Page 77 of Just Ten Seconds

She weaves her crimson nails through her dark hair. “I’ll think about it.”

From the look on her face, I know she has no intention of bringing Brandon to the theater. And it’s a shame because the theater is the best place for wayward children. Lord knows, I was a misfit looking for a sport when I was in my first play in grade school.

“Maybe I’ll find a new dad for him tonight at Joe’s Pub,” she says with a waggle of her brows.

“Good luck with that.” I make a face but try not to let her see it as I walk over to the coffee machine to make a cappuccino.

Connie walks off as Jackie comes over.

“Since when are you so chummy with Connie?” she asks as she looks over her shoulder to where Connie is serving tables.

“I talk to Connie,” I say, defending myself against whatever she’s insinuating.

“Not really. I think the theater is really getting you back out of your shell. Like the girl I used to know.”

I look at her light eyes and blonde curls and think that Jackie is exactly as she was when we were teenagers. “Have you ever thought about going back to dance?”

“Not since I hurt my knee. And besides, why would I want to be anywhere else but in this amazing café I own with my husband? Thanks to you, we’re almost out of our financial hole, and we can start going on vacation again!”

I raise a brow. “And who’s gonna watch the café?”

“Manny, of course. If you thought I was gonna say you, you’re out of your mind. By this time next year, I hope you’re out, doing something you’re passionate about.”

“Maybe,” I find myself saying, and Jackie’s jaw drops. “Don’t read too much into it. You just gave me a year to figure it out.”

“I’ll take it!” She beams as she takes the cappuccino I just made from my hands. “I’ll take this to your table while you go wait on the handsome gentleman at the end of the bar.” She scurries away as I spin around to see who she is referring to.

Who am I kidding? I knew exactly who she was talking about.

Dean looks ruggedly handsome this morning. His chiseled jaw and rogue smile have me weak in the knees as I walk over to him.

“Morning, stranger,” I say since we just saw each other last night.

After being caught by the waitress, enjoying our best worst date, we enjoyed our dinner and talked for another hour about movies, which somehow morphed into politics and religion, and we still were happy to walk out of the restaurant together.

There were no more kisses though, which was fine with me.

Well, kind of fine with me.

Because as I stare at his full lips grinning at me from where he’s sitting, I have a crazy urge to lean over and steal a kiss.

“Good morning. I woke up this morning with Frank Sinatra in my head.”

“Please tell me you’re not gonna play it from your iPhone or something.”

He laughs with a sideways tilt to his head. “I didn’t think of that, but no. My goal in life is never to make you cry.”

My stomach flutters, so I take a deep breath. “What can I get you this morning?”

He glances at the menu. “Coffee, eggs over easy, rye toast, and the time you get off work.”

I’m writing his order down on my pad when I glance up at him. “Time?”

“I have somewhere I want to take you.” He places the menu back on the counter and looks back at me.

“I don’t get off for a few hours.”

“I can wait.” His words come out like a promise.