by Susan Hatler
I squeezed the handle of the bag I was holding, bracing myself. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” He glanced down at the brown paper sack with a curious stare. “Did you forget something?”
My heart squeezed. Definitely not a good sign. But he’d said I wasn’t a coward, so now I had to prove that to myself. “I need to talk to you. May I come in?”
He glanced behind him, as if he had a guest, then he turned back to me. “You’re the boss.”
Okay, that seemed like a good sign. One point for me. But even though I’d been trying to keep track, I wasn’t sure what the score was. Setting the bag down, I decided to just open up and say what was in my heart. Here went nothing.
I watched him close the door, then inhaled deeply. “You said I was wrong about not wanting a family, and I didn’t believe you. But I went to a baby shower today and the future was all I could think about. For the first time in my life, I could see myself having kids, building a family.”
He stood very still, his body rigid. “What changed?”
“I met you.” I stepped toward him and he didn’t back away, so I went on. “I saw my friend’s excitement over starting a family with the man she loves. And for the first time, I wanted that, too.” I bit my bottom lip. “So, I want to date you.”
His lips twitched. “You’re asking me out?”
Holding my breath, I nodded. “Yes.”
“I don’t know.” He stepped forward, the corners of his mouth curving upward. “I’ve been rejected by you a lot. My ego’s pretty fragile. How do I know you won’t run from me again?”
“The bag,” I blurted, remembering I’d brought evidence of my commitment. Squatting down, I reached into the brown bag, and pulled out a cardboard box with holes punched across the top. “This will prove that I’ve changed, that I can let something, and someone into my life.”
“Now you’ve got me curious.” He sat down next to me on the area rug, his eyes dancing as his arm brushed against mine. “Show me.”
Mew! Mew! I opened the box and pulled out the white kitten I’d picked up from the animal shelter. “Greg, I’d like to introduce you to The Professor.”
“The Skipper and The Professor?” His eyes went wide. “Um . . .”
Okay, not the response I’d been hoping for. I lifted the soft kitty, who rubbed his nose against my palm. “Don’t worry, he’s mine. I got him as a playmate for the The Skipper. You don’t like him?”
“It’s not that—”
Mew! Mew! As if he sensed we were talking about him, The Skipper pranced in, eyeing his new friend suspiciously. Then, I blinked, figuring I had to be imagining things, because an orange kitten trotted in behind The Skipper. Mew!
“Looks like we had the same idea.” Greg lifted the orange kitty and dropped him in my lap. “I’d like you to meet Gilligan. I got him for you.”
“Really? He’s adorable.” My stomach fluttered as the kitty batted his paw against my foot. Since Greg had named the kitten after the main character from Gilligan’s Island, that must mean he wasn’t done with me. I bit my lip, needing to know for sure. “I have to tell you something else.”
His eyes connected with mine. “You can tell me anything.”
I sucked in a deep breath. “Remember when you told me that I take a house and make it a home, by filling it with color and life?”
He tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear, and nodded. “I do.”
“Well . . . that’s what you do for me.” I brushed my fingers across his cheek like he’d done to me so many times. “When I’m with you, it feels like I’m home.”
“Yes, I’ll date you.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Sunshine, you’re finally seeing things clearly.”
Then he kissed me.
Epilogue
Two weeks later. . . .
After spending the afternoon shopping with my new client, who had been referred by Jenna McCoy, I arrived home to find my door locked. As I used my key and slid the bolt free, my mouth curved upward. My new roommate, Melinda Morgan, apparently valued safety too. It felt like the beginning of a new era.
I didn’t know Melinda well, but we’d both received the boot from Woodward Systems Corporation, so I figured we’d eventually bond over our shared rejection. She was working a temporary job right now, and didn’t usually come home until late. So far, she’d kept to herself, giving me plenty of space to work quietly at my desk in my room.
Mary Ann had moved in with her friend, and lived only five minutes away. She’d already stopped by to raid my refrigerator twice. Gotta love her.
Seconds after I shut the front door behind me, there was a knock-knock-knock.
I checked the peephole and found almond-brown eyes staring back at me. I pulled the door open. “Spying on me, neighbor?”
“As often as I can.” Greg brushed his lips across mine, then strode in, waving the magazine he held. “Sacramento Living, hot off the press.”
My heart rate sped up. “And?”
“We’ll find out together.” He shut the door, then dropped onto the couch. He slipped his arm around me as I scooted next to him, then he proceeded to read Jenna’s six-page article highlighting Founding Friendships and raving about Up to Date by Ginger Nielsen. And the glossy “before” and “after” photos were phenomenal. Squeal!
When Greg got to the last few lines of the flattering article, he smiled and read them aloud. “In addition to Ginger’s generous donation, this is what her client had to say about her: Ginger’s talent transformed my home, and her heart changed my life. Working with Ginger is like opening your world up to the sunshine of endless possibilities.”
My eyes watered, and my chest filled with joy.
“Greg . . .” I started, but there were no words for what I was feeling. So, instead of trying to explain what his words meant to me, I tilted my head up and pressed my mouth to his. “You’re wonderful.”
