“Well, thank you.” She laughed, feeling utterly weightless. “I’m impressed. Are you daylighting as a perfumier or something?”
“No, I just have a good nose,” he said, driving down tree-lined Main Street.
“You certainly do. Full of surprises,” she muttered.
“I’m excited you said yes.” He glanced her way.
“Me too.”
He cleared his throat. “I have to say I was a little nervous to ask.”
“Why?” she asked playfully, in shock by his confession. How couldshemakehimnervous? He was the one on a reality show and who’d dated a supermodel vixen who defied all laws of science.
“Well, you seem to have your shit together.” He smiled.
Dahlia coughed. If he only knew. “You think?”
“And look at you. You’re beautiful. Way too pretty for this mountain man.” He pointed to himself.
“Not so.” She laughed.
Then he added. “In a girl next door kind of way.”
“Oh.” Her voice sank with disappointment.
“No, it’s a good thing.” His grin widened. “A perfect thing. And you’re down to earth, which is a bonus.”
“Thanks, I think,” Dahlia said, gripping the door handle and feeling the moisture under her palm. She was nervous too, but how could she not be? A boy was noticing her, and she felt sixteen again.
“So tell me about you. I still don’t know much besides the basics,” he probed.
“Well, what do you want to know?” Dahlia tilted her head.
“Are you single?”
“Wow, getting right to it,” she said. “Yes, I am. Are you?”
“Yes,” he boldly declared.
“That was quick.” She let out a lighthearted chuckle, looking straight ahead. She hoped the interrogation wouldn’t include her age or children. Right now, she just wanted to be a girl sitting next to a boy in a truck, savoring every single second of this new situationship.
“Have you ever been married?” he asked.
She swallowed and nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh.” He paused while he waited for the light.
Maybe that was the wrong answer, but it was the truth. And the only truth she was willing to share. If he was scared off, then so be it.
“For how long?” Noah’s forehead wrinkled.
“Too long.” Her eyes widened. “You?”
“Engaged, not married. But that was …” He gave a hard swallow. “It’s water under the bridge.”
Now she really wanted to know what went down last year.
“Why did you break up?” he asked, then shook his head quickly. “Sorry, is that too personal?”
