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“I know we talked about this,” I continued. I fingered the digital camera placed on the table. “I know we both agreed we couldn’t offer more than something casual, but being around, spending time with you...” I looked up at her and hoped she could see how serious I was. “I don’t want casual. I want a chance to be serious with you. Not right away, of course. But I want the chance. I want you to open yourself up and let me try.”

She looked at me with imploring blue eyes, but I could tell she was starting to waver just a little bit.

At that moment, the waiter came by and dropped off the check. I immediately reached for it before she had the chance to grab it. I knew she would have insisted we split it, but I invited her out and I wanted it to be my treat.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” she murmured, her voice low.

I never expected to see Charlie uncomfortable. She was always confident, seemed so sure of herself, especially in her winery, but looking at her now, the way her arms were resting across her chest...it looked as though she was trying to make herself as small and as unnoticeable as possible, which was ridiculous, considering how lovely she was.

“I understand that.” I pulled out my credit card and stuck it in the bill before setting it flat on the edge of our table. “And if those are your final feelings at the end of all of this, so be it, but I would hate for you to let someone like Chad ruin you for everyone else.”

Her eyes snapped into mine. I noticed her playing with the skirt of her dress but upon and hearing my words, she stopped. “And what is that supposed to mean?” She was offended.

Good.

She needed to hear this. She needed to understand she was shutting herself off from something potentially amazing.

“You’re afraid.” Before she could say anything, I took a picture of her. And then another. “You’re afraid, Charlie. You look at me like I’m going to leave you the same way Chad did. And it’s upsetting that you would even compare me to someone like him. It hurts me that you lump me in the same category. Even more, I’m sad for you and for seeing yourself this way. Because, in the end, Chad wins. He’s on to his next plaything and you are alone because you can’t seem to move past what he did to you.”

I could see her blue eyes get glassy, could see her chin tremble. I doubted she would actually cry. I hadn’t expected to see her this vulnerable. I wished it hadn’t been because of me giving her some raw honesty, but she needed to hear this, even if she didn’t like it.

“You’re beautiful, Charlie, inside and out,” I continued. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. But I can’t change how you feel. I also can’t change how I feel. I like you.”

At that moment, the waiter stopped by. Without interrupting us, he grabbed the check and disappeared.

“I don’t understand how me not wanting to be serious with you has to do with Chad,” she argued. She dropped her hands from her chest so they rested limply on the surface of the table.

I reached out and covered her hand with my own. I dwarfed it. It amazed me how delicate it was. Without thinking, I rubbed my thumb up and down her soft skin and watched her break out into goosebumps. “Chad ruined you,” I commented. “For someone as strong and as independent as you are, you’re surprisingly fearful.”

The waiter brought back the check. I dropped some cash for a tip and signed the check, pocketing my credit card and standing up.

“Can I take you home?” I asked as she continued to stay seated.

“I think I’m going to stay here and get one more glass of wine,” she said, her eyes on the off white tablecloth. “I’ll get an Uber home. I just need some time.”

“Oh.” I pressed my lips together as I pulled the digital camera’s strap over my head. “Would you like some company?”

She looked up at me and forced a smile. “Not really,” she said.

Fair enough. Even though I wanted nothing more than to stay, I wasn’t going to intrude if she needed space. I thought we had a wonderful time tonight but I also knew I was probably more honest than she was used to. I hadn’t been trying to insult her. I wanted to take her in the bathroom and have her in the stall before I took her in the backseat of my car. I wanted her in every way I could get her. More than that, I wanted to be around her. I wanted to get to know her better. I wanted to potentially be with her seriously, fall in love with her, and everything that went along with that.

But I wasn’t going to force this, even though, deep down, I knew she wanted this too. I knew she wanted to take a chance, she was just scared.

As I got into my car, I sighed. I could see Charlie from where I sat, raising her hand to signal the waiter. I wanted to go to her, to wrap her up in my arms and tell her she deserved to be loved the way she wanted when she was young and married. I wanted to tell her that she deserved the best.

Right now, though, she wasn’t in any position to believe me. She was still fractured from her broken marriage.

Good thing I was patient…if she wanted me, of course.

I would wait for her to heal. Hell, maybe I might be able to help. I would be there for her. And since I wouldn’t be able to tell her how great she was and have her believe me, I was determined to show her.