Like a Charm (14 page)

“No.” I smiled. “Just that you'd been asking about me.”

“Well, good.” As we were heading downstairs, he stopped and turned to face me where we stood on the landing. “I'm kind of known for being frank and saying what I mean.”

His serious expression worried me. “Okay.”
Where's he going with this?

“I've been on a lot of dates, but none that made me as nervous as this one.” He reached out and took my hand. “There's something about you. I don't know. Anyway, if I make a fool of myself, that's why.”

I giggled like one of the teens who had been in the library earlier in the afternoon. I don't know what made me do it, but I couldn't stop. “I'm with you on the being nervous. Let's just go have some fun. I could use a little.”

At the front door, I heard an elderly man whisper, “That boy's in trouble.”

D
ating in a small town is tricky at best. There's not much privacy, and by the time the night is over, everyone knows your business.

I knew this before we ever set foot in Lulu's. When we entered the diner there was a momentary hush, and then everyone started talking again.

Caleb didn't lead me to the only empty booth in the full diner. Instead he picked up a picnic basket at the register.

Picnics are at the top of the romance meter, but has he realized that it's twenty degrees with a wind chill of zero outside?

He handed over the cash for the meal, and I didn't bother to dig for my wallet. From our recent encounter, I knew he'd have none of that. Even though we'd spent the previous evening together, this was our first “official” date.

As we left, I noticed Margie at one of the tables by the window. She was out of her nurse's scrubs. Across from her, a cute dark-haired guy had stashed his cowboy hat on the back of the chair.

I gave her a quick wave and she winked at me.
I need to call her for lunch soon.

In that moment, I decided to just go with the flow. My whole life I'd felt like I didn't really fit in here, so I didn't understand why I was so worried about what everyone thought.

I laughed.

“Hey, what's the joke?” Caleb turned on the ignition of his huge truck. It was much more luxurious inside than I'd imagined. The beige leather interior was accented with touches of black. He had an MP3 player belting out Tim McGraw. I don't know that much about country music, but I'd grown to like it while living in Atlanta. Justin loved going to gay cowboy bars, at least he did before he met Rob. I enjoy all kinds of music, though my first love will always be classical. Give me Igor Stravinsky's Symphony in C and I'm a happy woman.

“This town. For a moment back there I was worried about all the gossip. By nine o'clock tonight everyone will know that we were on a date.”

He chuckled. “Oh yeah. We'll be the talk of the town, until someone else catches their attention.” He glanced over at me. “Are you worried about the gossip?”

I sighed. “No. It's a date. I just never like being the center of—” I stared out the window. “Hey, where are we going?”

He laughed again. “It's a surprise.”

I didn't want to be a spoilsport, but I'd had enough surprises over the last few weeks. About a mile east of town he pulled up in front of Young's Bar, a large lodgelike structure with neon lights. The only watering hole for miles around, it had an eclectic clientele. Or at least that's what I'd heard. I'd never been inside, but judging from the parking lot's mix of pickups, BMWs, Mercedes, and Buicks, the rumors looked to be true.

I've been in many bars over the years, usually meeting clients, sometimes to hang out with Justin or acquaintances, but I'd never actually been in a real Texas honky-tonk.

Go with the flow, Kira.

“Here we are.” Caleb pulled his truck into a space on the right side of the building. He glanced at his watch. “We better hurry or we'll miss the opening.”

Huh?

I followed him into the bar. The loud music and smoke-filled room I'd expected didn't exist. There were chairs lined up in front of a huge screen that was unrolling from the ceiling. I followed Caleb to a couple of seats in the back.

The rest of the seats were filled with an array of people eagerly awaiting whatever was on the big projector at the back of the room.

“What is this?” I whispered in his ear, taking in his piney scent as I did.

“Dinner”—he raised the basket—“and a movie.” About that time the room darkened and the projector clicked on. I couldn't help but smile when the title screen read
The Philadelphia Story
. Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart—it's my all-time favorite movie. I love the dialogue, the actors, the sets—well, everything about the film.

I couldn't believe how lucky I was to be in a bar in West Texas watching this film on our first date. I didn't know how he'd managed it, but it brought Caleb to the top of the Cool Guy list.

A half hour into the film, around the third time C. K. Dexter Haven, played by Cary, raises his eyebrow in sheer mirth, Caleb handed me a bottle of Coke and an Italian sub from Lulu's. I'd forgotten he was there. I nodded my thanks and dug in. I know it's terrible, and that I probably should have been paying more attention to my date, but I was totally absorbed in the movie.

I did happen to take notice of his arm wrapping around my shoulders after he'd finished his meal. It felt good to be close to him, and he seemed to enjoy the film. At least he laughed in all the right places.

When it ended, I let out a happy sigh. “I don't know how you made it happen, but you couldn't have picked a better movie. How did you know that's my favorite one? I doubt even the gang at Lulu's could get that one right. Did you talk to Sam?”

He shrugged. “A man has to have his secrets.”

I shook my head. “Doesn't matter. It's been a wonderful night.” Everyone around us moved their chairs off the dance floor and back to the tables. Caleb and I did the same.

“Night's not over yet.” He tossed our trash from dinner into the can beside the bar.

“It's not?”

He gave me a quizzical look. “It's only nine o'clock. We still have the dancing portion of the evening, which will commence at nine thirty when the band hits the stage.”

