Page 41 of What I'm Looking For

“They are sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing.”

Merchant of Venice, a source of many a good quote about living within one’s means.

Kate might think she can date a guy who earns a tiny fraction of what she does, but it won’t last. She’ll be nagging me to get a real job in no time. She won’t get that going to work at the same place at the same time every day would kill me. I’m a good actor. I make enough to live on. By my standards. Support someone else, though? Not anytime soon. If ever.

On the other hand, as soon as I kissed her, I wanted to again. It’s a good thing I had to get to work Saturday because that was the only thing that had me walking—or rather riding—away from her. Kissing her, touching her soft skin, hearing that breathy little moan escape from her lips were all things I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

“Will! I think she’s here!” Deb’s whisper-yell from the doorway almost has me slicing off a finger instead of a chunk of cucumber.

“Okay!” The doorbell rings. Rufus barks and runs in circles. “Rufus, enough.”

“Don’t yell at him,” Deb admonishes, scooping up the little mutt. “He’s protecting us.”

“I didn’t yell. I was?—” I gently move Deb and Rufus out of my way. “Forget it.” Before I open the front door, I give them both a stern look. “Behave.”

“What is he talking about, Rufie?” Deb coos. “We always behave.”

“Yeah, right.” My pulse quickens as I reach for the doorknob. I’m actually nervous.

Take a chill pill, Will.She’s just a girl. It’s just dinner.

I open the door to a wind-blown, pink-cheeked Kate holding a big bunch of flowers. “Hi.”

Neanderthal me is ready to sweep her up in my arms and drag her back to my cave. Tapping into the me that knows all the steps to a Renaissance Pavane, I open the door wide, gesturing her inside. “‘Small cheer and great welcome makes a merry feast.’”

“Whatever you say.” She grins as she steps into the foyer. “Sorry I’m late. That report from the surgeon general today saying that nicotine is as addictive as heroin had us all scrambling to deal with the fallout. Tobacco stocks lost big time. Of course, it’s good news for my exercise wear companies, it’s just?—” She stops suddenly and waves a hand in the air. “Sorry.” She holds up the flowers. “Anyway, these are for you.”

“Well, thanks. I think this is a first for me.”

“Well, no guy has ever made me dinner, so it’s a first for me too.” She takes in a deep breath and looks around. “It smells so good. Cool house.”

After hanging her coat in the closet, I accept the flowers. “Most of this stuff is my roommates’. The house belongs to Deb. I just rent a room.” Gesturing toward the dining room, I take her elbow. “Come in to the kitchen. I need to pull the potatoes out.”

Deb and Pam greet us as we enter the dining room, ridiculous grins on their faces, Rufus wiggling in Deb’s arms.

After introducing everyone, I give my roommates a pointed look. “They were just finishing setting the table.”

“Oh, are you guys having dinner with us?” Kate asks.

Pam pipes up, “Well, sure, if you wan?—”

Deb interrupts her, shaking her head dramatically. “Nooo. We have that thing.”

“What thing?”

Deb elbows her.

“Oh, the thing. Yeah,” Pam nods. “Maybe next time. Assuming there is a next time. But we don’t need to talk about that now, of course?—”

“Pam!” Deb shoves Rufus at her. “Take Rufus out to go potty while I finish up the table.” She rolls her eyes. “You can’t take her anywhere.”

I lean over and stage whisper in Kate’s ear. “Welcome to my life.” I hold up the flowers. “Do we have a vase somewhere, Deb?”

“Of course!” She whips around to a glass-fronted cabinet full of the china she inherited from her grandmother along with this big old Victorian. Seconds later, she pops back up with a cut-glass vase. “The flowers are lovely.” She smiles indulgently at Kate. “So thoughtful of you, Kate.”

“Thank you, Deb.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Guess you guys better get going to that thing, now.”

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