service, and I’ll make sure your tip reflects it.”
Jena escorted them to a table near the back and placed a couple of menus in front of them. “Take your time. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like something from the bar?”
Cara glanced up at Tanner. “Is a pitcher of beer okay with you?”
Tanner nodded.
Her gaze shifted back to the waitress. “We’ll have a pitcher of Blue Moon with some orange slices on the side please.”
Jena nodded and walked off. Tanner leaned comfortably back into his seat with a quizzical smile on his face. “So, Professor Greene, you have a little girl who’s getting ready for summer school. We really don’t know each other very well. Somehow that little tidbit about you having a kid didn’t make it into all the papers.”
Cara cocked her head and bit her lower lip. Her tool-man thought the University’s research vessel was her child. She studied Tanner’s face. A giggle tried to bubble out, but she swallowed it back down. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease him, especially after he failed to mention that the girl on his arm at the gala was his sister. Cara didn’t know how long she’d be able to pull it off, but she decided to run with it.
Smiling like a proud mom ma, Cara said, “LOLA’s my baby. I dreamed of having her for so long. Now that she’s actually here, I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Je na walked behind Tanner just in time to hear Cara’s proclamation. She stopped and stared at Cara with shocked eyes. Being with Cara aboard LOLA the past two years and having been recruited as Cara’s teaching assistant this past fall, Jena knew full well what LOLA was.
When Tanner nodded and began to scratch his scruffy cheek nervously, the waitress’s mouth opened wide and she began making exaggerated OMG faces behind Tanner’s back.
Cara almost burst out laughing. B etween Jena’s funny faces and Tanner’s intense, wondering what he was getting himself into expression, she was finding it hard to keep a straight face. Deciding to push it just a little bit farther she said, “I actually have to check in on her later this week. Would you like to meet her?”
To his credit Tanner didn’t miss a beat. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I couldn’t think of anything I’d like better.”
Dinner and darts couldn’t have been more fun and relaxed. After they dropped the conversation about LOLA and with a few beers under their belt, they began talking with ease, and it felt as if they had known each other for years. Tanner was subtle with his flirting, but never held back when it came to being a gentleman. The moment Cara began to rise from the table, Tanner was at her side to pull her chair out for her.
His blue eyes appeared a couple of shades darker this evening and Cara wanted to kiss him. She held back and teased, “I had fun, even though I’m pretty sure you cheated at darts.”
Tanner chuckled, “You should never bet unless you’re certain of the outcome.”
It had been a bet Cara didn’t mind losing. The winner was in charge of providing dessert. Cara was even prepared to leave whatever he meant by dessert up for interpretation. Anything sweet coming from Tanner would be perfectly acceptable.
On the way out she said good bye to her teacher’s assistant, who was currently moonlighting as a waitress at Rookies.
Jena shook her head and pulled Cara a few steps away from her handsome date. “Be careful, Professor. You need to put the poor guy out of his misery. Tell him LOLA’s a boat. You’ve been out of the dating game a long time. He’s hot and I’d hate to see you mess up a good thing.”
Cara glanced over at Tanner. He didn’t seem distressed. He had let the conversation about her daughter drop without any fanfare. LOLA was not a secret. There had been a state-wide media blitz announcing her acquisition, and many articles were written about their discoveries. Cara had to wonder if he
Jena escorted them to a table near the back and placed a couple of menus in front of them. “Take your time. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Would you like something from the bar?”
Cara glanced up at Tanner. “Is a pitcher of beer okay with you?”
Tanner nodded.
Her gaze shifted back to the waitress. “We’ll have a pitcher of Blue Moon with some orange slices on the side please.”
Jena nodded and walked off. Tanner leaned comfortably back into his seat with a quizzical smile on his face. “So, Professor Greene, you have a little girl who’s getting ready for summer school. We really don’t know each other very well. Somehow that little tidbit about you having a kid didn’t make it into all the papers.”
Cara cocked her head and bit her lower lip. Her tool-man thought the University’s research vessel was her child. She studied Tanner’s face. A giggle tried to bubble out, but she swallowed it back down. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease him, especially after he failed to mention that the girl on his arm at the gala was his sister. Cara didn’t know how long she’d be able to pull it off, but she decided to run with it.
Smiling like a proud mom ma, Cara said, “LOLA’s my baby. I dreamed of having her for so long. Now that she’s actually here, I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Je na walked behind Tanner just in time to hear Cara’s proclamation. She stopped and stared at Cara with shocked eyes. Being with Cara aboard LOLA the past two years and having been recruited as Cara’s teaching assistant this past fall, Jena knew full well what LOLA was.
When Tanner nodded and began to scratch his scruffy cheek nervously, the waitress’s mouth opened wide and she began making exaggerated OMG faces behind Tanner’s back.
Cara almost burst out laughing. B etween Jena’s funny faces and Tanner’s intense, wondering what he was getting himself into expression, she was finding it hard to keep a straight face. Deciding to push it just a little bit farther she said, “I actually have to check in on her later this week. Would you like to meet her?”
To his credit Tanner didn’t miss a beat. He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “I couldn’t think of anything I’d like better.”
Dinner and darts couldn’t have been more fun and relaxed. After they dropped the conversation about LOLA and with a few beers under their belt, they began talking with ease, and it felt as if they had known each other for years. Tanner was subtle with his flirting, but never held back when it came to being a gentleman. The moment Cara began to rise from the table, Tanner was at her side to pull her chair out for her.
His blue eyes appeared a couple of shades darker this evening and Cara wanted to kiss him. She held back and teased, “I had fun, even though I’m pretty sure you cheated at darts.”
Tanner chuckled, “You should never bet unless you’re certain of the outcome.”
It had been a bet Cara didn’t mind losing. The winner was in charge of providing dessert. Cara was even prepared to leave whatever he meant by dessert up for interpretation. Anything sweet coming from Tanner would be perfectly acceptable.
On the way out she said good bye to her teacher’s assistant, who was currently moonlighting as a waitress at Rookies.
Jena shook her head and pulled Cara a few steps away from her handsome date. “Be careful, Professor. You need to put the poor guy out of his misery. Tell him LOLA’s a boat. You’ve been out of the dating game a long time. He’s hot and I’d hate to see you mess up a good thing.”
Cara glanced over at Tanner. He didn’t seem distressed. He had let the conversation about her daughter drop without any fanfare. LOLA was not a secret. There had been a state-wide media blitz announcing her acquisition, and many articles were written about their discoveries. Cara had to wonder if he
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