CHAPTER 14
“Would you like to order or did you need still a few more minutes?” Stacy Timmons, the twins’ former babysitter, asked for the third time.
Ali glanced down at her phone. Mrs. D was a no show. She and Keaton had been at the restaurant for over twenty minutes now and there was still no sign of the woman who had called the meeting. Ali was starting to worry.
“I think we need a couple of minutes,” Keaton told her once again.
“Oh, okay, just let me know if you need anything,” She smiled at him and then turned and sashayed toward the kitchen.
Ali noticed that there was an extra twinkle in Stacy’s eyes every time she spoke to Keaton. At first, she thought it was cute that “little Stacy” had a crush. But then she remembered that “little Stacy” had just graduated from Penn State. They weren’t that far apart in age but for some reason Ali perpetually saw the boys’ old babysitter as a brace-faced teenager.
But the reality was the twins were teenagers now. Before too long they would be in high school. The world had kept going but Ali had been in a holding pattern.
It felt like she’d been sleepwalking through the past year and half of her life and was only now waking up.
“Are you okay?” Concern colored Keaton’s expression.
“Oh, yeah.” Ali was a pro at wiping away any trace of sadness from her face. KJ might be loud, rebellious, and inconsiderate but he could also be extremely sensitive and if he thought she was upset, he would get upset. “I was just wondering where Mrs. D was. I’m going to call her.”
Ali picked up her phone and saw a text from the woman in question.
I won’t be able to make it. You two go on without me. I expect a full report on Tuesday.
Ali’s brow furrowed and she turned her phone so Keaton could see it.
After reading it, his eyes met hers. “What’s Tuesday?”
“Knitting club.” She stared at the text again and then looked up at him. “Do you have any idea what we are supposed to go on with? She said something about the budget and the upcoming season but no specifics.”
Keaton leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he read the text again. “I have no idea. Mrs. D cornered me yesterday and asked me about an email I never got then told me to be here at seven for a budgeting meeting. She said ‘look spiffy.’” He made air quotes to emphasize her last direction.
“Same here. Except instead of spiffy she said to wear my Sunday best.” She glanced down at the peach maxi dress she’d chosen. It was looser on her than it used to be so instead of hugging her curves it just kind of flowed over them, but it was the nicest thing in her wardrobe.
“Well, you look really nice.”
Ali noticed Keaton blinked slowly when he said really. It was a small, nearly imperceptible motion, but it was kind of sexy.
“Thanks.” Ali felt her own eyes twinkling. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d flirted with anyone. Unless she counted the night before in the hallway with Kade, which she didn’t since he’d jumped away from her like he’d just touched the stove. “You clean up real nice yourself.”
Ali had only seen Keaton in his gi and jeans and a T-shirt. But tonight he was wearing black slacks and a crisp white button up. She almost did a double take when she first saw him earlier.
“Well, I guess we should order and then start with the budget from last year.” He turned in his chair and raised his arm to get Stacy’s attention. His shirt was rolled up and Ali couldn’t help but notice how strong his forearm looked.
The sight caused a small army of butterflies to flutter in her belly and a lightning bolt realization struck her. It was an Oprah “aha” moment on steroids.
“I know what this is!” She slapped her hands on the table.
He looked back at her. “What, what is?”
“This.” She waved her hand between them as a satisfied grin lifted on her face. “This is a set up.”
“Are you guys ready to order?” Stacy approached the table with an eager lilt in her voice.
“I’m…,” Keaton glanced between the two women, “…not sure.”
“We need another minute, Stace.” Ali held up her pointer finger and when she saw that Stacey was getting justifiably irritated, she added, “Sorry.”
Once again, Stacey walked away and Ali leaned closer to Keaton. “Okay, you know Mrs. D and her friends—”
“—The Needlepoint Mafia.” He interrupted, nodding.
