She blushed a deeper shade of rose.“Oh, thank you. Olivia took me shopping for this new dress. Did my hair. She tried to transform me from a Parker’s worker to…”Donna shrugged.“To, I’m not sure what.”
“Well, you look lovely tonight. And I’m glad you said yes. It’s fun to do things in a new town. Explore a bit.”He tilted his head.“Although I guess this isn’t really exploring for you.”
“It’s all new on the boat since Jesse bought it. It’s much nicer. New seats. Everything painted this crisp, clean gray color.”She smiled up at him.“Anyway, I don’t get away from the store often.”
“You always seem busy there.”
“We are. And…”She paused, her forehead creased with wrinkles.“Olivia came up with this idea that we should expand. It’s some dream of hers. Something she can do that will be all hers. Things are a bit hectic now. She’s finalizing plans. Has an offer in to buy the building next to Parker’s.”
“Really?”
“Yes…”The wrinkles stayed creased between her eyes.“But I’m afraid it’s going to be so much more work. She assures me she’ll handle it all.”
“But?”He could hear the hesitation in her voice.
“But what if it fails? What if we can’t recoup the cost of expanding? What if her dream gets crushed? I’d hate that.”
“What if she gets her dream?”He touched her hand.“Everyone needs a chance to follow their dreams.”
“I know. And I want it to work out for her. I’m just a bit…”
“Afraid?”he asked gently. He could see it plainly on her face.
“Yes. I am afraid. I’m not a risk-taker and this seems like a big risk.”
“And yet you said yes and you’re letting her do it.”She’d said yes because Olivia was her daughter and they had strong family ties. He admitted to a twinge of jealousy. What would it be like to have family ties like that?
“I am. How could I say no? How could I not give her a chance?”
“I could look at her plans if you’d like. Maybe make some suggestions. If it wouldn’t hurt her feelings. I’m pretty good at this rehab stuff, you know.”He grinned.
“So I’ve heard.”Donna smiled.“I’ll talk to her. See if she’d like you to look over the plans. It would make me feel better if you don’t think her whole plan is impossible.”
“I’d be more than happy to. Just let me know.”
An announcement came on that the buffet was open, and most of the people on the upper level headed back downstairs to the large eating area.“Want to go?”he asked.
“If you’re not too hungry, I’m just enjoying the view and drinking our wine.”
“Suits me just fine.”
Yes, he was perfectly fine sitting here right next to this fascinating woman.
They sat outsideas the sun played hide and seek with the clouds and the sky started to burst into colors. Seagulls swooped overhead in the evening light. Barry sat right beside her, inches from her. His leg brushing hers through her new dress everyone once in a while when he turned to look at something, his hair mussed from the breeze. His eyes sparkling in the evening light.
She was surprised at how much she was enjoying herself. How relaxing it was…in a kind of underlying tension kind of way. But that was just a bit of her nerves still talking.
Her nerves. Like when she’d told him about her pathetic closet and Olivia basically dressing her for this date. Did he think she didn’t know how to dress herself? Or that she thought this date was some kind of really big deal? It wasn’t. It was simply a night out with a man whose company she enjoyed. Enjoyed quite a bit, actually.
She turned to sneak a peek at him and found him staring at her.
“Sorry. I just wondering what you were thinking,”he said.“You looked lost in thought.”
“I was just thinking what a pleasant night it is. The view is wonderful.”Safe topics. Stay on safe topics.
“It is.”But he didn’t take his eyes off her when he said it.
Warmth rushed to her cheeks.“Well, we should probably go eat.”She stood quickly.
