The conversation had been slow at the beginning of the meal, but now, halfway through, it began to flow a little more naturally. I marveled at how comfortable I was becoming. The only time I was this at ease was if I was with the kids or by myself. I hadn’t really figured out who Jed was. One minute he seemed intentionally corny and playful, and the next he would be serious and deep.
“So, pumpkin cookie-dough cheesecake, huh?” Jed dabbed at some of the melted butter that had run down onto his chin. “I’ve never heard of that before. Sounds rich. Is that a normal part of the culinary curriculum?”
“Oh no. There’s not a curriculum. Mostly we just make a lot of my family’s recipes. I’m from the Bible Belt, so we know how to cook. The cheesecake was something I made up. My favorite flavor is pumpkin, and I love cookie dough, so I figured two good things should be even better together.”
“Hmm, I like the sound of that. Hopefully, you and I will be better together too.” He rolled his eyes. “I know, I know, cheesy, right? Sorry, can’t help it. You are making me want to say things like that. Shit, there I go. Cheesy again.”
Most of the time, delivery of a line like that would be a reason to end a date. With Jed, it was somewhat charming. Still, I had no intention of getting caught in back and forth sappy drivel. I continued quickly, “The boyshave been amazing. Last week we made Marsala chicken, minus the mushrooms, of course, and artichoke feta pasta. It was awesome! The boys loved it. However, I couldn’t get most of them to even try the pasta. They were grossed-out by the artichokes.”
“Well, I hated green things when I was a kid too.” He lifted a fork full of twice-baked potatoes to his lips.
“No, that wasn’t the problem. They saw on the can that they were called artichoke hearts. No matter what I said, they refused to believe they weren’t actually hearts of an animal. When I showed them what an artichoke looked like and explained it was a plant, they said it was the plant’s heart, and they weren’t going to eat that either. How can you argue with that logic?”
“I love watching you when you talk about your kids. Your face gets completely lit up, and your eyes come alive. It is obvious how much you love your kids.” Jed reached out and rested his hand on top of mine. “They’re beautiful, by the way.”
“Yeah, they really are. They can be hoodlums at times, but they really are beautiful kids.”
Jed chuckled and grinned. “I’m sure they are amazing kids, but I was referring to your eyes. They’re truly beautiful, especially when you are talking.”
I felt my breathing quicken. He seemed like he meant his compliments, but it was obvious he wasn’t taking himself too seriously either. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what has gotten into me, doing all this talking. I’m sure you don’t believe that this is probably the most I’ve said to anyone in ages.”
“No, no, please, don’t apologize. Believe me, I’m enjoying every minute. I’m sure you won’t believe me either, but I haven’t had such a wonderful time listening tosomeone in ages. Much longer than that, actually. And, I’m not even trying to be cheesy.”
What are you supposed to say to that? I squirmed a little under his direct gaze. “So, how long have you lived in Denver?”
“Oh, change in conversation direction. Subtle, Mr. Bond, subtle.” He chewed his final bite of lobster. “I actually just moved here at the beginning of summer. I grew up in Seattle and had lived there all my life and decided it was time to venture out and start anew. Thirty seemed a good age to do it. Better late than never.”
I began to relax more as Jed spoke. It gave me time to simply observe and take it all in. I’d noticed the impeccable form Jed’s body was in while I was at the gym. I fully expected him to tell about his days as an underwear model or some such nonsense. However, I hadn’t really taken a good look at his face before. It wasn’t a pretty face, not smooth or svelte. A pretty face would have seemed weak and common next to his. His proportions were perfectly symmetrical. Handsomely rugged. His eyes were wide set and almond shaped. His nose was narrow and straight. His lips, like his eyes, were wide and full. They curved up at the edges to offset the poutiness that otherwise could have appeared feminine. His jawline was as angled as if God had used a ruler to get the slopes precise. I became transfixed by the steady pulse coursing under the curve of his jaw as it made its way down his thickly corded neck.
“I finished my doctorate degree last Christmas and got a job offer here beginning this fall, and jumped at the chance, basically.”
“What job?” I asked, somehow managing to come back to the present.
“I’m a professor at the university downtown.”
“You’re a teacher?”
“Yes. A professor of ethics, believe it or not.” He ran his fingers between mine, causing me to shiver. I hadn’t realized how long he’d had his hand on mine. “In Seattle, though, I taught kindergarten.”
“Kindergarten? Are you kidding me? That is awesome! I would’ve loved to see that. You must have seemed like a giant. All six foot of you! You nearly seem like a giant to me!”
“Six foot one, actually.”
“Oh. I see. Youarea giant.” My sudden easiness was beginning to fade. Why would such an attractive man have wanted to ask me out for dinner for so long? And why would it have taken him time to get up the nerve to do so? Kindergarten teacher? Ethics professor? Things that seem too good to be true always are.
“What are you thinking, Brooke? Your eyes changed?”
What was with this guy? Now he has the superpowers of an empath? “So, Travazza? That doesn’t sound like a Seattle native type of name….”
“Diversion tactic. I see. Poorly done, I must say, but I’ll go along with it.” He withdrew his hand, but his eyes and voice still had a playful hint to them. “A Seattle native? I think those would have been Native Americans. However, you’re right. Travazza is not Seattle native. My father is first-generation American. His parents came over from Italy. My mother, on the other hand, I am convinced came over on the Mayflower itself. She and all her royal jewels.”
“Your mom is a bit of a snob, you are saying?”
“Well, and here I thought you were Mr. Tactful.” My face flushed again, and Jed grinned. “Mother is extremely sweet and loving, to everyone, and would never intentionally be a snob, but she was raised in luxury and knows nothing else.”
“Wouldn’t that be true for you as well, then?” Add rich family to the list; where’s the catch?
“Ah, deductive. You truly are like James Bond.” He plucked the last bit of uneaten sandwich off my plate, dipped it in the sauce, and popped it in his mouth. “While I was raised in it, my father made certain that I worked from the time I was fifteen, just like he did.” His hand once again found mine. “I’ve worked for everything I have. True, I guess I’ve always had a safety net, but I have yet to take advantage of that.”
