“Hi Eddie,” I say, trying to control my unhappiness at having to tear my eyes off David. I manage a friendly smile.
There is an attractive looking brunette with Eddie. She can’t seem to take her eyes off David. I don’t blame her, I know what he looks like.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Eddie tells me, his eyes moving from my face to David’s.
I nod, and then realize that I probably should perform some sort of introductions. “David, this is Eddie,” I say. “We were neighbors growing up. Eddie, this is David Preston, he...” It hits me again that I don’t know anything about him, and I stop, embarrassed.
“I’m attending a conference here in town,” David adds smoothly, rescuing me, “or I was.” He qualifies. “I’m heading back to Seattle in the morning.”
I feel my face fall. I have
n’t thought of him leaving. I try to tell myself that Seattle is only an hour away, but I’m sure I will never see him again. Why would he come back for me anyway? I hardly hear as Eddie introduces his companion, but I can sense almost the same deference in his tone as he talks to David as I had heard earlier in the managers’ voice. His companion cannot keep the open flirtation from her voice as she says hello to David, adding that she is very glad to meet him.
“I’m sorry for your loss Sophie,” Eddie says to me. He gives me an encouraging smile. “I’m sorry I haven’t tried to see you before now.”
I frown, wondering why he would try to ‘see’ me. “You were away at college,” I tell him, “and I’m okay.” I add. “Really.”
He gives me another encouraging smile before he and his companion move away from our table.
David is looking intently at me. “Old boyfriend?” He asks. I sense an edge in his voice, and I’m suddenly eager to clear the air.
“No,” I deny. “Of course not. I don’t have any old boyfriends.”
“Young ones then?” He searches my face. I suspect that he is not teasing. The look in his eyes makes my stomach clench. I shake my head.
“You didn’t tell me you were leaving,” I realize that the question is probably silly. He lives in Seattle, and is only here for a conference after all.
He leans back in his chair and considers me for a moment. “I was leaving this afternoon.” He tells me. “Yet I stopped to ask you to dinner.” He smiles. “Then I left anyway.” He shrugs. “I was going to call the shop and apologize,” he leans forward until I can almost feel his breath on my face, “but here I am back in little Ashford, on a date with an eighteen year old.”
I have a very clear mental image of waiting expectantly at the shop, and being disappointed by a phone call. I would have been miserable.
“I’m glad you changed your mind.” I reply hotly.
He seems taken aback by the passion in my reply. He smiles wryly, “Somebody should have warned you to stay away from men like me.”
“What kind of man are you?” I ask.
“The type that’s bad for you.”
I shrug. “I wouldn’t have listened.”
His expression is unreadable, he is looking at me, but he doesn’t say anything. He signals for the waiter. “I should take you home.”
I don’t want to go home. I don’t want never to see him again. His eyes hold mine from across the table, and I know I want everything those eyes are promising.
“Let’s go,” He helps me out of my chair and I follow him out, my legs feeling rubbery. He opens the door for me to get in, and I wait until he slides into the driver’s seat next to me.
“Will you come back here again?” I can’t keep the hitch from my voice. I want to see him again, I need to. I need him in a way that even I do not understand.
“I’m not sure.” He shrugs. “You’ll be in Bellevue anyway.”
I had forgotten about that. I look down at my hands on my lap, and I wish I were older and more beautiful. I wish I was the kind of seductress who could drive him crazy with just one look. It’s heartbreaking that I cannot even keep a man like him interested in me for longer than a date.
‘Are you alright?” He asks softly. He places a hand under my chin and lifts my face to his.
His eyes take in my shiny eyes and the unhappiness on my face. I can’t read his expression as he looks at me. I want to say something, I want to tell him that it’s not his fault and that I’m just a silly girl who has never been on a real date before.
I’m still trying to form the words when he leans forward and covers my lips with his.