Page 16 of Love in Unexpected Places

My face scrunches in confusion. “Sorry? Bring them flowers?”

“Well, yeah. It’s rude if you only brought me flowers. Where are they anyway?” He glances around the restaurant, trying to locate them.

Before I can answer him, Cal’s phone pings and he apologizes as he pulls it from his pocket. His eyebrows dip further and further as he reads, then he scoffs and tucks his phone back into his pocket.

“Everything okay?” I ask, worried that he got some bad news.

“Rachel. She told me to have fun on our date and she’s sorry she lied.” Guess I have my answer on if it’s a date or not. He looks up at me and shakes his head. “She does this. She sets me up with people, in the hope that I’ll find my Prince Charming and live happily ever after in a tower with spun gold for hair.”

My lips quirk up slightly and I say, “I think you mixed up your fairytales.”

I watch his lip twitch for a moment before he breaks out into a full smile. “Yeah, well, I do like gold and towers so I don’t have to talk to people. Sign me up.”

We hold each other’s gaze for a moment, then we both break out into laughter. I’m not sure why it’s so funny, butit eases the tension that drifted over Cal because of Rachel’s text.

After getting our laughing fit under control, Cal shakes his head. “I’m not upset to be here, so don’t think that. But this is a terrible habit of Rachel’s. She thinks it’s her job to find me a man since I introduced her to Victor. And if you know my best friend, you know she’s a bulldog. I’ve been telling her for years, after many failed attempts, to give it up, but she doesn’t listen.”

I nod, though I can’t say how Rachel is or isn’t when it comes to relationships. She put forth the offer and I said yes. I have a feeling she didn’t ask Callum at all. I shouldn’t be happy she’s so pushy with her best friend, but it landed him in the seat across from me and I’m happy with what I see so far.

Cal runs a hand down his chest, smoothing his impeccable suit. “So. Hudson. Tell me a little about yourself.”

God, I hate that question. I have an extremely hard time talking about myself. It always sounds like bragging, even when you just want to tell someone about who you are as a person and maybe some of your accomplishments. I try to keep it short. “I’m Hudson Perry.” Cal sits forward more, giving me his undivided attention and I feel my face heat. I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the fact that those green eyes on me seem to see right through me as well as taking all of me in. It’s disconcerting and thrilling.

Clearing my throat, I continue. “I’m thirty-six, a Capricorn.”

Cal barks a laugh and I love it. It’s soothing, like a balm I didn’t know I needed. “I’m a Virgo. Does that mean we aren’t compatible?”

I shrug, enjoying this game. “I don’t know. How will we know we’re compatible?”

Sitting back in his seat, Cal smiles and smells hisflowers once more. “Well, we have the same interest in flowers, so that’s a point in your column. Who’s your favorite James Bond actor?”

“Easy, Sean Connery.”

“Damn, minus that point. Hands down, it’s Daniel Craig.”

I shake my head solemnly. “And here I was thinking you were a learned man.”

He smirks and says, “Well, it’s only one way to know if we’re really compatible.”

“Oh yeah?” I ask, leaning toward him, grinning like a fool. I’m not sure why this is so much fun or this game so easy. It almost feels like we’ve known each other for years instead of minutes. The playful banter is the most fun I’ve had on a date in a while. “What would that be?”

The glint in Cal’s eyes has me intrigued and I wonder what’s going on in that pretty head of his. “Well,” he moves forward, peering around and dropping his voice, “in order to know for sure, you have to tell me … your favorite Disney movie made after 2010?”

“Oh, tough question.” I pretend to think, rubbing and tapping my chin. “Well, I’ll have to go with Big Hero 6.”

“Okay, we’re compatible. You almost had me there. Excellent choice.”

I pretend to wipe sweat from my forehead. “Glad I passed the test.”

“Oh, you did. The animation in that movie is amazing. Wish I had worked on it myself.”

Mouth agape, I stare at him to see if he’s kidding. “You’re an animator?”

Cal tilts his head, assessing me. “What did Rachel tell you about me?”

I’m not sure what the right answer is here. Truthfully, all she told me is he’s queer and is the male version of her.Which I can see. They both give me the same carefree and friendly vibe, talking things as they come and not letting life overwhelm them. I like it a lot.

Pulling at the collar of my shirt, I try to come up with an acceptable answer. “Well … she didn’t … I mean, she said … umm …”

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