already counting down the hours.
***
Since I was little late getting to the café, Jarod was already waiting for me.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, slipping into the chair across from him. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“No, I just got here a few minutes ago.” He grinned. “You look gorgeous, by the way.”
I hadn’t put much effort into my appearance that morning: a chambray shirt and white skinny jeans paired with my UGG flats. My hair was up in a messy bun, and I’d made do with a sweep of mascara and lip gloss, but I appreciated that he wasn’t hard to please. Not that I was trying to impress him. I’d save that for Seb.
“Thanks. You look nice too.”
He was dressed casually, in a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt with loafers. Jarod was a nice-looking man. Not a head-turner like Seb, but the kind of man I was used to dating. Not so good-looking he was arrogant but not so plain he was insecure and needed constant reassurance.
“I’m glad you were able to make it.”
“Me too,” I said, smiling brightly. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, maybe?”
I hadn’t realized it was almost lunchtime. My chat with Mrs. Ryan had run a little longer than I’d planned, putting me behind schedule, but thanks to her tea biscuit and a big breakfast, I could delay lunch until I got home. “Just a green tea for me, but feel free to have lunch if you’re hungry.”
“I had a protein shake after my run, so I’m good for a while,” he said, standing. “Let me just grab your tea and maybe a coffee for myself.” I reached for my wallet, but he winked, waving me off. “My treat.”
I pulled my phone out of my purse when it buzzed, and I smiled when I saw Seb’s text letting me know it shouldn’t be too hard to get the parts he’d need for my uncle’s car.
My hero, I texted back, grinning.
You know it, he replied almost immediately. What’s up?
I hesitated, my fingers hovering over my phone before I finally settled on Coffee with a friend.
My cake?
I was amused that he was still thinking about that chocolate fudge cake I’d promised. Don’t worry. You’ll get it. Btw, Mrs. R is in.
Cool. Later, sexy.
Sexy? I was still trying to decide how to respond when Jarod set my tea in front of me, forcing me to put my phone away. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
“You’re not working today?” I asked, peeling back the lid. I didn’t have a lot of time, but I didn’t want to bail on him until I’d at least finished the drink, so at the risk of burning my mouth, I took a tentative sip.
“Tonight,” he explained, adding cream and sugar to his coffee. “I know you said you work from home. What do you do exactly?”
“I’m a graphic designer. I do freelance work now, but since I sold my house to help care for my uncle, I don’t have a lot of extra expenses. Everything goes into the kitty to cover his care.”
“I think I said this before, but I really admire what you’re doing, taking care of your uncle like that.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t know why I couldn’t open up to him the way I had with Seb, but it just didn’t feel right. “But you know how it is. When you love someone, you’ll do anything you can to help them.”
“My wife didn’t get that,” he said, clenching his stir stick between his teeth. “That was a real bone of contention between us. She was pissed that I moved my mother in with us and—” He shook his head. “I’m not going to ruin our time together talking about her. I want to hear more about you.”
I wasn’t used to talking about myself, and it usually took some time for me to open up about myself. I was much more comfortable being labeled “the good listener.” I sipped my tea. “There’s not much to tell. I’m single, twenty-eight, never been married or engaged.”
“Why is that? A beautiful woman like you must get plenty of offers.”
“Truth is I liked living
***
Since I was little late getting to the café, Jarod was already waiting for me.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, slipping into the chair across from him. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“No, I just got here a few minutes ago.” He grinned. “You look gorgeous, by the way.”
I hadn’t put much effort into my appearance that morning: a chambray shirt and white skinny jeans paired with my UGG flats. My hair was up in a messy bun, and I’d made do with a sweep of mascara and lip gloss, but I appreciated that he wasn’t hard to please. Not that I was trying to impress him. I’d save that for Seb.
“Thanks. You look nice too.”
He was dressed casually, in a pair of well-worn jeans and a T-shirt with loafers. Jarod was a nice-looking man. Not a head-turner like Seb, but the kind of man I was used to dating. Not so good-looking he was arrogant but not so plain he was insecure and needed constant reassurance.
“I’m glad you were able to make it.”
“Me too,” I said, smiling brightly. “Thanks for inviting me.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, maybe?”
I hadn’t realized it was almost lunchtime. My chat with Mrs. Ryan had run a little longer than I’d planned, putting me behind schedule, but thanks to her tea biscuit and a big breakfast, I could delay lunch until I got home. “Just a green tea for me, but feel free to have lunch if you’re hungry.”
“I had a protein shake after my run, so I’m good for a while,” he said, standing. “Let me just grab your tea and maybe a coffee for myself.” I reached for my wallet, but he winked, waving me off. “My treat.”
I pulled my phone out of my purse when it buzzed, and I smiled when I saw Seb’s text letting me know it shouldn’t be too hard to get the parts he’d need for my uncle’s car.
My hero, I texted back, grinning.
You know it, he replied almost immediately. What’s up?
I hesitated, my fingers hovering over my phone before I finally settled on Coffee with a friend.
My cake?
I was amused that he was still thinking about that chocolate fudge cake I’d promised. Don’t worry. You’ll get it. Btw, Mrs. R is in.
Cool. Later, sexy.
Sexy? I was still trying to decide how to respond when Jarod set my tea in front of me, forcing me to put my phone away. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.”
“You’re not working today?” I asked, peeling back the lid. I didn’t have a lot of time, but I didn’t want to bail on him until I’d at least finished the drink, so at the risk of burning my mouth, I took a tentative sip.
“Tonight,” he explained, adding cream and sugar to his coffee. “I know you said you work from home. What do you do exactly?”
“I’m a graphic designer. I do freelance work now, but since I sold my house to help care for my uncle, I don’t have a lot of extra expenses. Everything goes into the kitty to cover his care.”
“I think I said this before, but I really admire what you’re doing, taking care of your uncle like that.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t know why I couldn’t open up to him the way I had with Seb, but it just didn’t feel right. “But you know how it is. When you love someone, you’ll do anything you can to help them.”
“My wife didn’t get that,” he said, clenching his stir stick between his teeth. “That was a real bone of contention between us. She was pissed that I moved my mother in with us and—” He shook his head. “I’m not going to ruin our time together talking about her. I want to hear more about you.”
I wasn’t used to talking about myself, and it usually took some time for me to open up about myself. I was much more comfortable being labeled “the good listener.” I sipped my tea. “There’s not much to tell. I’m single, twenty-eight, never been married or engaged.”
“Why is that? A beautiful woman like you must get plenty of offers.”
“Truth is I liked living
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