“If you say so.So where shall we go to dinner?”
“You’re letting me choose?”she questioned, shocked.Didn’t most men say where they were taking their date?No, this wasn’t a date.They were just two people eating food together because they were hungry.Nothing more.
“You do know this town better, and I always value the input of a beautiful woman.”
When he said stuff like that, it dazzled her, mainly because no one had ever remarked on her looks before.She was usually the brain while her sister was the looker.
“There’s a Greek place I like.”
“I love Greek food.Am I allowed to drive you there, or do we have to meet there like we’re on a secret rendezvous?”He wagged his eyebrows up and down as he said rendezvous like it was scandalous.
Under normal circumstances, she would have her dining partner—she couldn’t call them dates because that would imply they had dated—meet her at the restaurant, but Michael already knew where she lived so there was no risk there.“You can pick me up at home at six-thirty.”
“I shall count the minutes in between.”His voice turned deep and husky as he reached out, took her limp hand, and kissed the back of it.His lips were soft, like the petals of a rose.He slowly released her hand as if he didn’t want to let her go and stepped away with a swagger and teasing smile as if hinting what she was allowing to walk away.
Andrea tried to catch her breath after their encounter.The man had a way of fumbling her brain.
“Oh, honey, he’s a keeper,” a shopper called from behind her, startling her once again.
“Thank you,” Andrea mumbled and pushed her cart forward while ducking her head down so the woman didn’t see her cheeks stained with red.
Chapter 11
Andrea checked her wristwatch after applying a little lipstick.It was a few minutes until six-thirty.She took one last look at herself in the mirror.Not too bad, if she said so herself.She wore a powder blue dress that reached to her ankles with a slit that ran up the side to just above her knee.It had puffy shoulder sleeves with a wide collar that stopped just to the tops of the swells of her breasts.
It had been an impulsive buy a few years ago, and she’d never had much of an occasion to wear it.It was flirty yet conservative.Dressed up and yet casual.Her makeup had been artfully done to highlight her light brown eyes.It was subtle, and it turned out quite well too.She had decided to leave her hair down and curl the ends.
Andrea jumped when there was a knock on the front door, and her hands began to shake.She didn’t know why she felt so nervous.She’d eaten dinner with men before.It wasn’t legions like she had told Michael, but a few.She had nothing to be nervous about.
Andrea slipped her feet into her sandals and headed down the hall.She wasn’t a fan of high heels.They made her feel off-balance and as if she was always going to fall.There was one time she’d worn them back in her school days to a dance and rolled her ankle.Her date had to take her home before they’d even made it into the gym; she’d rolled it in the parking lot.She’d never worn heels again.
Andrea opened the door and sucked in a breath at the dazzling figure in front of her.Michael’s curly blond hair was swept back and to the side of his face, a stray curl falling over his forehead like Christopher Reeves as Superman’s did.He wore a black dress shirt with the top button left open and snug-fitting jeans.
“Andrea,” he purred her name, making her think of all things carnal.
“Hi.”The word came out breathless, but she couldn’t help it.The man was gorgeous and had a way of short-circuiting her brain.
His eyes raked over her body.It felt like the touch of a lover as his gaze went from her toes to the top of her head.“You look incredible.”
“Thank you.You clean up well.”Seriously, that was all she could say.She had only her short-circuited brain to blame.
“Thank you.”He chuckled, not looking the least bit offended.“These are for you.”Michael pulled his hand out from behind his back and held up a small bouquet of flowers.They were lilac, carnations, and sweet pea.
“Thank you.”Andrea took them and brought them to her nose to take in their fragrant scent.
“I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t bring roses.”
“Not at all.I love these.”And she did.She much preferred these to roses.Roses were so cliché.
“Good, I saw them, but it didn’t feel right to buy them.”
“Why is that?”She found herself curious for his reasoning.
“I feel they are very typical when brought to a beautiful woman on a first date, and you are anything but typical.You also made it clear this wasn’t a date.”
“Very true, and I appreciate these more than roses.I’ll put these in some water before we go.”
“Am I allowed inside, or shall I wait on the porch?”