“Oh, that's so—um, I don't know how to dance to country music,” I confessed. The words flew off my tongue before I could stop them.

He motioned a waitress to our table. “I don't think you need to worry about it. I'm not that great, so we should be a good match.”

A woman in a short T-shirt, tight Wranglers, and cowboy boots made her way to our table. Her breasts were spilling out of her scoop-necked shirt, but Caleb didn't seem to take any notice.

He grabbed my hand across the table. “What would you like, Kira?”

I started to order a cabernet, but it really wasn't that kind of place. “What are you having?”

“A Bud,” he answered, watching me carefully.

I'm not a big fan of beer, but I had spent many a study group in brew houses in Boston. Being from Texas, I always felt a loyalty to the beers from here. “Do you have Shiner Bock?”

She nodded.

“I'll take one.”

Turning away from me, she gave Caleb a wink and pursed her ruby lips. “I'll be right back.”

He gave her a short smile and turned his attention to me.
Score one for Kira.
I know it's petty, but I liked that he didn't even really notice her.

“So, back to the dancing. I can teach you the two-step. I've got that one down pretty good. I'm wobbly with the waltz.” He squeezed my hand in his and my stomach did a weird tumble.

“As long as you don't sue for any broken toes, I'll give it a try,” I joked.

His face turned serious. “You can step on my toes any time you want. I just want you close to me.”

My heart went
ba-bump
and I nearly fell out of my chair. His hand was so warm in mine, and I didn't want to let go.

Once our beers arrived, we took a few sips and then Caleb led me out to the dance floor. The woman on stage sang about having had too much tequila the night before. I definitely related to the song. I'd done that in law school a few times after some tough finals, and had a hard time remembering what had transpired during my tequila haze.

Taking my hand, he rested it on his hip. Then he took my other hand in his. “You might want to hold on to my belt loop at first,” he suggested.

I wound my finger into it and held on.

“Now, you just do the reverse of whatever I do. We're going to take two quick steps, then a slow third, a pause, and then we'll do it again.”

The first time he stepped, I moved the wrong foot and almost slipped on the sawdust-covered floor.

He smiled. “I told you that belt loop would come in handy.”

I know my cheeks were pink with embarrassment.

We tried again, a little slower, and by the time we made the corner turn I had the basics down.

“Stop looking at your feet and don't pick them up so much, it's more of a slide.”

I did what he instructed.

“I knew you could do it.” His fingers wrapped around my waist and tapped to the music. Even though the dance floor was crowded with couples, I noticed no one but him.

The next song was a little slower, and this time he pulled me tight against him with his hand at the small of my back. I'm not sure I've ever felt so intimate with someone in front of so many other people.

With my breasts tight against his chest and my head wedged at the crook of his neck, it was almost too much. He smelled so good, and I wanted to let my lips loose on the sensitive skin where his shirt opened.

“This just feels right,” Caleb whispered, splaying his hand on the small of my back.

I gave a happy sigh.

We stayed like that for hours, and only stopped when the band took a break.

The band quit at one, and we headed for Caleb's truck. After the warmth of the bar, the frigid air seemed startling at first.

As he drove back to town we were both quiet. Not the strained kind, but comfortable. It was one of the best dates I'd ever been on, and I didn't want it to stop.

I considered asking him to come back to the library with me, but I don't sleep with guys on a first date.

And since I'd usually only had first dates…

Before I knew it we were in front of the library and my heart fell.

“Listen,” he turned to look at me, “I have to take care of some business out of town and I won't be back for a while.”

I tried not to show my disappointment. “Okay.”

“Trust me, if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't.” He took both of my hands in his. “I have no idea what's going on between you and me, but I can barely stand to be away from you. Which honestly scares the hell out of me. And we've only had one date.”

My spirits picked up instantly. “Really?”

He nodded. “I don't know if you're heading back to Atlanta, or wherever, but I want you to call me. Any time.” He handed me a small business card with his name and cell. “I'll find you, wherever you are, when I get back.”

I smiled.

“At the most I'll be gone two weeks.” He paused. “I kind of hope it doesn't take that long. What I'm trying to tell you is…I had one of the best times of my life tonight, and I know you may be two thousand miles away before I can make it back here. I sound like an idiot.”

I grabbed his lapel and pulled him to me. “No, you don't. I feel it too.” Then I reached up and kissed him. I meant for it to be a quick peck, but his arms circled me and pulled me tight into him.

We kissed for a full two minutes before he lifted his head away from mine. “You're making it tougher to leave.”

I smiled. “Good.”

“I know it's a lot to ask”—he looked down at our intertwined hands—“but could you maybe not two-step with anyone else until I get back?”

I bit my lip to keep from giggling with joy, and nodded. I liked that he was a little possessive.

He kissed me again and I realized I could totally lose myself in this man.

An hour later he bundled me into the Lexus and insisted on following me out to my parents' place. Once we arrived I waved him off, and he flashed his headlights.

I sat at the end of the drive for a few minutes, not really wanting to go inside. I love my parents, but I knew they'd ask about where I'd been. I wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

My head filled with questions. I hadn't had much experience with men, but I was certain I'd just fallen in love with Caleb on our first date. Maybe it was lust, but it didn't feel like it. I did know I'd never felt like this before and it was damn scary.