Valerie could feel David’s presence behind her before his soothing, but commanding voice pulled her away from chatting with an elderly lady. “Thanks for helping me earlier.”
She twirled around. The look he gave her was so mesmerizing that it was causing her to fantasize about what it would be like to be at a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. She snapped out of it to reply, “Sorry.” She smiled. “I kinda deserted you.”
David inched closer until she caught a whiff of his cologne. Without her heels, his height blocked her view of anything going on behind him. “I’ll forgive you if you’ll share a couple of pizzas with me. I ordered Imo’s.”
The muscles inside Valerie’s stomach kicked her as if to say she’d better not say no. Before she could respond, David took the liberty to reach for her hand. Then with a firm grip, he guided her across the ballroom.
In the midst of the stripped tables ready to be folded and put away, two tables remained draped with a tablecloth and untouched silverware. He pulled out a chair for her as if they were at some fine dining establishment. Valerie giggled at his theatrics.
“Why did you order pizza with all this good food?” she good-naturedly scolded him.
“Because you like pizza and Imo’s is your favorite, as I recall and unless you’ve eaten, you have to be starving like me.”
“I am. That’s sweet of you to remember, Brother David.” So what if it was pizza, she was still having Valentine’s Day dinner with someone other than her mother—and he was handsome.
After straddling a chair like a cowboy, David stood and waved frantically. “Our order is here.”
Before she indulged, Valerie excused herself to check on her mother. One of the ladies had pulled out a deck of cards at the table. Her mother didn’t even play solitaire, so she was chatting with another onlooker. “Do you mind waiting while I eat something, or are you ready to go now?”
Helen waved her hand. “I’m in no rush. I’m having a good time.” She beamed with happiness.
“We can stay here until someone puts out the lights,” an older perky woman said.
Valerie snickered. “It appears so.”
“I’ll find you, dear.” Her mother dismissed her.
Heading back, she expected to find that David had eaten half the pizza. Instead he stood by their table, waiting for her return as if he was her butler. She smiled until his intense stare made her blush.
He didn’t blink when a group of women tried to get his attention. Too bad it wasn’t a real dinner date with a man who wanted to be with her versus a church member looking out for a hungry sister in Christ. Pampering was pampering. Who cared if it was platonic?
Valerie’s heart warmed when she saw place settings for two. Everything was arranged as if they were about to partake of a gourmet meal. Once she was seated, David took his.
He reached out for her hand and bowed his head. “Lord, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for the offerings before us. Please sanctify it from all impurities. Bless every household represented tonight and my lovely helper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Amen,” Valerie repeated, enjoying the sound of his voice when he prayed. David took his time releasing her hand then nodded toward the pizza.
“Ladies first.”
Valerie lifted a brow. “You’ve been warned. Sausage and bacon are my favorites. You can have the other toppings.”
David’s hearty laugh seemed to rumble in his throat before he released it.
Nathan approached their table. Although he looked worn out, he gave her a tender smile. “Thanks for helping us, Sister Valerie. No telling how much work we’d have gotten out of this dude without you around.”
Despite David’s snarl at his brother, she could tell they had a close relationship.
“So are you going to share?” Nathan flopped in a chair and reached for the other box.
“Make yours to go,” David ordered.
After a brief staring duel, his big brother conceded to whatever power play was going on. Grabbing a paper plate, Nathan helped himself. Seemingly satisfied with his portion, he grinned. “Good night, Sister Valerie.” Without another word to his brother, Nathan strolled away.
“You’ll have to excuse him. No home training,” David explained.
Laughing, Valerie shook her head. After a few bites, she dabbed her mouth. “You really didn’t have to do this.”
David gulped from his soda, then swallowed. “It was the least I could do to make up for the jerk who didn’t ask you out tonight.”
Valerie was awed that David seemed to take the offense personally. Her heart fluttered under his chivalry.
After they both seemed to have had more than enough pizza, David pushed back from the table. “So tell me about Sister Valerie Hart.” Folding his arms, David relaxed as if he had all night to listen to her life story instead of minutes before her mother would call it a night and be ready to go.
“Well, I’m single, never been married, and no children.” She briefly thought about Joy. Evidently, she, Christian, and the girls had already left. “I’m a creative manager at The Stallings Group—”
David’s jaw dropped. “Stop. Get out of here. We’ve used your company for a few years to assist some of our clients. Same church, and now a business connection. What a small world.” He appeared eager to find more common ground.
As he listed client names, Valerie recognized each one and their products. The Stallings Group had video recorded some of their product demonstrations for infomercials and store monitors. After stabbing her fork into her salad, Valerie crunched on her lettuce thoughtfully. She wasn’t even hungry, but it gave her something to do other than stare. “So what exactly does your company do?”
“My brothers and I started Andersen Investors & Consultants, LLC. Initially, we focused on inventors before we branched out to consulting work for small business expansions. We enjoy taking a concept and making it a reality. One such product was the Security Dog. It looks like a harmless toy, but if a doorbell rings or knocks, it triggers the ferocious barking dog audio. Then if the door is forcibly opened, the sensor automatically dials 9-1-1.”
Valerie grinned, remembering the skit her company had used to promote the Security Dog. “That was really neat and inexpensive. I thought about getting one, but never got around to it.”
“Do you live alone?”
Although David came across as a genuinely honest man, she wasn’t accustomed to giving that level of information out to a stranger. She hesitated, then eventually nodded.
“Then I’ll bring you one to church on Sunday—no charge.”
“Thank you. Pizza and the Security Dog. It’s been an interesting Valentine’s Day.” She paused. “Speaking of…why are you here tonight instead of taking a lovely lady out to dinner? I can’t believe a sister at Salvation is Free Church hasn’t caught your eye.”
Shifting in his seat, David cleared his throat. “Believe me; I have no complaints about sitting here with the lovely Sister Valerie Hart and eating pizza.”
His statement seemed to empower her. Lifting her can of soda, Valerie offered a toast. “And what could top that?”
David winked, then excused himself. The man had a serious swagger going on as he strolled to the goodies table.
Picking up a long-stemmed chocolate rose, he walked back and handed it to her.
“I know it’s tacky and cheap—and trust me, I’m anything but that—but I don’t want you to not have a flower for Valentine’s Day.”
“Ahhh.” Accepting it, she sniffed the rose as if it were real. “Thank you.”
Minutes later, her mother ambled toward her, signaling she was ready to leave. Valerie masked her disappointment with a smile. “Sure, Mom.” David didn’t hide his regret. “Let me grab my jacket, and I’ll escort you to your car.”
While David was gone, her mother leaned into her and whispered, “I hope they have this next year. I’ve made some new friends, and these men won’t let us do anything, including walking to our car alone. Plus, I think he likes you.”
I wish. But something told Valerie that not just any kind of woman could capture David Andersen’s heart. “Mom, we attend the same church.”
“Even better!” Helen beamed.
Valerie was not about to get her hopes up. She doubted that after tonight, David would look her way again.
There were enough sisters at SFC to make sure that happened. So her Cinderella night had come to a close.