And he was mine.
“Remind me to read to you more often,” he joked as he closed the magazine then squinted at the couple on the cover. “Isn’t this your blind date from the auction?”
“Huh?” My gaze dropped to the cover photo of Trenton Davis on the red carpet with glamorous supermodel Rochelle Richards. The headline read “Engaged!” I couldn’t help but smile. Trenton had finally figured what was important. Just like I had. “I knew he was still in love with her.”
He dropped the magazine, then twisted toward me. “How was your day at work?”
“Amazing.” I smiled, colorful curtains dancing through my head. Then I remembered the phone call I’d received. I took a deep breath. “My mom called this afternoon.”
A line formed between his brows. “Don’t tell me she’s pushing the office jobs on you again?”
“No.” I shook my head, my throat tightening. “She called to tell me that my dad checked into a rehab facility today. Not ‘promised to go,’ but actually checked into a thirty-day program. That’s a first for him.”
He tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “How do you feel?”
I bit my lip, then glanced at the painting I’d made the last time he’d promised to go to rehab. The white swirls seemed to smile at me and the yellow arc leapt across the sapphire blue background. But the future . . . who knew? “I love my dad. And I’m here for him. So, I’ll be hopeful.”
Greg’s brown eyes sparkled, and his mouth curved up. “I love you, Sunshine.”
“I love you, too,” I said, then kissed him with all of my heart and soul.
And I knew, without a doubt, that no matter what life threw my way the sun would rise tomorrow with the promise of a new day.
THE END
If you enjoyed spending time
with these characters,
be sure to read Melinda’s story in:
Déjà Date
(available for pre-order on iBooks)
Acknowledgments
Thank you to all of my awesome readers who asked me for Ginger’s story. She was a super s
weet character, everybody’s best friend, and I’m thrilled she finally got her happily ever after. Yay!
Big hugs to my manuscript’s first readers: Virna DePaul, Cyndi Faria, Rochelle French, Veronica Blade, and Ann Rego. Your feedback and support is much appreciated.
Special thanks to Kristin Miller for brainstorming help, and for forcing me to catch a few winks at the coffee shop after I’d been up way too late typing at the keyboard. I cherish our writing dates and am so glad to have you.
As always, never-ending hugs to Virna DePaul for your support in this writing biz and in life. You’re the best.
Endless kisses to my wonderful hubby, Mike Hatler, for all of your encouragement and excitement over my stories. You seriously rock the most. Love you, baby.
About the author:
SUSAN HATLER is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, who writes humorous and emotional contemporary romance and young adult novels. Many of Susan's books have been translated into German, Spanish, and Italian. A natural optimist, she believes life is amazing, people are fascinating, and imagination is endless. She loves spending time with her characters and hopes you do, too.
You can reach Susan here:
Facebook: facebook.com/authorsusanhatler
Twitter: twitter.com/susanhatler
Website: www.susanhatler.com
Blog: susanhatler.com/category/susans-blog
Books by Susan Hatler:
Love at First Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #1)
Ellen may not believe in storybook love, but it’s about to rewrite her life . . .
Ellen’s figured out that finding the right guy is all about compatibility. That’s why she signs up for Detailed Dating—the local online dating scene in Sacramento. They ask men the hard questions, compare their answers with hers, then she filters through the profiles of each provided “match.” After numerous email exchanges, she narrows it down to two promising candidates she’s excited to meet in person.
When Ellen’s best friend asks her for a favor, dog-sitting leads to disaster and Ellen ends up at the local vet where she meets a man she can’t get out of her mind. Henry isn’t a logical choice, but she finds herself paying for dog obedience class to spend more time with him.
Ellen knows that in order to have a lasting relationship, she should take the safe route and go for one of the pre-screened guys. But, how can she think with her head when her heart keeps begging her to give Henry a chance?
Truth or Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #2)
Truth or Dare is all fun and games until a playful dare has Gina falling for the office playboy.
Gina Hall is done with men who won’t commit. Ten years waiting for her ex to propose wasted her time. Never again. When her friend Kristen starts a game of Truth or Dare, she dares Gina to go on a date with Ethan, who’s amazing and total marriage material.
As Gina plans the going away party for office playboy Chris Bradley, she spontaneously initiates a game of Truth or Dare with him. When his turn comes around, he dares Gina to pose as his girlfriend to help get a flirty colleague off his back. Gina finds playing couple with Chris way too much fun.
Even though Gina and Chris are pretending, their relationship begins to feel painfully real. Fearing she might be falling for another fly-by man, Gina must focus on Ethan so she doesn’t make the same dating mistakes all over again.
My Last Blind Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #3)
Should Rachel risk another dating disaster by trying yet again for love?
It’s Valentine’s Day and Rachel Price has a choice: Stay home and watch TV with her loveable doggy or let her best friend, Ellen, set her up on a blind date. What to do….
