His message was loud and clear, as the lookin his eyes, reflected what he wanted her to feel, to know, and actupon. She clinked her glass softly against his. Her eyes neverwavered from his and her right brow lifted ever-so-slightly inacknowledgment, and he did the same.
Jessica was glad the waiter had chosen toreturn at that precise moment to take their orders. Theinterruption helped to quell the awkwardness she felt. It was onlymoments later they fell back into that same rhythm of ease alwaysexistent between them.
Bryan had a wonderful sense of humor and wasquick to come back with a witty remark, that always left herchuckling. To her, nothing was sexier and more attractive, than aman, who could make a woman laugh.
Throughout dinner, they addressed Bryan’squestions and concerns. She took thorough notes, because she knewshe would have to prepare speeches for him in the very near futureand answer questions herself, reporters would ask.
When their dishes were whisked away, theypassed on coffee and dessert, and the last glass of wine waspoured, Bryan took her by surprise with a personal question of hisown.
“Are you happy with me?”
She knew a dumb-founded look passed over herface like a shade being drawn.
Umm.Umm. Kept repeating in herhead like a broken record. She didn’t know, how quite to answer.Did he mean personally? Her brows furrowed deeply.
“You know, with the office,” he prompted,“the staff, your position, us working together,” he emphasized, ashe waved his hand back and forth between them.
Her mouth opened and closed like a guppy andshe replied, feeling foolish, as she rolled the stem of her wineglass between her point and thumb fingers.
“Yes! Yes, of course. I couldn’t behappier.”
He reached out and brushed the tip of hisfingers over the top of her hand just then and the reaction wastotally unexpected. It was like an electrical surge coursed throughher veins, shooting up her arm, and sparked the hairs on the backof her head.
The sincere look of fondness in his eyes madeher want to sigh deeply, but she contained herself.
“I need to say something here, but I … Idon’t want you to feel … well –“
She wanted to hear it … whatever it was, andshe prompted him along.
“Go ahead.”
“Jessica, the first time I met you at myfundraiser with your Aunt, I damn near felt like I was zapped by aTaser.”
She couldn’t contain herself and chuckled,“In a good way, I hope.”
He took her hand in his, and his thumb glidedsoftly over her knuckles.
“Yes,” he smiled, and his dimple deepened,making her heart lurch.
God! Those eyes of his. I could stay lostin them forever!She avowed silently.
“Jessica,” he continued, “I don’t know, ifwhat I’m feeling is mutual, but if it is, I sure would love topursue it.”
When she opened her mouth to speak, he raisedhis other hand to stop her.
“Hear me out first, please.”
She nodded slowly in the affirmative, and lethim.
“I know you’ve been hurt deeply, terribly,that … your husband was a brutal man.”
She knew her face registered shock. Shecouldn’t hide it.
“The circles we travel in, everyone knew ofthe Wilton’s reputations … all of them. I’m not like him, and neverwould be.” He placed his palm over his heart. “By the soul of mymom, my grandmothers and female ancestors before them, I amnotthat man. I know the scars left byhim, run deep. I can and would be patient. I would love to spendtime with you on a more personal level … see a movie, have moredinner dates, go hiking, or biking and dancing, take cookingclasses together, whatever you wish. How do you feel aboutthat?”
Holy smokes! He wants to date me? The bosswants us to be a couple … a State Senator … me?
She gulped down the remaining contents in herglass. Her head was spinning with a lot of arguments in onerespect, and in another, she wanted to jump on the tabletop and doan Irish gig. She gazed back at him and said the next thing thatcame to mind.
