to please a woman. She shouldn’t take it too personally.
“Nice apartment,” he commented, his gaze traveling around the living room. Chintz-covered couches and chairs, lace curtains, a heart-shaped dried flower wreath on the wall and family pictures artfully arranged in a collection of frames on an end table all combined to give the room a warm, homey feel.
“Thanks. It will do for a while, but eventually I’d like to get a house with some land at the edge of town. My dad is a great gardener, and he got me hooked on the hobby. I miss not being able to work with flowers.”
“It doesn’t seem as if you have much time for that sort of thing, anyway.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “That’s true. The restaurant is pretty demanding.”
“Speaking of food,” he said with a smile. “I have reservations for seven-thirty, so if you’re ready we might as well head out.”
“Okay. Is it cool enough for a coat?” The weather had been unseasonably mild for the past day or so, providing a much-needed glimpse of spring to the winter-weary, flood-exhausted residents.
“I don’t think so. It’s a nice night, and that sweater looks pretty warm.” And very attractive, he acknowledged silently. But he needed to keep such thoughts on ice, he told himself firmly as he stepped aside for her to pass. Later, if things went well, maybe he could allow them to resurface. And perhaps even pursue them.
As they drove into the city, Zach purposely kept the banter light. He knew Rebecca was uncomfortable with this date, had half expected her to cancel. His goal for the moment was to get her to relax, to enjoy his company. Because he didn’t want this to be a one-time event.
By the time they arrived in St. Louis, she did seem to be more at ease, but as they pulled up in front of the restaurant her voice died in mid-sentence even as her eyes widened in surprise. He had chosen one of the finest, priciest restaurants on the Hill for tonight’s dinner date.
“Zach! I never expected anything like this,” she exclaimed, completely taken aback.
He smiled, pleased at her reaction. “I hoped you would like it.”
“Like it! That’s an understatement! I only know this place by reputation, but I’ve always wanted to eat here. It’s just too expensive.” Suddenly she frowned and turned to him. “Zach, this will cost a fortune! I can’t let you spend that kind of money on me. We hardly know each other!” she protested.
“Well, I intend to remedy that. Starting tonight. Just think of this as a birthday gift, Rebecca. And I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he added with a smile, leaning closer to drape an arm casually across the back of her seat, his fingers brushing her shoulder. “It may not be my birthday, but I definitely consider this date a gift. Thank you for coming tonight.”
Rebecca was too stunned by his candor to reply. Fortunately she didn’t have to. Just then the valet opened her door. Zach winked at her before removing his arm from the back of her seat, and it was all she could do to keep her thoughts coherent as she stepped from the car. He joined her immediately, his hand resting lightly but proprietarily against the small of her back as they walked toward the restaurant, and somehow she knew that no matter what happened in the future between them, she’d always remember this birthday celebration as one of the most special of her life.
The dinner was everything Rebecca had expected—and more—and she even drank a little wine, a rare indulgence for her. But tonight it seemed appropriate, and as the meal progressed she grew mellow and relaxed, smiling and laughing freely. Zach was an ideal dinner companion—witty, well-read, an excellent conversationalist, moving with ease from one topic to another. She found herself telling him about her home-town, about Brad and Sam and their new daughter, about the satisfaction of making her dreams of owning her own restaurant a reality. Zach skillfully drew
“Nice apartment,” he commented, his gaze traveling around the living room. Chintz-covered couches and chairs, lace curtains, a heart-shaped dried flower wreath on the wall and family pictures artfully arranged in a collection of frames on an end table all combined to give the room a warm, homey feel.
“Thanks. It will do for a while, but eventually I’d like to get a house with some land at the edge of town. My dad is a great gardener, and he got me hooked on the hobby. I miss not being able to work with flowers.”
“It doesn’t seem as if you have much time for that sort of thing, anyway.”
She gave him a rueful smile. “That’s true. The restaurant is pretty demanding.”
“Speaking of food,” he said with a smile. “I have reservations for seven-thirty, so if you’re ready we might as well head out.”
“Okay. Is it cool enough for a coat?” The weather had been unseasonably mild for the past day or so, providing a much-needed glimpse of spring to the winter-weary, flood-exhausted residents.
“I don’t think so. It’s a nice night, and that sweater looks pretty warm.” And very attractive, he acknowledged silently. But he needed to keep such thoughts on ice, he told himself firmly as he stepped aside for her to pass. Later, if things went well, maybe he could allow them to resurface. And perhaps even pursue them.
As they drove into the city, Zach purposely kept the banter light. He knew Rebecca was uncomfortable with this date, had half expected her to cancel. His goal for the moment was to get her to relax, to enjoy his company. Because he didn’t want this to be a one-time event.
By the time they arrived in St. Louis, she did seem to be more at ease, but as they pulled up in front of the restaurant her voice died in mid-sentence even as her eyes widened in surprise. He had chosen one of the finest, priciest restaurants on the Hill for tonight’s dinner date.
“Zach! I never expected anything like this,” she exclaimed, completely taken aback.
He smiled, pleased at her reaction. “I hoped you would like it.”
“Like it! That’s an understatement! I only know this place by reputation, but I’ve always wanted to eat here. It’s just too expensive.” Suddenly she frowned and turned to him. “Zach, this will cost a fortune! I can’t let you spend that kind of money on me. We hardly know each other!” she protested.
“Well, I intend to remedy that. Starting tonight. Just think of this as a birthday gift, Rebecca. And I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he added with a smile, leaning closer to drape an arm casually across the back of her seat, his fingers brushing her shoulder. “It may not be my birthday, but I definitely consider this date a gift. Thank you for coming tonight.”
Rebecca was too stunned by his candor to reply. Fortunately she didn’t have to. Just then the valet opened her door. Zach winked at her before removing his arm from the back of her seat, and it was all she could do to keep her thoughts coherent as she stepped from the car. He joined her immediately, his hand resting lightly but proprietarily against the small of her back as they walked toward the restaurant, and somehow she knew that no matter what happened in the future between them, she’d always remember this birthday celebration as one of the most special of her life.
The dinner was everything Rebecca had expected—and more—and she even drank a little wine, a rare indulgence for her. But tonight it seemed appropriate, and as the meal progressed she grew mellow and relaxed, smiling and laughing freely. Zach was an ideal dinner companion—witty, well-read, an excellent conversationalist, moving with ease from one topic to another. She found herself telling him about her home-town, about Brad and Sam and their new daughter, about the satisfaction of making her dreams of owning her own restaurant a reality. Zach skillfully drew
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