10

The next afternoon, Jonathan walked into the ice cream parlor, and after removing his Stetson, he glanced around. Then he saw Marilyn. Evidently she’d had the same idea about arriving early to snag a table. Today was Saturday and given the crowd, it was obvious that this was a popular hangout spot for people of all ages.

He liked ice cream as much as the next person, and he’d been to this place before, one day after school, on his way home. He’d discovered it by accident when he’d had to take a detour due to road construction. He’d always thought about returning, but hadn’t until now.

On most Saturdays, he would wake up before dawn and head out to Whispering Pines. But not today. At least, not until later this afternoon. He had spoken to his brothers last night and they’d assured him there were no pressing matters at the ranch. His job consisted of keeping up with the livestock records and making sure supplies were ordered when they needed to be...nothing that couldn’t wait.

He headed over to where Marilyn sat, and noticed she was looking at him strangely. He understood. This was the first time she’d seen him in anything other than a business suit. Since he’d leave for Whispering Pines right afterwards, he’d put on his western attire. He was glad she was checking him out, but he wanted her to get to know him beyond his clothes. He wanted her to know Jonathan Madaris, the man.

Jonathan thought she looked rather cute today, sitting there wearing a pink pullover wool sweater and a pair of black slacks. Today was the first time he’d seen her in anything other than professional attire as well.

Moving around other tables, he finally reached the one where she sat. “Hello, Marilyn.”

“Jonathan.”

He slid into the chair across from her. “How are you today?”

“Fine. What about you?”

“I’m good, as well.”

Now that he’d seen her, he was better than good, in fact. On the drive over, he’d wondered if she would show up. When he’d walked in and seen her, he had released a deep sigh. “So what’s your favorite flavor? They have more than fifty to choose from,” he said.

She smiled and he was certain his heart skipped a beat. “It’s tempting, but I’m a plain old vanilla girl.”

He couldn’t wait for the day she would admit she was “his” girl. “Personally, I’m addicted to peanut butter ice cream,” he offered, stretching out his legs under the table. He noticed that when one of his legs accidently brushed against hers, she quickly moved hers out the way. That was fine for now. But one day, she’d welcome his touch. He just had to be patient.

“You must like peanut butter.”

“I do. Immensely.” He liked her immensely, too.

“I’ll go place our order.”

She started to get up, but he stopped her. “No, let me. My treat.” Not giving her a chance to protest, he stood and headed toward the counter.

Marilyn watched Jonathan walk off and tried to slow the beating of her heart. The moment he’d walked in, looking like a wickedly irresistible cowboy, and glanced at her with those penetrating dark eyes beneath the rim of his Stetson, she’d almost forgot to breathe. She thought he looked good in his suits, but dressed as he was today, he took the description of heart-stoppingly-sexy to a whole new level.

Even now, as he stood at the counter and waited for his turn in line, she couldn’t stop her gaze from roaming over him in deep female appreciation. She knew she wasn’t the only one in the shop checking him out. While their ice cream melted, other women were also getting an eyeful.

She’d made it a point to prepare herself for today, but she was still nervous. It hadn’t helped that she had dreamed about him last night. And, she had to admit, last night hadn’t been the first time. But she’d always considered those dreams to be just fantasies; ones that wouldn’t ever go anywhere. That might not be the case anymore. What were the odds she’d be on a date with the same man she’d fantasized about just a few months ago?

Then she quickly remembered--this wasn’t a date. They had agreed to meet here to talk. It wasn’t as if he’d picked her up. That’s how dating worked.

Traci was convinced that dating, like everything else, was bound to change, especially now that there was a feminist movement on the rise. Still, Marilyn was an old-fashioned girl. And so, this wasn’t a date.

“Here you are.”

Marilyn blinked when Jonathan sat a huge bowl of vanilla ice cream in front of her. “Thanks. I didn’t expect so much.”

He sat down and smiled. “I figured you could handle it.”

She gave him a scolding glance. “Did it ever occur to you that I might be watching my weight?”

He chuckled. “No. I saw no need to think that. You’re the perfect size.”

Deciding to take that as a compliment, she said, “Thanks.” She looked over at his bowl. He’d also gotten the biggest size, but it was obvious the girl behind the counter had piled more ice cream into his bowl than hers. “Looks like you’ve got a friend.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t ask her to be extra-generous, but I won’t complain. It’s been months since I’ve taken the time to sit down and simply enjoy a bowl of ice cream.”

As Marilyn dug into her ice cream, she recalled some of the things Carolyn had told her about Jonathan, how he’d gotten his Master’s degree in four and a half years, and how he’d become principal at so young an age. He and his accomplishments were to be admired...even if it meant he had to go without ice cream now and then.

Deciding that regardless of whether or not he wanted to talk about it, she would bring up the pilot program at Cullers. It would validate their meeting, making this firmly ‘not a date’. But just as she was about to mention it, he stopped her with a question.

“So tell me, Marilyn. Why haven’t you dated since high school?”

