CHAPTER 3

Lara managed to keep the conversation on the family’s Thanksgiving dinner and not her nonexistent love life during the fifteen-minute drive to Corlino’s Kitchen. The tantalizing scent of baking bread, pizza, and pasta greeted them when they walked into the nearly packed restaurant.

Celeste took a deep breath and smiled. “I do believe you made a good choice,” she said, dropping her keys into her purse.

Shown to a booth near the middle of the establishment, they placed their drink orders and decided on the house special pizza. While they sipped their iced tea and waited for the food, Celeste shared her idea for Thanksgiving.

“Our mothers will never agree on who should host this year, so if we cohost Thanksgiving dinner at my house, that would kill two birds with one stone,” said Celeste. “I certainly have the room for it.”

Lara couldn’t argue with that. Her cousin’s family of five lived in a twenty-room mansion. But their mothers agreeing to this was another thing. The sisters loved each other dearly, but had a healthy rivalry in showing off their newest home furnishings. They were always unintentionally-on-purpose trying to outdo the other. “I don’t have a problem with the idea,” Lara allowed, “but Mama won’t get to show off her new dinette set and china at your place, and what about Aunt Bethany?”

“I know Mama will be okay with it if you tell her Aunt Evelyn is. And if you tell her you’re inviting a man to Thanksgiving dinner, she’ll be all for it, hmm?”

“Who is this man I’m supposed to invite to Thanksgiving dinner? When someone gets an invitation to our family’s Thanksgiving, he or she eventually becomes the invitee’s spouse. Minus one notable exception.”

Celeste’s dark eyes danced. “Yep, funny that,” she said with a smile. “I’m sure Mark will be more than happy to join in our family festivities. Your birthday is a few days later, who knows, you could be getting one heck of a present this year. A wonderful new man in your life that the family loves.” Celeste poked around in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “I can call him now, give him over three months notice.”

Lara’s eye’s widened. “Celeste!” she cried, reaching across the table.

A light tapping on her shoulder interrupted Lara.

“Ms. Boyd?”

Justin’s happy face made Lara forget all about Celeste and the phone. She returned his beaming smile. “Hi, Justin.”

“Hi. I told Daddy I saw you.”

Daddy? Ryan was here? The fluttering returned to Lara’s stomach with a vengeance. Her heart pumped wildly. It took everything she had not to jump on the seat in an attempt to locate him. Her internal conflict didn’t last long as Ryan approached from Justin’s rear.

“I see you were right, son.” Ryan smiled. The loosened top buttons of his white dress shirt gave Lara a delicious eyeful of the sinewy blonde curls dusting his chest. Fragrant aftershave tickled her nostrils and his sparkling blue eyes continued to convince her they were the most dangerous things in the world. “How are you this evening, Ms. Boyd?”

“Fine,” she squeaked, quenching her parched throat with some tea.

“Hello,” Ryan greeted Celeste.

Celeste waved. “Hi.”

“Where are my manners?” Lara said, knowing full well her manners, and any trace of coherent thought, disappeared the moment she heard Ryan was there. “Celeste, this is Ryan Andrews and his son, Justin. Mr. Andrews, Justin, this is my cousin, Celeste Monroe.”

Ryan extended his hand to Celeste as Justin gave her a friendly wave. “It’s nice to meet you,” he said.

Celeste shook Ryan’s hand and gave Justin an affable smile. “You, too. Both of you.”

“Justin is one of my newest pupils,” Lara explained.

“I see.”

Ryan placed his hands on Justin’s shoulders. “I hope his coming over wasn’t a problem.”

“Of course not, we were just grabbing a bite.” Lara brushed her hand against Justin’s cheek. The boy was a wonderful distraction. If she kept her focus on him, she couldn’t drown in those dreamy pools his father called eyes. “This is one of my favorite little guys.”

“You wanna eat dinner with Daddy and me?” Justin asked.

“Hmmm, uh…” Lara glanced at Ryan. His wide eyes confirmed he was as stunned by Justin’s suggestion as she.

“It’s okay, we don’t mind. Daddy likes you.” Justin looked up at his father. “Tell her, Daddy.”

A bright shade of pink colored Ryan’s cheeks. He cleared his throat. “Son, I think Ms. Boyd wants to have dinner with her cousin.”

“She can come, too,” Justin insisted.

Lara wanted to accept the invite, but Celeste’s confusion made declining the best choice. “Justin, I really appreciate the kind offer, but Celeste and I need to discuss some things, and I think your father wants to spend some man-to-man time with you. What if we split a sandwich during lunch on Monday? Would you like that?”

Justin answered with his full-body nod.

Lara smiled. “Good, it’s a date.” She glanced up at Ryan to see the familiar “something on his mind” look she recalled from earlier. Maybe that was his normal expression. “I hope you two enjoy your meal.”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, you too.” He clutched Justin’s hand and led him away.

Lara turned to Celeste and her questioning eyes. Cross-examination was about to begin.

* * *

What is wrong with me? What is…Ryan stopped his mental kicking when he saw Shelly at his booth. He froze in his steps. I’m losing my mind.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” Justin asked.

