Although the speed at which their relationship had progressed suited him, if she felt they were moving too fast, he could slow down to match her pace. A little self-control could go a long way toward proving to her that they had something special, and she didn’t have to worry about being hurt by him again.
The bartender placed Tomas’s beer on the counter and handed him a folded napkin. “She gave you her number.”
Tomas frowned when he unfolded it. “There are two numbers on here.”
“The second one is mine.” She winked and walked away to tend to another patron.
Smiling, Tomas tucked the napkin into his shirt pocket and turned to Ryan. “I love this country.”
Chapter Seventeen
Outside her boutique, La Petite Robe, Shawna checked the window displays on either side of the door and made a mental note to have Erin switch out a few items to showcase more of the seasonal picks.
She employed Erin, one of two full-time employees, and a part-timer. All her staff trained as personal shoppers, a key component to helping her build her business. She kept an extensive file on regular customers she referred to as clients. Staff noted their style, color preferences, and sizes, and each salesperson called the client assigned to them whenever items arrived in the store that might be of interest.
They’d been open a couple of hours and a few customers browsed inside the store. Shawna pointed out items on clearance before she continued to the back.
Erin looked up from dressing a mannequin. “Good morning. How’s the car?”
Shawna had purchased a Camry over the weekend. “I love it. I don’t know why I took so long to get a new one, but I’m glad I finally did it. It’s a relief not having to worry about whether or not my car will start when I turn the key.”
“It’s a major purchase. I understand why you took your time.”
Her sister hadn’t felt the same. Yvonne had given her a hard time, stating she couldn’t comprehend why she hadn’t bought a new car sooner when she’d probably spent the equivalent of a new car in clothes and shoes in the past year. Yvonne didn’t “get” her obsession.
Erin looked past her toward the front of the store. “What’s that?”
Shawna turned around to see a man striding down the middle aisle with a bouquet of red roses and a small box wrapped in white paper and gold ribbon.
“Shawna Ferguson?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m Shawna.”
“These are for you.”
Shawna signed for the items and read the card. Erin tried to peer over her shoulder, but Shawna moved so she couldn’t see.
Remember the first night we went out? I want to create more memories like that. Ryan
“What’s this all about?” Erin asked. “Have you been holding out on me?”
“Mind your business and get back to work.”
“No, you have to—” Erin broke off when the store phone rang behind the counter.
“You better get that,” Shawna said.
“We’re not done!” Erin called as Shawna hurried away.
She entered the small office located at the back of the store. After she set the flowers on the edge of the desk, she tore off the gift wrap to find an MP3 player and earbuds nestled in cotton.
“What are you up to, Ryan?” she asked the empty room.
She put in the earbuds and turned on the device. As she listened, a slow smile spread across her face. A compilation of the eighties and nineties songs she and Ryan had danced to that Friday night in Chicago played in her ears.
She didn’t know how long she sat there, listening to the music, bobbing her head and reminiscing about the party and his surprisingly good moves on the dance floor. She continued to listen as she answered e-mail and updated the store blog.
She only stopped to speak on the phone, place an order, and speak to a couple of clients. Around noon, her cell phone rang, and she fished it out of her bag. Ryan.
“Did you get my surprise?” he asked.
“Yes.” She bit her lip.
“You’re smiling.”
“How do you know?”
“I can hear it in your voice.”
With her elbow on the table, she rested her chin on her hand. “Yes, I’m smiling. But you know this was corny.”
“Yeah, but you like it.” Her smile broadened and she didn’t deny it. “I wanted you to know I was thinking about you.”
“Thank you.”
“I meant what I said in the note, too. I want us to create more memories together.” Without waiting for a response, he shifted gears. “Did you get a new car?” She answered in the affirmative and told him about it. “Now you don’t have to worry about being stranded somewhere.”
“True. I should’ve done it a long time ago.”
“Well, I better get back to work.” He sounded reluctant to hang up. “Keep a look-out. There are a few more things coming your way.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Before hanging up, she wanted to let him know how much she appreciated the gifts. “Ryan, I love the flowers, and I really enjoyed the music. It brought back good memories.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Before the store closed, a second delivery arrived. Another bouquet of roses, this time accompanied by a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts. She laughed when she saw them, wondering how in the world he’d arranged it. They weren’t ‘Hot Now,’ but almost as good.
Shawna couldn’t put off Erin after that. As they devoured the sugary treat, she gave her only a quick summary. Being a private person, she didn’t want to divulge too much, and certainly not to an employee. She told her she’d reconnected with an old flame and left it at that.
****
The next day, Shawna sat in the back office placing orders before she ran to lunch. Most of the time she ordered a few sizes of the same outfit, but she liked one black and white dress so much, she ordered an extra one for herself.
It’ll be sad if I go broke running this store, she thought.
“Shawna.” Erin sang her name from the open door, a sly look on her face. “You have another delivery. This time it’s a special delivery.”
