“Where did you work before you moved here?”
“Houston. Like you, I wanted a change so when Clint suggested we partner in an urgent care and said that he’d found the perfect place for it, I agreed to look. Next thing I knew we were renovating the building near the library.”
“I’ve seen it but I haven’t been inside. Everyone I’ve talked to says y’all do a great job.”
“We try,” he said with a grin. “Let’s talk about you. You’re working for Trevor Holt? You design apps?”
“Yes, I work for Trevor but so far I’m just assisting. I’m learning to design apps.”
They talked some more then went in to dinner. She had a baked stuffed swordfish dish that was delicious and Raleigh had beef medallions. They talked a lot during dinner. Raleigh was very easy to talk to.
“Are you a dessert person?” Raleigh asked her when they’d finished dinner.
“Sometimes. I could really go for ice cream.”
“There’s a new ice cream shop on the Square. Want to try it?”
“Sure.”
A short while later Raleigh parked on the Square some distance away from the shop. The new shop was called Roberta’s Scoops. Sparkle and Shine Jewelry had remodeled and half the space had been turned into the new ice cream parlor. Jedidiah had been planning to try it but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. Tonight it was crowded, everyone in town apparently having the same idea.
Jedidiah had worn a short, flirty, cherry-red sundress with a V-neck and spaghetti straps. When Damaris heard she had a date with Raleigh, her sister had pulled it out of her own closet and all but forced Jedidiah to wear it, saying it was more Jedidiah’s style than hers, anyway. She wasn’t so sure about that but she wore it to please Damaris.
Holding her ice cream cone—cookies and cream, naturally—she’d just reached the door when it opened and a small tornado ran smack into her. Her cone smashed into her chest, spreading ice cream into her cleavage and down the front of Damaris’s dress. Everyone stood still in shock for a moment and then Raleigh said, “I’ll go get more napkins.”
“Jedidiah?” Trevor said from behind the boy.
“Trevor?” What was he doing with a kid that age?
Her cone was empty. What was left of her ice cream lay in a big blob on the floor. Not having a clue what to say, she looked from the child to Trevor and back to the mess on the floor.
“I’m so sorry. Andy, tell her you’re sorry,” Trevor said to the small, redheaded, freckled boy.
“I’mrealllllysorry,” the child said, drawing out the word at the same time he dragged his foot on the ground and refused to look at her.
“That’s all right. It was an accident.”
Raleigh came back with a bundle of napkins and she started trying to wipe the sticky mess off of her as best she could. Raleigh and Trevor greeted each other, clearly acquainted.
“This is Andy Reynolds, Will and Mel’s son,” Trevor said with his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m really sorry,” he repeated. “I should have been watching him closer. Can I get you a wet towel or something?”
“Thanks, but I’ll just go to the restroom. You can get me another cookies and cream though. In a cup this time. And clean up that mess on the floor,” she added, happy to be able to boss Trevor around. Not that he was a bossy boss, but it still gave her a curious satisfaction to feel as if she was turning the tables.
“Uncle Trevor, do I still getta have ice cream?” she heard the little boy ask as she left.
“Yes, Andy.”
She didn’t accomplish much in the bathroom other than making her chest a little less sticky. The dress was probably ruined, but Damaris should have known better than to give her something she didn’t want messed up. She grinned, thinking about when she was around Andy’s age she’d gotten mad at her big sister and cut up her favorite shirt. Damaris had made her help muck out stalls for the next week.
“Andy’s a pistol,” Raleigh said when she returned. “Travis is getting your ice cream.”
“Well, I do have four brothers so I’ve had worse happen to me because of little boys.”
Travis and Andy returned with her ice cream and she and Raleigh left shortly after that.
“I’m guessing you’re not in the mood to go dancing,” Raleigh said as he pulled into her apartment parking lot.
“You guess right. I’ll have to pass on that.”
He walked her to her door, gave her a brief kiss good night and left.
Raleigh was funny. Nice. Interesting. Not a bit pushy. And hot—except, try as she might, she didn’t feel an iota of zing with him. Nothing. Nada. Zip. She liked him though. Maybe she should give him another chance. Assuming he asked her out again.
Too bad the guy she was really interested in was off-limits.
Or was he?