Ryan continued to stare at the table. “Uh…”

“Only you can see and hear me.” Shelly pointed in Lara’s direction. “I suggest you turn around, go back to that booth, and talk to her.”

Ryan opened his mouth to speak but Shelly stopped him with a shake of her head.

“If you talk to me, everyone in here will think you’re crazy. You’re not crazy, Ryan, just nervous.” Shelly pointed at Lara. “Talk to her, and ask her out. If Justin can do it, you can, too.” She shooed him away.

Ryan gazed at Lara’s table. He could do this. He would do this. He squeezed Justin’s hand. “We’re going back.”

Lara’s cousin stopped speaking when he and Justin arrived. “Mr. Andrews?” she said, giving Lara a sideways glance.

“I’m sorry to interrupt again,” he said to both ladies, gathering the abruptly ended conversation regarded him, “but is it possible I could have a moment with you, Ms. Boyd?”

Lara looked at Celeste.

“Hi, Justin, right?” Celeste said.

Justin nodded.

“There’s this video game on my cell phone my son thinks is so cool. You want to see it?”

His eyes widened. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned to Ryan. “Can I, Daddy?”

Was this his son so anxious to be alone with a virtual stranger? What powers Lara wielded. “Sure,” Ryan answered.

The boy slid into the booth next to Celeste and took possession of the phone.

Ryan thanked Celeste and motioned for Lara to walk straight ahead. In step behind her, he got the full effect of her outfit. The dress accentuated her curvy hips and round backside, while showing off her beautiful, long legs. Mmm. He was impressed with the package, and his libido wholeheartedly agreed.

With no shirttails to hide the excitement Lara elicited in him, Ryan readily slid into the seat across from her, grateful the table was high and wide with a dangling tablecloth for added protection. Lara sat quietly, waiting for him to speak. He brushed his sweaty palms against his slacks. “Ms. Boyd, I…”

Lara held up her hand. “Mr. Andrews, as someone who works with young children on a daily basis, I know how they can be. They tend to share too much information in an oftentimes misunderstood way. So, if you’re about to apologize for what Justin said at the table, don’t. I understand what he meant.”

“I was actually going to apologize, but not for what Justin said at the table. He, uh—he made me aware of something I said when I left your classroom today, and I must apologize for that. You’re a very beautiful woman. Nothing like what I expected.” He rolled his eyes. “I’ve—uh, I’ve said that before.”

“Not the beautiful part.”

“I’m sorry I called you Ms. Body.” He grunted. “I can’t tell you how terrible I feel about that. About the whole way I behaved. I was so…”

“It’s all right, Mr. Andrews. Ms. Body is one of the nicer names I’ve been called in my lifetime,” Lara offered with a laugh. “If that’s all—”

“No, Ms. Boyd, that’s not quite all.”

“Okay.”

“About what Justin said at your table.”

“Like I said, I understand about that.”

“I’m not sure you do. I know it sounds grade school, but what he said is true. I do like you, and as more than just his nice teacher.”

Lara’s eyes widened, but she said nothing.

“I haven’t felt this way about anyone since my wife died, which might explain my strange behavior. I have to get used to all of this again, so if I do it wrong, please tell me.”

“Do what wrong?”

Ryan drew a deep breath and let it go. “Ms. Boyd, would you have dinner with me tomorrow?”

“Dinner?”

“Yes. I mean, if you don’t have any plans or—” He groaned. “You’re dating someone, aren’t you? I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed. You’re gorgeous. You probably have men lined up around your block. I…”

“Yes, I will have dinner with you.”

Ryan blinked. “You will?”

“I think it will be fun. I can give you my number so—”

“Five, five, five, zero, eight, seven, six.” Her eyebrow lifted in surprise. “It was on the supply list,” he explained.

Lara chuckled. “That’s right. I was going to tell you to call so we could firm things up, but I guess we can do that now. Is seven a good time?”

“Seven o’clock is fine. Do you want me to pick you up or do you want us to meet somewhere? Whatever you want is okay.”

“This is a date, right?”

“I hope so.”

She laughed softly. “Then it’s your duty to pick me up.”

Ryan’s nervousness disappeared. He smiled. “Okay, I’ll pick you up.”

“I’m at 218 Branwell Place, Apartment 3. It’s a couple of miles from Fisher Park.”

“I know exactly where that is. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at seven, Ms. Boyd.”

“Can we dispense with the formalities? After three o’clock I’m just plain old Lara.”

“Plain old Lara?” Ryan took her hand, finding himself sinking into the depths of her warm brown eyes. “Plain and old is what I was expecting when I stepped into your classroom today. But, lady, there is nothing plain or old about you. And, please, call me Ryan.”

Lara maintained his gaze. Her hand tightened around his. “Okay, Ryan.”

In that moment, no one else existed. If meeting Lara was a dream, Ryan didn’t want to wake up.

* * *

“Ahem!”

Her cousin’s clearing throat brought Lara spiraling back to reality.

“Forgive the intrusion,” Celeste said, “but Justin has to go to the little boys’ room.”

