AARGH!
Turning, Diana triednotto look like she’d just jumped halfway out of her skin at the sound of her name being said inthatsexy voice, so low and so close to her ear.
Play it cool,she told herself.He’s just some guy! Just some… incredibly built, hunky, sweet guy!
“Oh, hey Calvin.”
Okay, maybe that wastoocool,Diana thought, inwardly cringing at the affected nonchalance in her voice. Calvin could probably hear it too, she thought. He could probably see straight through her act. Well, if she was surprised and flustered, it was his fault for sneaking up on her while she prepared herself to see him again!
“I was just, uh, taking a moment,” she explained, as finally, she managed to force herself to look him in the eye – and immediately felt her heart starting to melt.
It just wasn’t fair – today, he was somehow evenmoregood-looking than he had been yesterday. A part of her had been slightly hoping he wouldn’t be quite as appealing the next day. But that clearly had been a wish in vain.
“Oh, right,” Calvin nodded, as if she’d just said anything even slightly reasonable. “I got here early, since I wanted to be sure this was the right place. Sorry I snuck up behind you – I saw you arrive, and I didn’t want you to be standing out here any longer than you had to be.”
Okay, great, so he saw me standing out here doing my breathing exercises. Fantastic.
Resisting the urge to squeeze her eyes shut, Diana forced herself to keep smiling.
“Oh, well, I guess you’re right – it’s getting pretty warm already. Should we go in?”
There you go, that wasn’t so hard,Diana congratulated herself as she smoothly opened the door, sighing in relief as the cool air of the diner washed over her.
As they entered, she noticed Calvin glancing around as if he was nervous, or at least looking around for something, like he was expecting something to jump out from behind one of the red pleather booths.
“Everything okay?” she asked cautiously – though perhaps it might have been better for her to pretend she hadn’t noticed anything amiss.
“Oh – sure,” Calvin said, flashing her one of his heart-melting smiles. “I was just… checking the place out. But it sure does look nice here. And smells even better.”
“Looks like we can have our pick of tables – I think we missed the breakfast rush, and the lunch one hasn’t started yet.” Diana glanced around. “How about a window seat?”
She had to admit, she kind of had an ulterior motive in picking the window seat – the view from the diner was simply gorgeous. Sure, immediately outside was just the main street of Girdwood Springs, as cute as it was, but beyond that there was a clear view of the deep green forest and the mountains, rising up into the perfect, unbroken blue of the summer sky.
If Calvin’s an outdoorsy guy, I’m sure he’d love it here,Diana thought wistfully.But I’m getting ahead of myself! Again!
“Did – did you find the campsite okay?” she asked, just to give herself something to say that wasn’tSo, got any plans for the rest of your life?
“Oh yes, no trouble at all,” Calvin said, as he folded his long body into the seat across from her. He appeared to hesitate before placing his hands down on the table, but then he seemedto relax a little more. “Your map was unbelievable – led me straight to it. I even met one of the owners.”
“Oh, Kieran or Natasha?” Diana asked.
“Kieran,” Calvin told her, then seemed to narrow his eyes a little. “Do you… know him very well?”
Diana blinked.Oh boy, is he jealous or something?
She had to admit, the thought kind of made her heart skip a beat. But at the same time, was Calvin going to be quizzing her about all the guys she knew?
And besides, Kieran and Natasha are the most loved-up couple I’ve ever seen! Well, one of them, anyway,she thought, thinking, not without a pang of envy, of all her friends who’d found love over the course of the last few years.
“Oh, he’s a pretty good friend,” she laughed, trying not to let her whirling thoughts show on her face. “He moved here a few years ago, so yeah, I know him fairly well. He and Natasha are joined at the hip, basically – they had their wedding here and everything.”
There.
Hopefully that would put any doubts Calvin might have to rest – though she had to admit, she was a little disappointed that he’d want to know.
Calvin blinked, but then he smiled again, nodding. Diana had the distinct feeling that there wassomethinghe wasn’t quite telling her, but she couldn’t for the life of her figure out what it was.
Well, she supposed they’d only just met – he was entitled to be a little mysterious if he wanted to.
