The server came for their order.
“Tell me a little about yourself,” he said when they were alone again.
“Like what?” she asked, running her finger over the top of her water glass.
“What are your interests?”
“I have a lot, though I’m so busy now I don’t have much time for them. I play the piano, something I’ve taken up again this year.”
“You stopped playing for a while?”
“With two young children and a full-time job, I didn’t have the energy to practice. Once I decided to make it a priority, I’ve enjoyed it and found it’s a nice release for me. I play for Dylan. He’s making me sing with him, too, which is totally intimidating.”
“Ah, yes, the singing pest control man.” Jason’s disparaging tone and the thinning of his lips made the hair on the back of Rae’s neck stand up.
“You know how they suggest people steer away from unsafe topics like religion or politics?” When he nodded, she said, “I think maybe for you and me that would include Dylan. He’s my dearest friend, and I willnotsit here and let you badmouth him in front of me.”
Jason stiffened. If he were offended, that was fine. Then Rae wouldn’t have to worry about him coming on to her anymore.
“All right,” he finally said. “What other things do you like to do? Swim? Boat? Play tennis?”
“I go to the park and push my children in the swings. I also bake fun birthday cakes.”
“A cake decorator, huh?”
“Yes. It’s a dangerous talent though because practicing means we can have a lot of frosted cakes around that my figure can’t handle. That’s why I like to give them away.” Rae was tired of talking about herself. “What about you? What are your talents besides flirting and selling pest control accounts? Who are you underneath the façade?”
He leaned back in his chair and considered her. “You are a very unsettling woman Rae Cavanaugh. You go deep, much deeper than I'm used to on a first date.”
First date? This was supposed to be their only date, endured simply to get him to move on. She shrugged. The waitress arrived with their food, and Jason shifted to more mundane topics while they ate.
“Would you like some dessert?” Jason asked when they were finished.
“No. As I mentioned, I need to be careful what I eat.” She checked her phone for both the time and to see if Dylan had texted her. He hadn’t. “Well, it’s getting late, and I should get back home.”
“I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better. Why are you in such a hurry?”
Jason looked like he sincerely wanted to know. Rae wondered if she were an anomaly, and he hadn’t met a woman before who wasn’t charmed by him. But she found that hard to believe.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you,” she began.
“Aren’t you always? Even brutally honest?” he asked, his tone wry. If he were trying to guilt her out, it was working.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re just so persistent. It makes me uneasy.”
“As you’ve said.” Jason rubbed his chin, his expression contemplative. “It seems I’ve been grossly insensitive, and for thatI’msorry.”
Rae’s shoulder muscles relaxed for the first time. Maybe shecouldbe friends with this man.
“Then let me explain my position,” she said. “This dating thing is hard for me. I’m not doing it because I’m looking for a relationship or because I’m lonely. It’s actually Amelia’s idea.”
Jason burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry, but that sounds like her. Did you agree to it to get her off your back? Like you agreed to go on this date with me?” He winked at her.
It was Rae’s turn to chuckle. “You got me there. Amelia said I needed a social life outside of work and my children. I told her I’d try it out, but I’ve been thinking what I need is a hobby that will let me meet new people. Maybe I should take a ceramics class or something.”
“Perhaps you need more friends.” He reached across the table and gave her hand a single pat before pulling it back. “I know you and Rademaker are close, but do you have anyone else?”
“When you get married, it’s harder to have close friends. I had some girlfriends who Mike didn’t care for, and he had buddies I didn’t enjoy doing things with. There was one other couple we used to go out with, but they moved not long before I lost him.” Rae folded her napkin and leaned on the table. “I’m already gone for half of my children’s waking lives. And when I come home, I’m tired. I’ve already given my best hours to my job. I agree I need to do some things for me, or as Amelia calls it: fill my vessel. But I don’t want to dilute what time I have with my children.”
