Page 57 of A Cup of Autumn
She hadn’t taken a bite yet. She picked up her fork. “The cake looks delicious.”
“I meant our date. Regretting the evening’s choice?”
Raine laughed and took a bite of cake. “Not yet, but this is only a practice date. I haven’t done anything embarrassing yet. So far the company’s pleasant, but the evening’s still young.”
It was his turn to laugh. “You’re doing great. Though I might have to deduct a few points from your score because the company is stellar.”
Raine ate more cake. It melted in her mouth. “Well, the company did buy me this delicious dessert.”
He leaned over the table with his napkin in hand. “You have a little icing on your lip.”
Forget the icing.
If he moved a little closer, he could kiss her, or she could kiss him. Or they could kiss each other.
Whoa. What was she thinking?
This wasn’t a real date. She needed to get those thoughts right out of her head.
He wiped her mouth with his napkin. “All gone.”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. Instead, she focused on her plate of cake as if tomorrow night’s winning lottery numbers were about to be announced.
It wasn’t Keaton, but Raine. Her attraction for him kept growing. That was a problem given dating wasn’t part of her plans nor his. He would be leaving town once he found a job.
A warning bell sounded in her head.
She shoved another forkful of cake into her mouth. The sweet, melt-in-her-mouth goodness didn’t stop the wild thoughts racing through her brain.
Keaton set down his fork. “If you’re worried, don’t be. You’re doing great. I wouldn’t have guessed you’re not comfortable dating.”
That was part of the problem. Raine was comfortable with him. No, comfortable wasn’t the right word given how on-edge she felt around Keaton. But she wasn’t afraid. “Thanks. You make it easy.”
“You’ll be ready when the door opens.”
“Hope so.”
She enjoyed having someone in her life. Oh, she had friends, but they also had their own lives and loves now. And she would love to have kids at some point. And she knew enough about dating to not mention the future or family or kids.
“I hope it doesn’t take too long for that to open. Dating isn’t part of my plans right now, but I’ll leave the door ajar.”
He held his scoop of pie in midair. “You’ve come far since yesterday.”
“You’re a good teacher.” She scooped up more cake. “Besides, I’m over thirty, own my own business, and have only myself to rely upon. If I can’t handle a practice date, then there’s a problem.”
“So does that mean you’re ready to let me get to know you better?”
Raine scooted forward. “What do you want to know?”
*
Keaton hadn’t laughedso much in… He couldn’t remember the last time. Raine told him one story after another about incidents that happened at the various coffee shops that she’d worked at over the years. “What you’re saying is Silver Falls is relatively normal compared to Seattle?”
“When it comes to funny customer stories, yes. But this town has its own quirks.”
“Like a resident matchmaker?”
“Be careful, or she’ll have you married off before you leave town.”
