by SJ McCoy
She nodded, wondering what was coming this time.
“Do you want to go for that drink now?”
She didn’t understand.
This time he did smile and, even better, it turned into a laugh. She joined him; she couldn’t help it. Her mind was terrible, and it was thinking that if his smile could make the sun come out, his laugh could make panties drop.
“I know we’re here, in a bar, and it could be said that we’re already out for a drink. But I meant …” He hesitated. “I was going to suggest that we could go somewhere else; somewhere less crowded. Escape from having to explain everything to our friends and …” He shook his head. “But that wouldn’t be right.”
“Why?” She’d been loving where he was going.
“Because until a little while ago you thought I was a creepy dude.” She had to laugh at the way his lip curled when he said it.
“That’s not entirely true. I didn’t think you were the creepy dude. I thought the married guy at the salon was—and you’re not him.”
He chuckled. “I want to question your logic, but since it goes in my favor I won’t.”
She nodded happily.
“But perhaps we should wait? We could go for a drink tomorrow, or next weekend?”
“You don’t want to go now?” They probably shouldn’t. Nina and Manny would wonder what was going on.
Her breath caught in her chest again as his index finger traced a circle on her back. “I want to. But you should take your time. Be sure that you do. Be sure that you’re comfortable.”
She looked up at him. He was deadly serious. So serious, it was cute! “So, what? You think maybe I should check your references between now and tomorrow, or next weekend?”
He frowned and started to speak.
“Oh, my God! I’m teasing you! Don’t worry about it. I’d like to go now. I’m not worried.” She smirked at him. “And I trust you to behave yourself—and to see me home safely afterward. You know—in case there’s a creepy dude out there somewhere.”
He smiled through pursed lips and gestured for her to go ahead of him. His other hand never left the small of her back.
Chapter Five
Cal reluctantly let his hand fall to his side as he followed Teresa out through the main door of the restaurant. Part of his mind was questioning what he was doing. Manny and Ryan would no doubt give him grief for leaving with her. He still felt traces of wariness whether it was a wise idea. She was beautiful, and he liked the way she laughed so much, her seemingly lighthearted approach to life. But he’d liked those things about her this afternoon, too, and that had gone sour quickly.
Still … he lengthened his stride to catch back up to her after letting a girl go out before him … he couldn’t deny that he was eager to get back to her side, or that he was already looking for an excuse to put his hand on her back again. He might not have been with a woman for a long time, but that didn’t explain the intense connection he’d felt as he guided her through the bar.
She smiled when he reached her. “I should let Nina know that we’re leaving.”
“Of course.” He wasn’t looking forward to hearing what Manny and Ryan would have to say about this turn of events, but he was going to let them know, too.
He watched her pull out her phone and then did the same. Teresa smiled and tapped away at hers while he just stood there wondering what he should say. He didn’t get the chance to wonder long. His screen lit up with an incoming text.
Manny: Fast work. Where are you going?
He looked around without lifting his head, hoping to spot Manny without making it obvious.
Manny: On the corner of the deck outside.
Cal smiled through pursed lips and looked over to see Manny and Ryan standing there grinning at him. Nina was tapping away at her phone.
He made a face at them and typed a reply.
Cal: Since all our friends disappeared, we thought we’d go get a drink somewhere quieter – where we can hear each other talk.
He watched them both read Manny’s phone. Ryan smirked at him while Manny replied.
Manny: And where exactly do you plan to take her?
Cal: Don’t look at me like that! Like I said. Someplace quieter – to talk.
It occurred to him that even though he wasn’t thinking what Manny was implying, he didn’t know where he could take her. He knew there was another restaurant in town, some Italian place, but he didn’t know if there was a bar where they could sit and talk. The only other place he could think of was the Lodge at Four Mile Creek, and that was away on the other side of the lake. He didn’t think that driving her all the way out there would be appropriate.
Manny: I wasn’t giving you a hard time. I’m trying to help.
I know you wouldn’t suggest your place – and she wouldn’t suggest hers.
So … Giuseppe’s has a terrace out back where you can sit and have a drink.
Cal had to smile. He looked over at them again and instead of the kind of teasing he’d expected, both Manny and Ryan were giving him encouraging smiles.
He glanced at Teresa. She was still engrossed in her phone.
Cal: Thanks, guys.
He put his phone away and she looked up at him. “Did they ask you what’s going on?”
He shook his head with a smile.
She laughed. “Lucky you. Nina’s giving me twenty questions here.”
He frowned. “She doesn’t like the idea?”
“She loves it! She’s excited and wants to know everything.” She stopped abruptly and gave him an embarrassed smile.
He didn’t mind. He liked that she had a friend who would look out for her. And even more, he liked the way she spoke before she stopped to think and censor herself. It was … refreshing. Refreshing wasn’t the first word that came to mind. No, the first word he’d thought had been sexy. But he should probably stay away from that—for a while, at least.
He smiled back at her, wanting her to know it was okay—that she had no need to feel embarrassed. Plus, her eyes seemed to dance whenever he smiled at her.
