“You’re staring again.” Keely didn’t even look up, but a blush tinted her cheeks.
“I’m sorry. It’s that I just this very minute realized you’re all grown up. Sometimes I still think of us as the kids we were in high school. Hanging out with Kevin. Going to parties. Worrying about passing the next exam.”
She turned to face him then, staring right back at him. “We’re not those kids any more though, are we? I have responsibilities. People counting on me. I can’t just get up and gallivant all over the world.”
Ouch. He sat back in surprise and it must have shown on his face.
“Oh, I’m sorry. That was harsh. I just meant… Well, I never had an opportunity to do all that traveling like I wanted. Didn’t get to go to journalism school. First I needed to be here for Kat the year of the accident. It was all so horrible. My parents were so busy with her. Appointments. Surgeries. Therapy. I needed to pull my weight here at the cafe. Then my father died the next year and I had to take over running the place. I really had no choice.”
Hunt didn’t think she’d appreciate it if he told her he believed people always have choices so he kept that thought to himself.
“I’m sorry you had to take on so much, so young.”
“I don’t need your sympathy. It’s just what I had to do.” Keely’s voice held a tenor of threat.
He needed to learn to keep his mouth shut around Keely. He was always mucking it up.
“Well, I admire all that you’ve done for your family.” Was that any better?
“We do what we have to do.” Keely shrugged.
And sometimes you did what you had to do, and it wasn’t enough.
“Keely, your order is up.” The cook called from the doorway to the kitchen.
“I’ll go get our lunch.” Keely stood up and walked over to the kitchen.
He watched her walk away. The carefree girl turned overburdened woman. The set of her shoulders showed she was willing to bear the load.
But it didn’t seem fair she had to do it alone.
Keely came back balancing their plates on a tray and set them down on the counter.
“Still starving?” Her face was flushed either from the heat in the kitchen or maybe a hint of embarrassment on revealing so much to him.
“You know what, Keely? I’m taking you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
“What? I can’t do that. The cafe is open.”
“I’ll talk to Natalie and Becky Lee. It’s not a weekend night. And if Natalie can get her friend Sally to watch the kids, then Katherine could help out, too. I bet they’d all love to give you a night off.”
“I couldn’t.”
As if an answer to his prayers, Becky Lee came walking into the cafe. “Hey, Becky Lee, got a second?” He waved her over to where they were sitting at the counter.
“You think Keely could have a night off tomorrow? I know Natalie is working.”
“I think that’s a fabulous idea. I’m working. We can cover it.” Becky Lee’s eyes lit up. “A night off for Keely. Never thought I’d see it happen.”
“I haven’t agreed to it.” Keely looked at both of them like they were crazy.
“I’m taking her out. Dinner. Maybe a movie. We’re going to have fun.” Hunt gave Keely his best don’t-argue-I’m-serious look.
“You should go.” Becky Lee was taking his side, too.
“Okay. I give up. If Natalie can find childcare so Katherine can help, I’ll go. Maybe mother will come in and help, too. Though I doubt it. She’s barely speaking to either Kat or me right now.”
Hunt pulled out his cell phone and dialed his sister. “Hey. Can you get a sitter for the boys tomorrow night so Katherine can work at the cafe? I’m going to take Keely out.” He grinned at his sister’s reply, glad Keely couldn’t hear it. “Okay. Thanks.”
He slipped the phone back in his pocket and turned to Keely. “All set. No more excuses.”
“I don’t know…” She bit her lip in that totally tantalizing way again then sighed. “Okay. I can’t argue with all of you. I’ll go.”
“Your lack of enthusiasm is a bit hard on my ego, kiddo.”
“No, I’m sure it will be fun.”
But he wasn’t hearing much assurance in her voice.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Keely stood in front of the mirror and held up two dresses, totally undecided on what she should wear on a date. She hadn’t been on a date in forever—or longer than that. And technically it wasn’t a date. Right? She was just going to dinner, and maybe a movie, with a long-time friend.
So, what should she wear on this non-date? She sighed and looked in the mirror again. Most of her closet was skirts and sensible tops to go with them. Her standard attire for working at the cafe. She wanted to look different for a date. No, non-date.