Right behind her, Ryan appeared in the doorway. Her heart jumped at his unexpected visit. Erin slinked away, and Shawna stood up. “What are you doing here?”
He closed the door and sauntered over.
“It’s been three days, and I stayed away as long as I could. I wanted to see you.” His low, sexy voice caused her pulse to flutter. He took a few minutes to drink her in before pulling his arm from behind his back and revealing another bouquet. Tulips this time.
“More flowers?” Shawna said, smiling. One vase of roses sat on the far corner of her desk, and the other on a file cabinet against the wall. Their sweet aroma filled the small space. “How many are you going to buy?”
“As many as I need to.” He walked around the desk and brought them to her.
“Thank you,” she said, taking them.
He tilted his head. “Look at all this space between us. There’s a good, what, two feet right now?”
Shawna laughed and shook her head. “And why did you mention that?”
He stopped smiling. “Well, you said you wanted space, but I really want to kiss you right now. I think I should get a little reward, don’t you?”
“A little one,” Shawna whispered.
Ryan stepped closer and lowered his head. They both moaned when their lips touched. His hand moved to the back of her head, and he slid his mouth over her mouth in the softest of kisses. His lips caressed the corner of hers, and she whimpered, slipping out the tip of her tongue to tease his lower lip.
He lifted his head and drew a shaky breath. She could clearly see the heat in his eyes and knew he saw the same in hers. “Stop trying to seduce me,” he said softly.
“I am not.”
“It sure felt that way,” he said. “Behave yourself.”
/> Shawna pushed him playfully and he laughed.
“Let’s go out tomorrow,” he said. “How about an action movie? I can come pick you up after I leave work.”
“A movie? Tomorrow’s the middle of the week.”
“I have a secret to tell you,” Ryan said, lowering his voice. She strained to hear him. “People go to the movies during the week, too.”
She shook her head at him. “Why do I get the feeling you won’t take no for an answer?”
“Because I won’t take no for an answer.”
“In that case, my answer is yes.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow around eight.”
“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, as he walked to the door.
He paused and looked at her for a long moment. “Thank you for the kiss.”
After he left, Shawna sniffed the tulips and stared at them for a long time before she realized what she was doing—and that except for when they kissed, the smile hadn’t left her face the entire time he’d been there.
Chapter Eighteen
Outside Shawna’s townhouse, Ryan pulled his truck next to her numbered parking space and her shiny new Camry. It wasn’t a racy red or a sleek black. She’d chosen beige—a non-assuming color that didn’t draw attention to itself but fit her personality perfectly.
He exited his truck and walked toward her townhouse, casting his glance around to the buildings on either side. Someone in the building to the right quickly pulled the curtains back in place when he looked in that direction.
He liked the idea that Shawna had nosy neighbors. They always noticed unfamiliar faces and could be counted on to call the police. Although she lived in a nice community, one couldn’t be too careful nowadays.
When Shawna opened the door, he took in the sight she made, taking a deep breath and drawing in the light scent of her perfume. She wore her hair in a ponytail, with the bangs dipping down to her eyebrows.
Even dressed simply, she impressed in a pair of jeans and a purple three-quarter-sleeved blouse that draped off her left shoulder. He’d be kissing that bare shoulder later tonight. Her jewelry included a large necklace and big round earrings.
“Right on time,” she said.
He leaned in and drew her close because he couldn’t help it. She didn’t resist, so he kissed her lips and then kissed her exposed shoulder. Okay, so he couldn’t wait until later.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked, touching his face.
He thought about saying no, that he’d rather stay in and undress her. From the longing in her eyes, she wouldn’t have minded. But he’d promised to take her to a movie and that’s what he intended to do, if for no other reason than to prove there was more than just sex between them.
“Sure,” he said. She grabbed her purse, and as she shut the door, he asked, “Have you gotten that door fixed?”
“Not yet. I’ll get someone to look at it soon.”
“Here, let me look at it.” Ryan pushed it back open and turned on the light in the foyer. He crouched down in front of the lock and examined the deadbolt, twisting it left and right. “Hmm . . .”
“What is it?” She stood over him.
“Looks like the latch is lining up fine with the plate, but it may need a little lubrication. I have some WD-40 in the truck. It’ll only take a few minutes, and then we can leave.”
He retrieved the can. When he came back, he swung the door inward and crouched down in front of it again, intending to spray into the holes.
“Hey there, neighbor.”
Ryan looked up to see a black male coming up the steps. He had a low-cut Afro with flecks of gray at the temples and wore an expensive jogging suit with brand new tennis shoes.
“Hi, Jerome.”
“You look lovely.” His gaze traveled over Shawna in a more-than-neighborly fashion. The muscles in Ryan’s shoulders tensed. “I see you finally hired some help,” the man continued. “I guess you don’t need me anymore.”
“Ryan’s not maintenance. He’s . . . a friend.”