“You should give her a wave and let her know that you’re okay.”
She frowned, and he pointed to where Nina was standing with Manny and Ryan on the edge of the back deck of the restaurant.
She rolled her eyes when she spotted them. Manny touched Nina’s arm and said something, and she looked up and waved. Judging by the smile on Nina’s face, Teresa hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d said that she was excited.
Cal jumped when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out and laughed when he read Manny’s message.
Teresa raised an eyebrow at him. “Dare I ask?”
“Yeah. Nina says we both have to text to let them know when we’re home safe.”
~ ~ ~
It felt strange to walk across the square beside him. Strange but good. It made Teresa wonder when the last time she’d walked beside a man had been. It’d been a while that was for sure. In fact, it must’ve been the last time she went on vacation. She liked to go away a couple of times a year on adventure trips. She’d been white-water rafting, rappelling, and horseback riding on a pack trip in the wilderness. She’d even done a three-day trip in a hot air balloon one year. Most of the time she lived a hum-drum little life, but she did love her adventures—and she’d had some fun with some adventurous guys on those trips, too.
She looked up at Cal. None of them were in the same league as him though. He was so big, not just tall, but solid, too. He made her feel small beside him. It wasn’t just his broad shoulders—or big muscly arms—it was all of him. He was probably twice as wide across as she was—and there wasn’t a scrap of fat on him.
“Are you sure about this?”
She looked up at him. “I am, are you? You can change your mind if you like. You don’t have to be stuck with me.” Why had she said that? Maybe it was the serious look on his face.
“I’d li
ke to have a drink with you, but you’re quiet now. I wondered if you’re perhaps regretting your decision?”
She smiled. “Not one bit. To be honest, I was thinking …” She wasn’t going to tell him what she’d been thinking, was she? No, she wasn’t. “That this is an unexpected turn to the evening—a pleasant one.”
He stopped beside a black Suburban. “As long as you’re sure. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.” He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in.
When he came around and climbed into the driver’s seat, she smiled at him. “Would I be right if I guessed that it’s you that’s uncomfortable?”
His lips pressed together before he replied, and she’d guess that the honest answer was yes, he was.
He turned to look at her, and her heart raced when he smiled. “I’ll admit that this is outside of my comfort zone, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to go.” He started the engine and pulled out of the square.
She wanted to talk to him while he drove, wanted to ask him what he thought of Summer Lake so far, what had brought him here, all kinds of things she was curious to know, but just like she had this afternoon, she got the sense that he needed quiet. So, she waited.
He didn’t speak again until he pulled up in the little lot outside Giuseppe’s. He cut the engine and turned to face her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She had to laugh. “I’m fine. But you’re not, are you? We don’t have to do this, you know. We can go home. It doesn’t have to be awkward. We’ll no doubt run into each other around town, but it’s all good.”
His eyebrows drew together. He looked intimidating, but she already knew better. He was just serious. Very serious indeed. She loved the thought of lightening him up. She reached across and rested her hand on his arm. “It’s okay.”
Her heart leaped into her mouth when he covered her hand with his. “No. It’s not okay. I’m making a complete mess of this.” He sought her gaze and held it as he continued. “I’m … I guess you could say, I’m out of practice with this … with taking a woman out. I’m rusty, I guess.” His expression relaxed into a smile. “But if you can bear with me …”
“I’ll be happy to. There’s no pressure. We can just have a drink, have a chat, make a new friend.” His hand tightened around hers at that. She shrugged. “You’re Manny’s friend. I’m Nina’s. It makes sense for us to be friends, too.” She hadn’t been thinking of him that way when they left the Boathouse, but the poor guy seemed so uncomfortable, she wanted to put him at ease again—and she hated to think that the thought of her expecting something more than friendship from him was the cause of his discomfort.
He held her gaze for a long few moments. She thought he was going to say something, but in the end, he just nodded and said, “Thank you.” Then he got out and came around to meet her at the passenger side.
It looked like he was relieved to be off the hook. Oh well. She hadn’t really expected that she could get that lucky, had she? It wasn’t in the cards for her to have a guy like him land in her lap. She should have known better. And she hadn’t been lying when she’d said it would be good for them to become friends. That would have to do.
With that thought, she slipped her arm through his as they walked through the restaurant. He looked surprised, but not horrified. He might as well get used to the way she treated her friends.
“Hey, Tino!” she called as they reached the bar. “Is the patio open? Is it okay if we sit out there?”
“Teresa!” Tino came out and greeted her with a hug. “It’s good to see you. Of course, you can go out there. Turn the heaters on if you want them. Do you want to eat?”
“No, we’re just here for drinks.” She smiled. “Cal, this is Tino, a good friend of mine. Tino, this is Cal—a new friend.”
She loved the way Tino sized Cal up before he shook with him. He didn’t even come up to Cal’s shoulder, but his expression made clear that he’d be keeping an eye on him.