Ryan released Lara’s hand as they stood. “Okay, buddy, let’s take care of that.” He moved to Justin’s side and gave Celeste a smile. “Thanks for watching him for me.”

“No problem, he’s a sweetheart.”

Ryan’s eyes met with Lara’s. “I’ll call you.”

Lara nodded. “Okay. Bye, Justin,” she said.

“Bye, Ms. Boyd.” He waved. “Bye, Ms. Celeste.”

“Good night, ladies.” Ryan took Justin’s hand and led him to the restroom.

Celeste wasted no time starting her grilling session once they were settled back at their table. “Well?” she said.

Lara received a momentary reprieve when their pizza arrived. The aroma of pepperoni, green peppers, onions, and sausage invaded her senses. “Mmm, that smells good.” Lara handed the server her plate for a slice.

Celeste gave the young man a polite smile and took the spatula from his hand. “Thank you, but we can do this.” Once he left, she placed the spatula on the pizza and slid the pan to the far side of the table.

Lara frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Eating can wait. What’s going on with you and Ken?”

“Ken?”

“Your Mr. Andrews. He’s like Barbie’s playmate come to life. Lara, talk to me. I saw a wedding band.”

“Given your description of him, I’d say you saw more.”

“One thing at a time, Cuz, first things first. I also saw the way you two were looking at each other when I brought Justin to the table. Those were some serious vibes. His moment with you turned into fifteen minutes. I had to practically hack my guts out before getting your attention. What is this?”

“I don’t know.” Lara fell back against the soft vinyl seat. “But it feels so right, it scares the hell out of me.”

“Right? Lara, the man is—”

“Widowed.”

“I was going to say white, too.”

“So, you did notice?”

“Kinda hard to miss. He’s a widower?”

“Yeah.”

“For how long?”

“I…” Lara shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know? His wife’s body may not be cold in the grave and you’re making goo-goo eyes at him? Girl, the Lord is gonna to strike you dead.”

Lara laughed. Celeste sounded like the sisters at her family church in Virginia. “There’s no need to worry about that. With the way Ryan is, I think she’s been gone a while. At least the normal waiting period.”

“Ya think?” Celeste mocked. “And what way is he?”

“Nervous, a little apprehensive.”

“And you think that’s because his wife has been dead for a while? Come on, Lara.”

“I’ll find out for sure soon enough. We’re having dinner tomorrow.”

Celeste’s mouth opened like a baby bird’s at feeding time. “When did you meet him?”

“This afternoon. He came over to the classroom while I was decked in my painting finery. I think he heard me singing ‘Midnight Train to Georgia.’”

“And he still wants to go out with you?”

Lara rolled her eyes. “Anyway, he wanted to introduce Justin to his new teacher.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Celeste, when I first saw him…He literally took my breath away. But when we shook hands, I could have powered all of Denburg.”

“The elusive sparks you mentioned earlier?”

“Yes.”

“And I thought that was just an excuse.”

“It was an excuse, but an honest one.”

Celeste blew a long breath. “I’m going to say something you probably won’t like.”

“Then don’t say it.”

“Lara, you know I want the best for you, and I want you to be happy more than anybody, but a widowed white guy with a young son you’re going to teach?” Celeste groaned. “You’re setting yourself up for big problems.”

“There are no problems, Celeste. We’re just having dinner.”

“Sure. Friday dinner tomorrow, Thanksgiving dinner in November. Girl, you are heading for some major hurt.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Just a feeling.”

“Well, I have a feeling, too. I have a feeling Ryan Andrews is a wonderful man, and he won’t hurt me.”

“Maybe not intentionally, but it could still happen. Foster left a monster dent in your heart and you didn’t see that coming, either.”

“Who did?” Lara shook her head. She didn’t want to think about Foster. For the first time in years she felt sparks for a man. A nice man who wasn’t Foster. It felt good. “Things with Ryan are different,” she said.

“You’re telling me. I don’t have to tell you how loaded this situation is.”

Celeste didn’t mince words, but right now Lara wished she did. Her happy feeling slipped away like sands through an hourglass.

“Hey.” Celeste lifted Lara’s lowered chin. “If it’s any consolation, I hope I’m wrong. Whatever’s going on with you is definitely going on with him, too. Maybe that spark will burn out anything else that might show up. You have him completely captivated, and that little boy of his…That kid could charm the fur off a mink.”

Lara smiled. “Justin is wonderful, isn’t he?”

“I guess that’s just the apple not falling far from the tree for you, huh?”

Lara’s cheeks warmed. She lowered her gaze.

“Blushing?” Celeste laughed as she served herself some pizza. “Girl, you’ve got it bad. I guess his being fine as hell might have a little something to do with it,” she said, popping a piece of pepperoni in her mouth.

Lara considered her cousin’s words. All the men she dated were nice looking, and she had found them all attractive, yet she only felt the sparks with Ryan. He was white, widowed, and a father. She’d never dated a man who was any of those things, nor ever expected she would. My, how things change.

Ryan returned to his table with Justin. His eyes met Lara’s, and like clockwork, her heart pounded. She returned his smile. Yes, this situation was different in a lot of ways.