“That bad, huh?” Kieran asked.
“Don’t ask,” I said. “And I seriously mean it. Don’t ask.”
Jacob laughed, and I shot him a look.
“My lips are sealed,” he said.
I sighed. “I need to get upstairs and get ready.”
“Don’t sound so excited,” Kieran said.
“Again, if this is anything like last night’s date,” I said, “I’m about ready to just throw in the towel on finding a man.”
“Are you looking to start dating again for real?” Kieran asked.
I shrugged, avoiding Jacob’s probing stare. “Maybe. I’ve been thinking about it.” I held up a hand. “But not if last night is a glimpse of what’s out there.”
Jacob downed the last of his coffee, stood, and gave me a smoldering look. “Not every guy out there is like Roger.” He winked. “Thanks for the coffee. Best of luck tonight.”
We ogled him as he walked away. It was a natural reaction.
“Is he sending vibes your way?” Kieran asked. “Because it sort of seemed like it.”
I scoffed. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
I rolled my eyes. “Please. Even if he was, I’m not going there.”
Kieran’s mouth dropped open. “Why the hell not?”
“Because he’s ten years younger than me,” I hissed. “Do you know what people would say?”
Kieran placed her hand over mine. “What? That you were one lucky son-of-a gun? That they wished they could be you for one day? That they were truly happy for you?”
I snorted. “I doubt people would say that.”
“Then you aren’t giving them enough credit.” She paused. “Or you aren’t giving us, your real friends, enough credit.”
***
I’d just finished prepping the evening meals for the couples who’d signed up for my Wednesday night class when my phone notified me of a text. It was from Jacob.
“Heads up! Your Mom and Gilda just kidnapped me. I have a sneaky suspicion we are headed your way.”
I groaned, but didn’t have time to reply because the first set of customers wondered in. A few minutes later, when a nice-looking gentleman in his late forties sauntered in wearing dark jeans, a button-up dress shirt with a blazer over the top, and holding a bottle of wine…I assumed he was my date.
“Jonathan?” I asked.
He smiled. And I had to admit, it was a nice smile that gave me flutters. The girls had already done a much better job with this potential date.
“Monica?”
He had a slight accent that sounded French. His skin was golden brown, his hair was just this side of too long and parted on the side, and he had straight, white teeth that gleamed off the lights when he smiled.
Oh, yeah. Much better.
What made him about perfect was that he looked to be my age. If therewasan age difference, it was slight and not noticeable.
