“Really?”
She squeezed his hand again. “Absolutely. Trust me, if you two had been dating, everyone in town and the tri-city area would know everything about the two of you.”
“Good. I guess,” Jake said. “Thank you for believing me.”
The constant connection of their hands was sending a buzz of joyous feeling up Beryl’s arm. She didn’t want to ruin anything, but felt the need to comment on it. She squeezed his hand for third time. “When I touch you, I get this immediate spark.”
“I do, too.” Jake tightened his grip on her hand. “I get a spark every time I’m near you.”
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“Speaking of gossip,” Beryl said, wanting to come clean about anything he might hear about her. At least more than he already knew. Beryl wanted to take the opportunity right up front to tell him the story of why she and her family had moved to Alienn, Arkansas. Likely everyone in town knew her sad story. He should not be the only one who didn’t. “I need to tell you something about my past.”
“You can tell me if you want to, but please don’t feel like you have to. I will not be able to reciprocate.” He smiled.
She smiled back, continuing, “Well, I want you to understand how extraordinary it is for me to be sitting here with you right now on a date.”
“Okay.” Jake didn’t let go of her hand, giving her more courage to tell him her story.
Beryl told him the particulars of being left at the altar two years before. She told him every single detail, along with her plan to remain single for the next decade or so, because she wanted to be honest. Because she never thought she’d feel like this ever again.
The man she had been about to marry didn’t evoke any kind spark. But Henry was merely a good friend, or so she’d thought.
“First of all,” Jake said. “I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t even imagine how traumatic that was, both then and now. I appreciate you telling me what happened to you so I can better understand you as a person.”
“Thank you. The truth is, I didn’t expect to meet someone that I would want to date. At least, I didn’t expect it for another ten years or so.” Beryl was glad she’d been wrong.
The grip Jake had on her hand had not abated the entire time they had been talking. The buzz of sensation remained, giving her entire arm a tingling, warm, wonderful feeling, all the way to her soul.
Beryl heard the sound of the bell tower ringing the hour. Her lunchtime was really over, but she didn’t want to leave.
Jake glanced up at the noise. “Is it really two o’clock?”
“Yep. Time flies when you’re having fun. The cliché is true.”
“I need to get back to my store,” Jake said. “But I’d rather stay here with you.”
Beryl nodded. “I also have to get back tomystore and I’d also rather stay here with you.”
“When can I see you again?”
“How about tomorrow tonight, for dinner?” Beryl said without thinking. She hoped her calendar was clear.
“Perfect. When and where?”
“My house. I’ll text you the address. Would seven o’clock work?”
“Yes. Can’t wait.”
Jake helped her clean up the picnic table from their luncheon and, hand in hand, they walked toward their meeting spot, halfway between their places of work.
Beryl hated to part, but took solace in the fact they would see each other in a more private setting tomorrow night.
As they walked toward the sidewalk at the edge of the park, Beryl picked up several thoughts from the humans walking by. Normally, she wasn’t great at that Alpha feat, but occasionally thoughts from passersby would pop into her head without warning.
A woman in exercise clothing passing them thought Jake was very attractive. Her exact thoughts as she jogged were,“Hubba, hubba! Why are all the gorgeous guys that look like man candy already spoken for?”
