After dinner, I drove Seraphina home, the two of us chatting easily, almost like we’d known each other for years.
“Do you remember the first time we met?” Seraphina asked.
“Oh yeah. It’s seared into my memory. You came into the bar with your girlfriends. February of last year. I’d just moved here. When I saw the five of you come in together I thought this town must have a more than usual number of beautiful women.”
She laughed. “My friends will love to hear that.”
“But it was you who truly caught my eye.”
“Don’t tell me it was my red hair,” she said.
“Your hair is gorgeous, but no, it was your attitude. I could tell you were smart and independent. Then one of the servers told me you were a writer, which intrigued me even more.”
“Really? That’s funny.”
“What about you? Do you remember that night?”
“Yes, I do. You had already been the talk of the town. Word had it The Pelican had a new hunky bartender. You did not disappoint. Even though you’ve been somewhat of an enigma.”
“Not on purpose. I’m kind of reserved by nature,” I said. “It takes me a while to get comfortable with people. That and I wasstill majorly licking my wounds. My divorce had only been final for a few months when I decided to move out here.”
“I have to ask—is living here something that’s going to stick? Or are you going back to Nashville eventually?”
“About the former, I didn’t think so, but, the longer I’m here, the more it feels like home.”
“You can write music from here.”
“That’s right. Just like you can write anywhere.”
I turned up her long driveway, shutting off the engine when we arrived at the house. I shut off the engine and was about to get out to open the passenger side door when she reached across the console and placed her hand on my arm.
“There’s something I’d like to ask you,” Seraphina said.
“Go for it.”
“I haven’t kissed anyone in a really long time and I kind of want to get it over with.”
I laughed. “That’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“I don’t mean it that way. It’s just on my mind, and, until we do it, I’m not going to be able to focus on anything else.”
“I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first night you walked into the bar,” I said. “So you don’t have to ask me twice.”
I pulled her to me, taking my time, brushing back her shiny hair, loving the way the silky strands felt in my fingers. Then, I leaned close and kissed her as tenderly as I could muster. I didn’t want to scare her away when I finally had my shot.
When we pulled away, she sighed. “I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“What’s that?”
“Kissing you is even better than I imagined,” she said.
“Have you imagined it many times?” I ran my thumb under her bottom lip.
“A girl should never confess that kind of secret. But yes. I’ve had a crush on you for longer than I care to admit.”
“A crush? That sounds promising.”
“You want to come in for a while?” Seraphina asked. “We could put on some music. Talk some more?”
