Yeah, he didn’t know what to do with me by the pained look on his handsome face. Of course, I knew how long it had been since I had last seen him. That memory, unfortunately, would be forever etched on my heart and time-stamped in my brain, but he didn’t need to know that.
“I barely recognized you today when I first saw you.”
I raised my eyebrow at him and practically choked on my chip. “Well, okay. Most men would lie and say, ‘The years have been good to you, Kelli. You look great.’ But I guess honesty is the best policy.”
His face burned red.
To hide my embarrassment, I picked up my menu and began to read it even though I had it memorized, and I already knew what I was ordering. I had never had anyone point blank tell me I was unattractive or unrecognizable. I’ll admit that stung coming from someone who used to call me beautiful on a regular basis.
He cleared his throat. “Kelli, I didn’t mean to imply that you are anything but hermosa.”
I looked over my menu. “Do you even know what that means?”
“Your belly dancing classes have definitely paid off.” He smirked.
“Hmm . . .”
“Really, Kelli, I only meant to say you look grown up now.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Now you sound like my dad.”
His eyes sparkled with delight. “I’ve heard that somewhere before.”
I was supposed to be pretending like I didn’t remember a thing from our relationship.Darn it!
“How is your dad?” he asked, still grinning like a fool.
I set down my menu and placed my hands in my lap. “He passed away six years ago.”
That wiped the grin right off his face. “Kelli, I had no idea. I’m sorry.”
I shrugged my shoulders. “How would you have known?”
“I keep screwing up here, don’t I?”
I almost felt bad for him, so I threw him a bone. “Tell me how your family is.” I was honestly very interested in his answer. I adored his parents and sister. His parents lived on a cattle ranch outside of Glenwood Springs, nestled in a beautiful valley surrounded by the mountains of Colorado. I was so surprised the first time I met them; they were so different from Ian. I couldn’t imagine Ian growing up on a ranch, but he had. I really enjoyed the time we spent out there, and I would have liked to have stayed longer, but Ian, at the time, was very busy, and I always kind of got the feeling that wasn’t who he wanted to be. I don’t think he was embarrassed of his parents, they were salt of the earth kind of people, but I think he always wanted more out of life. Being a rancher is back-breaking work, and sometimes for not a lot of pay. But I had never met happier people.
His sister, Noelle, and I really hit it off too. I met her during the one and only Thanksgiving I spent with them. She was home from school on break. At the time, she was attending the University of Texas as a junior. We had kept in touch for a while after Ian broke up with me. She thought he was the biggest prat ever for ending our relationship. I think she had even tried to talk some sense into him, but once Ian made his mind up, that was it. Over the years, I had thought about her and wished we had remained friends. She was even more sarcastic and feisty than me; we were quite the pair.
He looked at me thoughtfully.
I hoped they were all still alive.
“They’re doing well. My parents still work too hard.”
I smiled at the news. I couldn’t imagine them being any other way.
“Noelle’s married now and lives in Houston. She and her husband Sean have a two-year-old son named Jax.”
“That’s wonderful. I’m happy for her.”
“She wanted me to tell you hi and that she would love to catch up with you,” he nervously replied.
That was a pleasant surprise for me. “I’d like that,” I said quietly, though I thought it was weird he would have talked to his sister about me.
Alicia returned with our drinks and was ready to take our order. “Are you having your usual tonight, Hermosa?”
“Yes, ma’am.” I handed her back the menu with my design work on it.
