The Shop on Main(21)

He looked up and smiled at her just then. Her heart did a little dance which surprised her senseless. She sure hadn’t felt that in a long time. She smiled back at him. Yes, it was a darn shame that he was only in town for a bit. She was frankly all out attracted to the man. Dashing and charming, in a bit of a formal businesslike way. What was not to like?

She forced herself to quit her fantasy of actually going out on a date with the man. She reached for her purse to pay her bill, not wanting him to pay for her meal again.

“So would you like to go out Wednesday night while your boys are at their father’s?”

That caught her off guard. Did she? Well, she did, but she didn’t. There was so little time in her life to date. But the only plans she had for Wednesday night were a hot bath and a book. A date with Owen sounded better. Much better. Answer the man.

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“What would you like to do? Dinner? Movie?”

“There’s a park outside of town a few miles. Really pretty. Live Oak Park. It’s such nice weather. I could pack us a picnic.”

“That actually sounds like a great idea.”

“I have to take the boys out to Rick’s house, which is in the direction of the park. How about I pick you up at five, we’ll drop the boys off, and head out to the park?”

“I could pick you up.”

“No, I’ll do it. I have the boys’ sports equipment in my car, they have ball practice that Rick will be bringing them to.”

“Okay, five it is.”

Kat came over with their bills and Owen reached for them.

“No, I’ve got mine, but thanks.”

He just nodded at her and pulled out some bills from his wallet to pay his tab. She did the same and slipped her money into the leather folder with the check.

Owen flashed his smile at her, and her heart did that two-step dance again. Wednesday night should be interesting. She couldn’t decide if she was bursting to tell Jenny and Becky Lee about her date, or if she wanted to keep it to herself for a bit. Of course her friends would kill her if someone saw her out on a date and told either Jenny or Becky Lee before Bella had a chance to tell them.

Yes, she’d call them both up and tell them. A date. She was going on a date.

Then it hit her. Well, darn it all. She’d offered to make the picnic. Big mistake. He was going to find out just what a lousy cook she was.

~ * ~

Owen was pleased with the deal he’d made with Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter was going to notify his tenant that she had until the end of the month to move out. He’d be ready to convert the building at the beginning of the next month. Just a few small changes. It really was a fabulous building just as is.

Then, of course, he had to get Jake and his mother on board. That was next on his to-do list. He was heading out to meet them and hoped they’d agree to his plan.

Extending his stay didn’t bother him a bit. He was actually pleased to have a reason to be in town for a while longer. He had the picnic with Izzy tomorrow, and hoped to see more of her while he was in town.

Izzy had totally captivated him. Her quick smile. The sound of her laugh. Her thick red hair and how it caught the sunlight. The word besotted came to mind. An old fashioned word, but it seemed to fit him right now. He shook his head at himself.

He hadn’t had a date for just fun in, well, he couldn’t remember when the last time was. He usually just asked out women for different functions in Chicago. Charity events. Business affairs he needed to attend.

But just for fun? To spend time with a woman? He couldn’t remember the last time. He was always too busy with his work. He had no desire to marry into a business relationship like his parents had, either. There had been little love lost between his parents, mostly just a partnership to help his father on his way up the corporate ladder. He’d needed the pretty wife on his arm. His mother played the part, and his father had showered her with trips and presents. They’d both been happy in their own sort of way, he guessed. Not that he really knew, because if truth be told, he really hadn’t known his parents very well.

Owen put aside his thoughts of his parents and continued walking down Main Street and past the park, hoping he’d run into Izzy, but no luck. He caught a reflection of the silly grin he had on his face in a storefront window, the silly grin put there from looking forward to the picnic tomorrow. Izzy would probably be surprised that he’d never gone on a picnic in his life. Ever. He knew it involved picnic baskets and blankets. He figured he’d pick up a good bottle of wine to bring.

He whistled a bit of an off-key rendition of some silly love song as he walked down the street to the Sweet Tea. Whistling. Owen Campbell was whistling. Probably for the first time in his life.