“Right. Well, they fancy themselves matchmakers. Every few months they like to choose an unsuspecting victim that they’ve decided should no longer be single and designate themselves, without knowledge or consent from the mark, as said individual’s personal cupid. And I think their bow and arrow is pointed at you.”
“Me?” His brows rose. “Why do you think they’re pointed at me and not you?”
“I’m twenty-eight.”
“Okay…,” he responded, confused.
“They never choose anyone under thirty.”
“Are you…,” he hesitated before continuing, “are you being serious?”
“I am,” Ali answered.
“So there’s no meeting?”
“Nope. And I’m actually a little embarrassed that I didn’t figure it out sooner.” Ali motioned around the room. “I mean look at this place. Dim lighting. Floating candle centerpieces. Linen tablecloths. Live music.” Ali pointed to where Mason Hathaway was sitting at a grand piano playing and singing classic love songs softly adding to the romantic ambiance. “This has date written all over it.”
Keaton scanned the restaurant, taking it all in before turning back to Ali and nodding slowly. “You’re right.”
“I’d love to tell you that this is going to be an isolated incident, but you’re basically about to star in your own season of The Bachelor.”
“For how long?” he asked apprehensively.
Ali nodded. “Until you give out your final rose.”
“My what?”
“Your final rose.”
His expression remained blank.
“Wait.” She lifted her hands. “Have you never seen The Bachelor?”
The left side of his mouth tilted up in a grin. “No. I never got around to checking it out.”
“And you call yourself an American?” she teased.
His smile grew wider revealing a row of perfectly straight white teeth. It was a nice smile. One that made her feel…comfortable. Calm. Not like Kade’s smile which made her feel all kinds of antsy and agitated. In a purely sexual way, but still.
Just thinking about Kade made Ali’s newly diagnosed arousal claustrophobia return. She needed some air.
She stood and grabbed her purse, and said, “Well, I guess since there’s no meeting—”
“Wait.” Keaton reached out and his fingertips grazed her elbow.
They were nice fingertips, but they didn’t send a zip of electricity flowing through her body the way the roughened pads of Kade’s fingers had.
She turned back, hoping her disappointment wasn’t written on her face.
“We’re here,” Keaton pointed out. “We’re hungry. We might as well eat.”
Ali stared at him. The boys were spending the night at Ryder’s tonight, so she didn’t need to go home. So the only thing waiting for her there was…a man that jumped away from her when she commented on the size of his raging erection.
Perhaps sensing her hesitancy, Keaton added, “To be honest, I’ve been wanting to ask you out for a while now.”
“Really?” Even though Jess had mentioned it, it was still a little surprising.
He nodded. “I just didn’t know…with everything you’ve been through…I didn’t want to be insensitive.”
“Yeah, I’m not really in a place to start a relationship.” She wanted to be upfront and honest with him. Her priorities were the boys and the business. In that order. But then she thought about “little” Stacy and how fast the twins would be off to college, (hopefully), and living their own lives. Maybe she should make plans to eventually live her own life as well. “But, we’re here. We’re hungry. We might as well eat.”
“Great.” Keaton’s face lit up and he motioned once more for Stacy.
“Are we ready?” she asked hopefully.
“Umm,” Ali cringed as she smiled. “I haven’t actually looked at the menu. I’m sorry.”
Keaton chuckled.
“Two minutes,” Ali held up two fingers to emphasize. “I promise.”
As Stacy left, most likely to beg a different server to take them, Ali browsed the menu and tried not to get ahead of herself on this situation.
What if KJ found out? Would he be upset?
What if the entire town found out they were on a date? Did she want to “date” in the public eye?
What if the Needlepoint Mafia tried set them up again? Would they give up after one failed attempt or would they go even harder?
What about Kade? If he found out, would he even care?
That last one snapped her out of her what-if spiral. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. She didn’t owe anyone, especially not Kade, anything. She deserved dinner with a nice guy whose smile made her feel calm. And she was going to enjoy it.