Marry Me

After their first date goes terribly wrong, Reggie and Lorna meet up in the coffee shop.

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“I haven’t been here in a minute. I can’t believe we ran into each other. How have you been?” he asked.

Her shoulders lifted and fell as she took a deep breath. She turned her head sideways, refusing to face him directly and only giving a view of her profile.

“Fine,” she answered in a clipped tone.

This was not going well.

He figured she might still be upset, but she seemed more than upset, which made him realize he had more work to do than expected.

“I’ve been fine too, thanks for asking.”

She shot another look over her shoulder. “I don’t know what you want me to say. We didn’t exactly part on good terms.”

Reginald rocked forward so his lips came close to her ear. “We could simply talk, like normal people do.” She smelled delicious, like sweet honey and… did he detect cinnamon? He wanted to take a bite of her to find out if she tasted as sweet and spicy as she smelled.

Her gaze dipped lower. “What do you want to talk about?”

Progress! Yeah, baby.

“How have you been?”

“I already answered that question.”

They shuffled forward in the line.

“How have you really been? What have you been up to the past couple of weeks? How is business? Ate at any good restaurants you might want to recommend?”

Her gaze slid sideways, climbing from the middle of his torso to his face. He felt that look deep in his chest and low in his pelvis.

“I really have been fine. Busy at work. Things are picking up because spring is around the corner, which is when a lot of people renew their vows. I haven’t eaten at any new restaurants recently, but if you know of any you can recommend, I’d love to hear about it.”

The line moved again, and he almost pumped his fist. He was definitely making progress. If he was reading her right, that comment at the end was a little flirty.

“I might know about a place, assuming you like Thai food.”

“I am a fan of Thai,” she said.

“Well in that case—”

The customer in front of her finished paying, and Lorna walked up to the counter and placed her order. When she finished, Reginald stepped up to the counter while she moved to the left.

Before he could give his order, the male barista asked, “The usual?”

The question took him by surprise. Considering he had pretended to Lorna that he hadn’t been back since they met, and their meeting should be seen as a coincidence, he almost reached across the counter and shook the young man.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The young man frowned. “You come in here every day.”

Lorna shot Reginald a look, raising an eyebrow.

Reginald laughed off the comment. “You have me confused with someone else. I’ll have a plain coffee, black.”

Normally he ordered an espresso, but he couldn’t do that since the barista had called him out. Moron.

“Whatever,” the young man mumbled, ringing up the order.

Reginald paid for his coffee and then stepped aside to stand next to Lorna. A woman behind the counter called her name, and she picked up her drink and went to the stand where the napkins and other items were located.

Reginald kept his eyes on her while he waited for his coffee. If necessary, he’d abandon his drink to catch her before she left.

Right as she headed toward the door, his order came up. He snatched the cup and hurried toward the exit. Outside, he called her name before she could rush off.

“Lorna.”

She paused, looking at him with curiosity in her eyes.

“I know I screwed up the night we went out, but I meant what I said about the Thai restaurant, if you’re interested. I’m hoping you’ll give me another shot to make a first impression.”

She didn’t respond right away, studying him with slightly narrowed eyes. “Why should I bother?” she finally asked.

“Because you have the wrong idea about me after that night, and I want to change your opinion. I’m actually a pretty good guy.”

“Just cynical.” Not a question, but a statement.

“Cautious,” he suggested.

Her lips quirked into a soft smile. “Why do I feel like I’m going to regret this?”

“You’re not. If I’m not mistaken, you were interested in me until I put my foot in my mouth. Am I wrong?”

She pursed her lips. “You’re not wrong, but right now I’m not so sure.”

“Give me another shot. If after we go out again you still feel the same way, I’ll leave you alone.”

“Why do you want to go out with me again?”

Good question. He wasn’t sure what the answer was. All he knew was that he liked this woman—a lot. He’d denied to his cousins how much, but back in college, he’d been enamored. If she’d given him a shot, he would have set aside every other woman to be with her—and that wasn’t easy to admit.

He didn’t want her last memory of him to be of the two of them having an argument. If that was going to be the last memory. But if he got his way, it wouldn’t be.

“You’re not just trying to get in my panties, are you?”

“I’m absolutely trying to get into your panties.”

One of her eyebrows lifted higher.

“Would you rather I lie?” he asked.

“No, I guess not. You really are upfront and honest, aren’t you?”

“It’s better that way.” He stepped closer. “I’m pretty sure you want me in your panties, but that’s not the primary reason for me asking you out. I enjoyed our conversation, and now that I know to stay away from the topics of marriage and relationships, maybe we can have a good time.”

“We don’t have to stay away from those topics,” she said.

“I think we do.”

“No, we don’t. You said some troubling things, but that’s your opinion based on experience.” She shrugged. “The same way my opinion is different from yours, based on my experience. I’m not saying we have to talk about marriage or relationships again, but if the topic comes up, I’ll try not to be so sensitive. And who knows, maybe I can change your mind.”

He laughed softly. “Since I want you to accept my invitation, no comment. You’re open to going to the Thai restaurant?”

After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded. “Yes. When?”

“Why wait? I’m free tomorrow night. Are you?”

“A friend of mine is displaying his work at a gallery tomorrow, and I’m going to support him. You like art. Would you like to meet me there?”

“I’d love to. Then we’ll go to dinner after?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“So you’ll take my calls now, right?”

She laughed. “Yes, Reggie, I’ll take your calls now.”