Ellen says the guy is a “10,” but the last guy she set her up with was a “–5.” Rachel’s been flirting with coworker Noah Peterson and she’s hoping he’s noticed. Then, she finds out Noah has big plans. Even worse, he advises Rachel to go on the blind date!
Should she play it safe and spend the Hallmark holiday with her loyal pooch, Chester, or risk another dating disaster by trying yet again for love?
Save the Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #4)
Kristen swears off men, but temptation swoops in when her sexy friend Ethan starts flirting with her.
Kristen knows men hide things. Case in point, her last boyfriend turned out to be married. Just like anyone else, Kristen is devastated. However, since Kristen evaluates people for a living, her ex’s duplicity has her searching for a new career as well as swearing off men.
Touring history museums with her sexy friend Ethan doesn’t count, because he has a girlfriend, and has only shown friendly interest in Kristen. He even helps with her career counseling tasks. Although Kristen has a secret crush on Ethan, spending time with him is safe. Until she discovers he’s actually single. Gasp. And now he’s flirting with her, too.
Suddenly, Ethan is way too dangerous. Not to mention tempting. Sure, he seems like sixty shades of perfect, but how’s a girl with bad judgment supposed to detect what skeletons he has in his closet?
A Twist of Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #5)
Will Melanie have to follow her best friend’s narrow dating rules in order to find lasting love?
Melanie Porter has been dumped—again. When others accuse her of “being in love with being in love,” she agrees to let her best friend, Patti, step in and direct her dating life.
The Boyfriend Bylaws by Patti Hartley
Rule #1: No giving out your phone number until approved to do so.
Rule #2: Must obtain permission to accept any date invitation.
Rule #3: No bringing up marriage, kids or the future.
Rule #4: No going to first base without authorization.
Amended Rule #4: No going to first base, or any other base, without authorization.
Rule #5: No scribbling your first name with some guy’s last name. Ever.
Rule #6: New rules may be added as Patti Hartley deems necessary.
Memorize it, live by it, and happy dating!
License to Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #6)
Kaitlin agrees to five dates in five days only to fall for the mysterious bartender who’s there to witness them all.
After discovering her fiancé cheats on her, Kaitlin is focused on two things: remodeling her home and avoiding men at all costs. But her friends insist she get back in the driver’s seat and date again. They strike a hard bargain and agree to paint her house if she goes on five dates.
Anxious to get the paint job started, Kaitlin schedules five dates in five days, but her plan falls to pieces when a sexy bartender at her venue-of-choice makes her swoon. Even though he observes each of the dates from afar, she can’t help but want him to come a little closer.
The last person she should fall for is a mysterious bartender with a sinful smile, but Paul makes her want to take risks again. Will the charming man with electric blue eyes break her heart or will he prove to her that a license to date is what makes life worth the drive?
Driven to Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #7)
When Jill Parnell’s promotion is nabbed by nepotism, she is offered another position on the partner-track, by pretending to date Ryan—the man who got her job.
Career-driven attorney, Jill Parnell, has worked long and hard to become a partner at Corbett, Gray, & Shaw. When the coveted position is given to the boss’s nephew, she does what any intelligent employee would do—attends a colleague’s wedding and schmoozes a high-powered partner at another law firm.
Her potential new boss has only one condition for her, that she demonstrate a personal life that will support a thriving career. Pretending to have a boyfriend is outside Jill’s comfort zone, but she invites the best man to act the part and Ryan is all-too eager to play her significant other. Sparks fly between them, but she reminds herself she’s only driven to date to get back on the partner track.
When Jill discovers
Ryan is the lawyer who stole her promotion, her charade threatens to implode. But breaking off their pretend relationship could cost her the job of her dreams. And the more she gets to know Ryan, the more she’s tempted to tame the bad boy, and make him her own.
Up to Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #8)
Ginger donates her decorating services to a charity auction and now must work for the one man with the power to break her heart.
Ginger knows that practical choices guarantee a stable life, which is why she chose a career as an office manager. Her job provides a steady paycheck, but it also has her snoozing at her desk. She wishes she'd pursued her passion for interior decorating rather than business.
She’s also trying to forget Greg Shaffer—the gorgeous emergency room doctor she met at a dance club last month. Her dad was an emergency room doctor and the stress of the job turned him into a raging alcoholic, which didn’t exactly create happy childhood memories.
Ginger believes donating her decorating services to her friend’s charity auction is the perfect fix for both her problems. She'll get a break from the daily grind, get her creative juices flowing, and stay so busy she'll finally forget about Greg.
But then Greg ends up buying the condo right above her. Even worse, he deliberately wins the bid on her auction item. Greg seems determined to prove to Ginger that practicality has nothing on passion. And as Ginger brings beauty into Greg's world, how can she possibly resist the beauty he brings to hers?
Déjà Date (Better Date than Never series, Book #9)
She sent Chris Bradley off with a “Rock On Stud” farewell in Truth or Date. She tried to nab Noah Peterson in My Last Blind Date. Blonde bombshell. Office flirt. But things didn’t go so well for her in Up to Date... Get ready for Melinda Morgan’s story revealed in Deja Date!!