Still in the crouched position, Ryan glanced at Shawna. Okay, fair enough, they hadn’t defined their relationship yet, but they were more than friends. And what a facetious comment from this guy, because he had to know it was highly unlikely hired help would be working on Shawna’s door this time of night.
“I’ve known Shawna for a while,” Jerome said. “I’ve never seen you before.”
Ryan rose from his position and stood to face the man, with Shawna on his right between them. “Well, you can expect to see me much more often.”
Jerome raised his eyebrows. “I see. Well, if you’re not a handyman, what is it that you do?” He looked him over with a certain insolence that suggested whatever Ryan did would never be up to par. It didn’t faze Ryan. He’d had his share of people looking down their noses at him because he tended to wear jeans and had a nontraditional job. Men like Jerome annoyed more than upset him, but Jerome’s relationship with Shawna disquieted him.
“I make custom furniture. And you?”
“I’m an attorney,” Jerome said, a certain authoritative tone to his voice. He even seemed to stand up straighter. “It was nice to meet you, Ryan, and if you’re a friend of Shawna’s, you’re a friend of mine.”
“Actually, Shawna and I are a little more than friends.” Ryan slipped his arm around her shoulders. She stiffened and looked up at him, but he watched Jerome’s reaction and wasn’t surprised when he saw jealousy surface in the other man’s eyes as he honed in on Ryan’s arm.
“I didn’t mean to step on any toes,” Jerome said smoothly. “Shawna and I have been friends about two years now, and we help each other out every now and again.”
“Mostly you help me, and I appreciate everything you do,” Shawna said.
“Help with what?” Ryan asked.
“Nothing much,” Jerome replied. “I do little things for her, like help her move furniture or even something as simple as replacing the light bulb on her porch.” He looked pointedly at Shawna.
She groaned. “I know, I need to go to the hardware store and pick up the light bulb.”
“When you buy it, let me know, and I’ll bring over my step ladder and install it for you like I did last time.”
“No need,” Ryan interjected. “I’ll help her with that.”
“Of course.” Jerome’s smiled tightly. “I’ll leave you two alone. Have a good evening.”
Ryan watched him walk down the steps and turn toward the building where he’d noticed someone peeking through the curtain. Shawna closed the door and locked up.
They were both silent as they descended the steps. The cool night air brushed over them on the way to Ryan’s truck.
“Shawna, one more thing,” Jerome called out. “We’re still on a week from Saturday, right?”
“Uh, yes.” She actually looked uncomfortable.
“Good. Our law firm is having a party,” he explained to Ryan. “We recently bought a new building. Saturday night is the night we chose to do sort of a pre-open-house open house to show it off to friends and family.” He refocused on Shawna. “We’ll catch up about the details next week. Goodbye, Ryan.”
Ryan and Shawna continued to his truck and remained silent until he’d pulled out of the parking lot.
“Did you have to make that comment back there about us being more than friends?” Shawna asked.
“We are.”
“I don’t need my business broadcast to everyone in my neighborhood.”
“It was only Jerome.”
“My private life is private and I didn’t like it when you said that. I don’t even know what that means—more than friends.”
“It means I don’t want you to go to a party with him on Saturday night. Does that clarify it for you?” Ryan gripped the steering wheel.
“It’s not a date, Ryan, and we made those plans months ago.” She sounded annoyed.
“If you dress up and go out with a man who’s not related to you, it’s a dat
e. Were you even going to tell me?”
“Tell you what? That I’m going out with one of my friends? You won’t even be in town that weekend.”
He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. Her arms were crossed. “Did you ever have more than a friendship with him?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Yes, I did. We went out a few times.”
“Did you have sex with him?”
She heaved a sigh of annoyance. “Where is this going? He’s a friend.”
“Yes or no, Shawna?”
“No! Do you want to know about all my past relationships now?”
The cabin remained quiet as the truck rolled through the next few traffic lights. Shawna stared out the side window and Ryan tried, but failed, not to let his jealousy spoil what should have been a nice night out.
“I don’t want you to go out with him.”
“I’m not going to cancel on him last-minute.”
“It’s not last-minute. He’ll have over a week to find a new date.”
“Are you seriously asking me to do this?” Her eyes widened with surprise.
“Yes, I am.”
“That’s kind of ridiculous, don’t you think?”
Their gazes collided. “You’re doing this to spite me, aren’t you?”
“Yes, because when I made these plans months ago, I knew you’d surprise me and come back into my life.”
Silence.
“You’re not even interested in him.”
“I never said I was, and if you know that, why are you making a big deal out of it?”
“Because of him. He’s interested in you. I can tell.”
“Even if he is, nothing’s going to happen between us. He’s a friend.”
“He wants to be more,” Ryan said, his voice hardening.
“I don’t want to argue.”
“This isn’t an argument. We’re having a conversation about why you shouldn’t be going out with Jerome.”
The Blind Date Page 9