* * * *

Jonathan smiled, though he was tempted to say, Gotcha. He’d been around enough women to know how their minds worked, although he would admit, Marilyn was keeping him on his toes. She’d definitely try to rebuff his advances. Only thing, he wasn’t having it. At the first opportunity, he knew she would try shifting the conversation to non-personal matters, but he was determined to stay with the personal.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I believe it’s the reason you’re against dating now,” he answered. Although, whether she’d admit it or not, they were on a date.

“I’ve told you why. I don’t have time.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment, just took a spoonful of ice cream and put it to his lips, watching while she did the same. A few moments later, he broke the silence. “You explained last night why you hadn’t dated in college. That made sense. You had a lot on your plate and needed to stay focused. I know how easy it is to lose sight of what’s important once you’re in a relationship.”

She lifted a brow. “Did you?”

“Did I what?”

“Get serious about someone in college and lose sight of your goals?”

“No. But I knew people who did. People who graduated with decent grades, but who could have done a lot better, had they stayed focused.”

Actually, he’d been thinking of Roman. He’d been smart as a whip, but had spent his first three years acting like the Campus Casanova. In his final year, Roman had really had to hustle in order to get his grades high enough to get into law school. Having learned his lesson, Roman had done much better there, graduating at the top of his class and pretty much having his pick of law firms. There was no doubt in Jonathan’s mind that Roman was now trying to make up for lost time, which was the reason he kept a log of women.

“I knew those people as well,” she said quietly.

From the sound of her voice and the pensive look on her face, he wondered if, like him, it had been someone close to her who’d made that mistake. “Did you?”

“Yes.” She held his gaze for a minute then asked, “Didn’t you ever date in college?”

He chuckled. “Yes, on occasion. But it was usually because the date had been arranged.”

She lifted a brow. “Arranged?”

“Yes, by my roommate. He seemed to have a date every night. Now and then, the woman he was seeing would have a friend--one he’d fix me up with…without my permission.”

“But you went along with it?

“Yes, for the most part, but only when it was a double date. If I needed a date for an event on campus or something like that, I got my own girl, without Roman’s help.”

“Roman?”

“Yes, Roman Malone. My former roommate and best friend.”

“He’s an attorney in Dallas, right?”

Now it was Jonathan who lifted a brow. “Yes. You know Roman?”

She shook her head. “I’ve never met him and wouldn’t know him if I were to see him. But Barbara…I mean, Senator Jordan, had mentioned mentoring an attorney in Dallas by the name of Roman Malone. I couldn’t imagine there being two people with that name.”

Jonathan laughed. “I can’t imagine that either, thank God. Yes, Roman and I have known each other for years. It’s his goal to one day go into politics.”

“Then he is being mentored by the best.”

“I would have to agree,” Jonathan said, finishing off the last of his ice cream. He glanced over at her bowl and saw she still had some left. “You eat slowly.”

She chuckled. “Are you rushing me, Jonathan?”

A smile spread across his lips. “No. I’m willing to wait a while, just to make sure you don’t want seconds.”

“Seconds? Who would want seconds?”

He flashed another smile. “I would. Be back in a minute.”

* * * *

Marilyn sat there and watched as he walked back to the counter. She couldn’t believe it. Where was he putting it? Her gaze scanned his physique, and figured wherever it was going, it definitely wasn’t turning into fat. The man was so lean, trim and built. So darn masculine.

As if he felt her gaze on him, he glanced over at her and their eyes connected. Suddenly, she felt a deep pounding in her heart. And the spoon she was holding in her hand felt hot, as did the fabric of her blouse, which felt warm against her skin. She knew she should look away, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. It was as if his gaze was holding hers hostage and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

When the girl behind the counter came to take his order, he finally broke eye contact with her. She drew in a deep breath, not aware that, until that moment, she’d been holding it. She decided to quickly finish up her ice cream and leave. There was no reason for her to torture herself while he indulged in second helpings.

When he returned to the table, she was just finishing up her own ice cream. “That was good.” She glanced at her watch. “Well, I’d better go. Thanks for--”

“I hope you weren’t planning to skip out on me, Marilyn.”

“Skip out on you?”

“Yes, leave before I finish.”

“You don’t need me here.”

“I do. Have you ever tried peanut butter ice cream before?”

“No.”

“Here, taste it.” He scooped some on his spoon and offered it to her. It was the same spoon he’d eaten with earlier.

Marilyn wondered if he knew how intimate this felt. She only hesitated a moment before tasting the ice cream off his spoon. Licking her lips, she said, “It’s really good.”

He smiled broadly. “I knew you would like it. Here, share it with me.” He then picked up her own spoon and handed it to her.

Marilyn accepted it and then watched him move the huge bowl to the center of the table. She took a small spoonful while trying to wrap her mind around what she was doing.

“Marilyn?”

She glanced over at him. “Yes?”

“You haven’t fully answered my question. I understand why you didn’t date in college. But why you aren’t dating now?”