“You like prosecco?” asked Tino.
Cal nodded.
“Okay. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
The courtyard out back was empty. Teresa went to turn one of the big patio heaters on and took a seat at the table beside it. “Have you been here before?” she asked as Cal sat down.
“No. I like it.”
“It’s a great place. Obviously, the Boathouse is the main attraction in town, but Giuseppe’s has great food. We should pick you up a delivery menu when we leave. Of course, there’s pizza, but they’ll deliver anything on the menu, too. Wait, where are you …?” She’d been about to ask him where he was staying, but she probably shouldn’t. “Scratch that. I don’t mean to be nosey. As long as you’re not too far out of town, they’ll deliver wherever you are.” She stopped when she realized she was talking too much.
Cal looked as though he was about to ask her a question, but Tino came out with a bottle of prosecco and two glasses. He set them down on the table. “Enjoy. I won’t keep coming out. We’re busy in there tonight. Text me if you need anything else, Terry. Otherwise, I’ll see you on Thursday.” He smiled first at her then at Cal. “The prosecco’s on me. Welcome, new friend.”
Cal had a puzzled look on his face as he watched Tino go back inside. Teresa poured them each a glass and made herself wait for him to speak first.
“I take it he’s a good friend of yours?”
“He is. We go way back—all the way to grade school.”
“You’ve lived here all your life?”
“I have.” She had to wonder how that must sound to him. From what she knew he’d lived and worked all around the world doing top-secret, dangerous work. “What about you? You said you were from Minnesota—”
She stopped mid-sentence when he leaned forward and put his finger to her lips. She couldn’t quite believe it. There probably wasn’t another man on earth who’d get away with doing that. But he smiled, and she swallowed and waited for him to explain.
He slowly lowered his hand but left her just as speechless when he rested it on her knee. “I’m sorry. I just … Tell me if I’m wrong?”
“About what?”
“You’re just talking to cover the awkwardness I created earlier, aren’t you? I didn’t explain myself properly, and now you think that I’m not interested in you, not as … as a woman.” His hand tightened on her knee as he spoke the last few words, making her stomach tighten.
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Can I clear that up then, before we go any further?”
“What …?”
He was leaning toward her, coming closer. She didn’t know how it had happened, what had changed but … his lips brushed over hers. It was soft, fleeting, but it was one of the best kisses she’d ever had—and definitely the most unexpected.
He sat back with a smile, though his hand remained on her knee. “I told you. I’m rusty. But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested.”
Her fingers came up to touch her lips. She was dazed.
His smile faded. “Was that—?”
She held her hand up to stop him before he could say anything that might detract from the magic of that brief kiss. “That was amazing!” She grinned at him. “I would never have guessed …”
He chuckled. “Then I’m glad I made myself clear.”
~ ~ ~
Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at him. It made Cal want to kiss her again. But he should wait. The whole time she’d been chattering away he’d known that he’d messed up earlier—that when he’d told her he was outside his comfort zone she’d somehow taken it to mean that he wasn’t interested in her. He was. Very much so. Even if he was more than rusty on how the whole dating thing worked.
He looked down when he realized that his hand was still resting on her knee. He should probably remove it, but he didn’t want to. And she didn’t seem to mind.
She still traced her finger over her lips, making him wish that he’d linger
ed there a little longer himself. He was tempted to lean in again, but he no longer had the element of surprise in his favor—and it seemed he no longer had the nerve either. He’d made the most of his moment of spontaneity, but now he’d have to fall back on conversation and the more conventional means of getting to know each other.
“So …” He didn’t know what he wanted to say, but the silence was lengthening, and it didn’t seem like Teresa was going to fill it.
She smiled. “So?”
He got the impression she was teasing him. She wasn’t going to let him off the hook easily.
“Are you going to put me to the test here—see just how rusty I am?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Honestly? I don’t know what to say next, so I’m waiting to see where you go.”
“That’s fair.” He chuckled.
“But I’m impatient, too.” She laughed with him. “So, where are you going to go? What direction are we taking this conversation?”
He rubbed his hand over his chin as he thought about it. “How about I lay out the options I see and then you choose which you want to pursue?”
“Okay.”
“We could talk about the weather.”
She laughed.
“Or you could tell me all about this little town of yours.”
She shrugged at that.
“You could tell me all about yourself and your life.”
“There’s not much to tell. You already know I’ve lived here all my life. It’s a great little town, but not much happens here.”
“I could try to impress you with stories about my life.”
“I thought you weren’t allowed to talk about your life—about your work?”
“I’m not.”
He was relieved when she smiled. “Then how about you tell me about you—who you are.” She gave him a rueful smile. “About your sister, Darla, and her kids?”
And that was all it took for Cal to relax. He didn’t date much because while he was still working for the agency, he didn’t like the only options available to him. Those were the options he’d laid out for Teresa. The nature of his work had always meant keeping things superficial with a woman, keeping the focus on her, and never really knowing if her interest in him went any deeper than in the perceived mystery and danger.