Page 35 of Clara Knows Best

“Hey, Yoli and I are getting salads from the diner,” Clara greeted him when he came out of an exam room. “Do you want me to pick anything up for you?”

“You know what, why don’t I pick it up?” he suggested abruptly. “I’d like to look at the menu.”

Clara smiled, but opened a drawer and produced a paper menu. “No need, Dr. F. Just let me know what you want.”

He took the menu but kept his gaze on the young woman seated before him. He did not like to think that he might have insulted her by insisting that breakfast wouldn’t be a date. She was a bit of a girly girl and had a few crazy ideas, but she had feelings like anyone else, and besides, he kind of liked her.

“Nice dress,” he offered. “Did you make it?”

“Sure did. Although I should probably disclaim that Victoria Beckham inspired it pretty heavily. Hers wasn’t pink, though.”

“Victoria Beckham, huh?”

“She’s a British designer.”

“Any relation to David Beckham?”

“Maybe. I think her husband’s name is David,” the fashionista replied indifferently.

Jesse had a nagging feeling that he should clear the air. He just didn’t know how to do that without making it worse. “Clara—”

The cell phone beside her keyboard rang. “Oops, sorry. Hold on.”

“Yep,” he agreed, and turned his attention to the menu.

“Hey, Birdie,” Clara said happily into the phone.

Elisabeth Wilder, called Birdie. Clara’s cousin and lifelong BFF.

A moment later, she added, “Put me on speaker and eat your lunch. How’s your day going? Uh, huh. Oh, Jesse’s doing great.The kids love him, but the old people have left some good feedback, too.” She smiled at him as she said it. “This morning, he asked me to meet him for breakfast, so I was like, ‘Is it like, a date?’ and he was like, ‘Ew, no.’”

Jesse rolled his eyes and threw the menu back at her, making her cackle gleefully. He grabbed his coat and headed for the door. “I’m picking up lunch.”

So much for Princess Clara having feelings like anyone else.

10

“I wish there really was a tatted Marine at the hardware store,” Clara sighed over her tea.

“Tell me about it,” Yoli agreed ruefully.

“He’d probably be married anyway.”

“Amen, honey. But you gotta admit, he served his purpose.”

“He’s imaginary. He can’t serve a purpose.”

“Use your head, woman! Look who ran out to get lunch. Look who’s so eager to make sure you don’t go to the hardware store.”

Clara frowned. “You think Jesse got jealous?”

“I don’t think we can rule it out.”

She rested her chin in her hand and considered the odds of him caring what she did for Valentine’s Day. They didn’t seem good. “He’s taking awhile at the diner, isn’t he? I feel like he’s been gone half an hour.”

“Maybe he got lost.”

“This town’s not that big.”

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