing that Jed was going to pay so much for dinner, so I thought I should order one of the less expensive items. I was glad I did. It was the best sandwich I had ever tasted. I made a mental note to try to duplicate this with the boys after they mastered cheesecake baking.
The drive to the restaurant had been surreal. I was in shock about what I’d agreed to. I spent the entire drivestaring out the windshield in silence. Jed, seeming to sense the fear radiating off me, simply hummed along to the Pretenders crooning out of his stereo. Even with the silence, even with the fear, somehow things didn’t seem that overly awkward. As he parked the car, Jed leaned over and firmly squeezed my knee. “I’m glad you said yes. Thank you. I’ve wanted to ask you out for weeks.”
