“I’m sure.” She squeezed his hand and whispered, “Here’s to new beginnings.”
His lips transformed to a lazy smile. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow at nine.”
He was out the door before she could untie her tongue. She stood rooted to her spot, in awe that she had agreed to the date. After promising herself to never fall in love again, she was well on her way.
She should have been terrified, but she’d never felt more alive and excited.
Chapter Fourteen
The tie strangled him. He hadn’t worn one in years, and he’d rather a uniform inspection wearing full dress blues over a suit and tie. It’s only for a few hours, he reminded himself.
A few hours on a date with Luna, celebrating the marriage of his good friend.
In that light, dressing up for a few hours didn’t sound so bad. He’d gotten a haircut this morning and shaved before taking a shower. On his way home, he stopped at the store and bought a new pair of black socks. Even with his casual preference, he couldn’t bring himself to wear white socks with his black dress slacks and shoes.
“What do you think, Hope? Do I pass muster?”
When a response didn’t come, he frowned. A week after Hope had moved in with Luna, Carl still talked to her and forgot she wasn’t there. Last fall when he took in Hope, he’d told Luna it was a test drive. He discovered he could handle a dog, except, now he didn’t want just any dog—he wanted Hope.
He sighed. Next week he’d take a drive to the animal rescue where there were lots of pups needing homes, and he’d search for another dog. He missed Hope, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t open his heart to another pup.
Shifting his thoughts to the evening ahead, he cheered up. A wedding probably wasn’t ideal for a first date—it held heavy connotations—but that’s how it had played out. He didn’t mind for his own sake. This moment had been in the making for months and he’d waited patiently for the day to come when he could take Luna on a date.
His concern was that it would overwhelm Luna. He’d made every effort not to push and let their blooming relationship move at a speed comfortable to her, but he worried attending a wedding together might put a hurdle in their way. Add in the fact she was leaving the girls with a new baby-sitter, and he couldn’t help wondering how the night would play out.
He had to trust she knew her own limits.
The hour dragged by until it was time to leave. He collected the flowers he’d bought her from the table and tucked them carefully on the passenger seat of his truck. Every traffic light he approached turned yellow just after the moment of opportunity to slip through had passed. The delays added ten minutes onto the trip, six-hundred extra seconds of palm sweating, heart racing anticipation.
Every spot in the apartment parking lot was full, and he had to park at the laundromat next door. Carl groaned, but he refused to accept these delays as a bad omen. They were simply coincidences of bad timing.
He drew a calming breath before he walked to her door. By the time he knocked, he’d collected his nerves and prepped his thoughts so he wouldn’t making a bumbling fool of himself. The plan may have worked had Luna not opened the door in a stunning gown of emerald satin. She’d gotten her hair highlighted and had it styled in loose waves with a tiny rhinestone barrette holding back several tendrils.
“You’re gorgeous,” he said, though he wasn’t certain his words were intelligible.
A blush crawled along her neckline. “So are you.”
Luna had always been beautiful, but tonight she’d taken it to a new level. She appeared poised, confident, and absolutely stunning. He only knew she was nervous by the way her cheek twitched ever so slightly.
He remembered the flowers in his hand. “I brought these for you.”
“They’re beautiful.” She took them into the kitchen and placed them in a tall, clear plastic cup she pulled out of the cabinet.
A loud chorus of laughter rang from the living room. Carl looked over.
Aloni sat on the floor playing with Skye and Mercy, but Hope insisted on being a part of whatever game it was they played.
He glanced at Luna. “Aloni is your new babysitter?”
“She offered, and I already know and trust her. How could I say no?” She smiled fondly at the older woman. “I feel terrible that she’ll miss the wedding, but Rachel didn’t realize Aloni is severely allergic to orchids.”
“I didn’t know that either, and Rachel loves them.”
“That’s her main flower for the wedding.” Luna walked to the living room. “I’m leaving, girls. Be good for Mrs. Aloni, okay?”
“We will, Mama.” Skye gave Luna a hug, then Mercy toddled over and joined the embrace.
Aloni lifted her body off the ground and rose to her feet. “We’ll have fun tonight. I don’t get to see my grands nearly enough for my liking and they keep me young.”
