Thesides of his lips pull up a bit. “WhatcanIdo to talk you into it?”
Ilike that he’s amused.I’malso impressed that he’s here, asking me on a date.Toomany guys thatI’vebeen somewhat interested in over the years have just wanted to “hang out.”Ofcourse,Jace’sidea of a date could be hanging out on his couch with a show onNetflix.
“Hmm.Let’ssee,”Isay, dragging out the word. “Howabout telling me what you have in mind for this date?”
“Well,” he says, stepping closer, which makes my heart rate kick up and makes me want to say yes without even hearing his answer, “a couple of days ago when we first met, you were on that blind date in the restaurant, and you left before getting the entree.
“Andthen yesterday at lunch, we had to leave right when we were getting started on our food.SoIfigured that for our date, we could shoot for actually finishing a meal together.Butto increase our chances of that happening,Isay we skip the commonality between both of those situations— the restaurant.Howdo you feel about a picnic in a park?”
Icock my head, interested.
“Iwas thinking thatShadowridgeis a pretty great park, and there’s even that miniature golf course at one end.Plus, my mom gave me a genuine picnic basket forChristmas, andIfeel likeIshould actually use it.Whatdo you think?”
Hesmiles and dang if it isn’t the sexiest smileI’veever seen.
Butjust because he has a great smile, dresses nice, is asking me on a real date, the way he’s still leaning against that doorframe is rather delicious, and it’s pretty darn cute that he wants to use a picnic basket his mom gave him, doesn’t meanI’mgoing to fall for him.
Itdoes meanI’mgoing to say yes to going on a date with him, though.Imean, how often do all those things happen together?Theanswer is never.Ican’t pass up the chance of experiencing it. “Hmm.Actuallyfinishing a meal sounds pretty great.I’mfree tonight— tell me there’ll be a dessert in that basket, andI’min.”
“Ipromise dessert.Wouldyou like me to pick you up?”
Myeyebrow rises. “Fora first date?”
Heshakes his head, chuckling. “That’sright— you drive yourself to first dates.Whendo you get off work?”
I’mnot going to head straight from work to the date, soIanswer with, “Icould meet at seven.”
Hiseyes are rather gorgeous, andIdon’t think it’s solely because of the way he’s looking at me like he fully sees me.Ican’t seem to look away, and he smiles like he notices. “Okay, see you tonight at seven atShadowridgePark.”
Heturns to leave andIsay, “Wait!Let’sexchange cell phone numbers in caseIcan’t find you.”Iam so gladIthought of that.Ican’t believeIalmost let him leave for a third time without asking him.
Weput our contact info in each other’s phone, andIwatch as he walks out into the building’s lobby and toward the front doors.
“Thatis one hot guy,”Melissasays in a breathy tone from behind me andIjump and let out an undignified mix of a squeal and a shout of terror thatI’msure bothJaceand all our clients heard, having completely forgotten thatMelissa— or anyone else, for that matter— was even around.
Shegives me a pat on the shoulder, like she totally gets it, and we both watchJace’sbackside as he exits the building.
CHAPTER11
TASTY BITES AND OBJECTS TAKING FLIGHT
MACKENZIE
Iam barely out of my car whenIspotJacewith a blanket spread on the ground, a basket next to it.He’salready caught sight of me and is standing.Ican’t help smiling asIwalk toward him because how often does a date with a guy who’s that good-looking and who packed a meal to eat in the park on a blanket just drop into your lap?It’srather refreshing.
Myyounger, less cynical self— so pre-Dan, at least— would’ve probably fallen forJacepretty quickly.Butcurrent me has been burned more than my sisterMay’smarshmallows every time we made s’mores as kids.I’vedated enough guys to know that how things appear on the surface doesn’t necessarily showcase how it’s going to go.
Butcurrent me is absolutely going to enjoy this date for what it is.BecauseJacedoes seem like a good guy, and based on that smile on his face, he’s interested in me.Butno matter how well this date goes, things will not progress beyond this one date.Iknow better than to let myself fall just to be burned.Andfrom whatIknow ofJace, he could be very easy to fall for.
“Hi,”Jacesays asInear, and holds out his arm as if to welcome me onto the blanket, and we both sit.WhichIappreciate, becauseIhate that first date awkwardness that invariably comes up as you first greet each other.Doyou hug?Shakehands?Standwith your hands in your pockets like you don’t know how to act in social situations?Noone knows.Weskipped right past all that, and now we are both sitting on the blanket.Mewith my legs crossed, facing him, and him with his legs outstretched, leaning on one arm.It’skind of nice.
Weget the inevitable small talk out of the way first— asking how each other’s day at work went and how our drive over was.
IswearIonly glance at the basketJacebrought and my stomach growls its hunger.I’msure it’s loud enough for him to hear, too, soItake the opportunity to get to the point and ask, “So, what did you bring for us?”
(Ireally hope it’s not something like peanut butter and jelly on white bread, with single-serving-sized bags ofCheetos, a container of applesauce, and aCapriSunjuice pouch, whichI’mpretty sure is whatIate during my last picnic, which was likely back in elementary school, and probably during a field trip.)
Jaceopens the flaps of the basket and starts pulling things out as he says what they are—Capresepasta salad, pesto chicken salad sandwiches, strawberry lemonade pie, and sugar snap peas.Eachitem that is making my mouth water is packed in a plastic container that looks like it came with the basket.Noneof it is wrapped likeIwould expect from a restaurant.Myeyes go to his. “Didyou make all this?”