Slumped in a booth at her favorite deli, Reggie stared at Dylan, not quite sure why she was having dinner with this handsome stranger. She was grateful for his kindness.
Discovering Trent had trashed her apartment had been more than she could handle. Tapping her red manicured nails on the cheap yellow Formica table top, she glanced over at Dylan. He continued to stare at the menu even though they’d already ordered.
Her menu lay unopened, she knew it by heart. She stopped by two or three times every week. The food was healthy and tasty. Just the smell of the chicken noodle soup revived her spirits. She cleared her throat.
He looked up from the menu, his jaw working on the latest piece of gum.
“It’s very kind of you to bring me here. Especially after the way I’ve been acting. I’m sure you have better things to do than babysitting the crazy woman who crashed into you.”
“Are you kidding?” His deep blue eyes twinkled. “This’ll make a great story tomorrow at Thanksgiving dinner. Besides, I gotta eat and the scenery is amazing.”
“You need glasses. I feel like a train ran over me.” She ripped open a pack of crackers and nibbled.
“Wait ’til tomorrow. You’ll feel like that train ran over you then put it in reverse.” His voice turned serious. “I know it’s none of my business, but what’s going on? Why don’t you want to call the police?”
Reggie couldn’t avoid the question. Dylan deserved an explanation. He’d risked his life going into the dark apartment. “It’s nothing dramatic. I broke up with my boyfriend right before I left on a business trip. I guess he was more upset than I realized.”
“I’d say he was more than a little upset. “And you don’t call the cops because…?”
“They wouldn’t find any real proof. It would end up being a case of he said, she said. Besides, he just made a mistake.” Avoiding Dylan’s eyes, she reached over and pulled out a napkin from the dispenser.
“Crimes aren’t mistakes. He’s the one who did the crime. Let him pay for it.”
Dylan was right, of course. She would advise a client exactly the same, but it wasn’t cut and dried when you were the one involved and it could ruin Trent’s career. She didn’t want that laid at her doorstep. It would just make matters worse.
“I know you’re right but…” She shredded the paper napkin as she spoke.
“Looks like you did the right thing by kicking him to the curb. Are you afraid of him?”
“No. Well, maybe.” Her pulse picked up. “The police could pick him up, but there’s no real proof he did it. And then, he’d be really mad. I don’t know what he’d do.”
“Reggie, I won’t let him touch you. You’re safe with me.” Dylan’s voice turned angry.
Wow! He seemed genuinely concerned for her. How she longed to have someone in her life to lean on. Someone who would love her. But a boot-scootin’ cowboy wasn’t what she had in mind. Her mister would be the tall, dark, sophisticated type, complete with briefcase.
“I’m sure he regrets doing it.” She tossed the shredded napkin on the table and reached for another.
“Not enough to clean up the mess he made before you got home.” Dylan pointed out. “Or to call and warn you about his little mistake.”
“He really is a nic—”
“Nice guys don’t do those kinds of things.” Dylan’s voice turned angry.
Startled by his tone, Reggie wondered where the anger came from. Had he experienced stalking? Besides, it wasn’t really stalking, it was Trent venting anger, a one-time event. She’d make sure of that.
“I’m not trying to defend his actions but why ruin his life over it? Everyone loses their temper now and then. I’ll make sure he leaves me alone after this.”
Before Dylan could answer, the waitress interrupted the conversation and placed the bowl of chicken soup in front of Reggie. It landed with a thud, sloshing on the table. Reggie looked up to complain but the woman’s attention was focused elsewhere—on Dylan.
The waitress leaned low—much lower than necessary—to place Dylan’s plate in front of him. “Anything else I can do for you, let me know.” Her voice was low and throaty.
The waitress stepped away from their table.
“I can’t believe it.” Reggie sputtered.
“Believe what?”
“The way she flirted with you.”
He winked and reached for his sandwich. “Made you jealous, did it?”
“Of course not.” She ignored the warm flush of embarrassment on her face. “I’ve only known you for an hour, but she doesn’t know that. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Sure it is. Sure it is.” He winked at her.
She daintily dipped her spoon into the soup while Dylan tore into his corned beef sandwich. His hair fell across his forehead. When he came up for air, he muttered something about delicious between mouthfuls. After Dylan finished his sandwich, coleslaw and pickle, he motioned for the waitress and ordered two slices of cheesecake.
“I can’t eat cheesecake—my sugar level would go too high.” Reggie reminded him.
“I know. They’re both for me.”
Reggie laughed.
The man sure liked to eat.
****
“I meant what I said, Reggie. He’s not going to lay a hand on you. “Now, we need to come up with a plan.” He took a bite of cheesecake.
“A plan for what?” Reggie put down her spoon
He held up a fork full of the cheesecake. “Tastes great. A plan for you, of course. You can’t stay at your apartment tonight and tomorrow’s a holiday so…you need a plan.”
“I can stay in a hotel tonight, and tomorrow my plan will be cleaning up my apartment.”
The boyfriend could come back. She might think the guy was over being angry but there was no way to know. He might have more revenge on his mind. If something happened to her, Dylan wouldn’t be able to forgive himself.
“But it’s Thanksgiving. Didn’t you have plans for the holiday?”
“Not everyone has Norman Rockwell holidays.” Reggie’s eyes filled with tears, but they didn’t fall. “Truthfully, I didn’t even think about Thanksgiving. I was going to stay home and get caught up on my laundry.”
“Doesn’t sound like much fun.”
“I’ll be fine at the hotel. I can make arrangements for a rental car and…”
“No good.” He frowned at her then held up his hand. “I have an idea.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket.
“What are you doing, Dylan?”
He held up his hand again. “Hey, Sis. It doesn’t look like I’m going to make it to church tonight.”
“Why not?” His sister’s voice was curious.
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later but I need a favor. I’ve got a friend here and I thought she could spend the night with…”
Reggie began shaking her head. “No, no. I can’t do...I don’t…”
Dylan ignored her. “Thanks, we’ll be there when we get there.” He hung up the phone and smiled. “It’s all arranged. You can stay at my sister’s tonight and have Thanksgiving Dinner with us tomorrow. Bright and early Friday, I’ll drive you back and we can clean up the mess.”
“No. No. I’m not going— It’s just ridiculous.”
“Why is it ridiculous?”
“You just don’t invite strangers to your sister’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. I don’t know you or your family. I can’t impose on you.”
“Not a problem. You’re not imposing, I invited you. Come on.” He’d convince her to call the police later but it could wait until later. “It’ll be fun. You’ll have a great time. Do you like kids?”
“I suppose so.”
“Good. My sister’s got five of them. You’ll have a great time.”
“Five kids. Wow. I don’t know anyone who has more than two kids.”
“Great, then. It’s all settled.”
“I don’t even know where you live.” She said in exasperation.
“Did you ever hear of Fredericksburg?”
“Sure, it’s in Virginia. I am not going to Virginia tonight, Dylan. I don’t care what you say.”
“Fredericksburg, Ohio. It’s a small town in Wayne County. About an hour south of here.”
“What were you doing in Cleveland if you live so far away?”
“Took some friends to the airport. They’re flying to Cancun for the weekend. I thought about going with them, but just couldn’t give up my Thanksgiving turkey and pumpkin pie.” He scooped up the last bite of the cheesecake.
“You know it’s very nice of you to invite me, but I just can’t go off somewhere with a stranger.”
“Reggie, Reggie, don’t you know a stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met yet?”
“What century are you living in, Dylan? People don’t do things like this anymore.”
He winked. “They do where I come from.”