Page 6 of It Started With a Scarf

He was still looking my way with that warm smile. I smiled back at him, and he picked up his hand and waved me over.

He was a gorgeous specimen of a man, and the hand gesture was so casual and confident that I didn't think twice. I figured he was calling me over because he knew Tom.

I gave him a quick nod and started to stand up.

"If you'll excuse me," I said.

I had never said that phrase to anyone in my life, and I smiled at myself after it came out of my mouth. I swiveled on my stool and hopped off of it, grabbing my coat and scarf and placing them over my arm before taking my glass from the bar.

"So, it's a 'maybe later' on getting your number…" the guy said, hopefully.

"Yeah," I agreed with a smile, hoping that didn’t give him more confidence. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I was creeped out by the guy, but he was forward, and I was also happy for the excuse to end the conversation with him.

The other man was sitting at a high-top table for three, but he was the only one there. I figured Tom had sent him and he would be joining us. As I walked his way, I tried to plan what to say to him.

I took a deep breath.

I no longer wanted the job and I didn't know how to tell him that and be nice without wasting anyone's time.

I was taken aback that he was so gorgeous to look at. Those dark, mysterious eyes were set in a perfect, masculine face. He looked like one of the models on the walls at my work. He was wearing a blue suit—dark steel blue pants with a lighter-toned shirt and tie. Everything was tailored and matched. Tom dressed nice, but this guy—he must've been the owner. I smiled at him as I approached his table.

"I'm Marley," I said.

I reached out to shake his hand. I set my glass on the table, but then I fumbled with my things. For a second, I couldn't decide which to deal with first, my purse or my coat and scarf. I hung my purse over the back of my chair before doing the same thing with my coat and scarf.

"There's a coat check if you don't want to lug that around," he said.

"Oh, I know, but I don’t let the scarf leave my sight, and I… had some things… in my pocket… m-my jacket pocket."

I finished my sentence in a choppy tone because I regretted talking about the things in my pocket. The truth was that I hadn't given my jacket to the coat check lady because I had loose nuts from in my pocket from feeding squirrels and birds earlier.

"That's a great scarf."

"Thank you," I said, smiling. "It's my favorite piece of clothing."

"In what way? Something besides the fact that it looks cool?"

"Thank you, I know, I love it, but no, it's more than that… it's got a whole long story."

"Oh, yeah? Let's hear it."

"Are you sure you have time? I saw how busy you guys are tonight, and I was going to tell Tom that I could just come back some other time."

"Who’s Tom?"

He seemed clueless when he said that, and I stared at him with surprise.

"Tom who works here. He's a customer of mine, and he asked me to… I'm meeting him… I thought I was meeting you, too. Were you calling me over here about something else?"

He smiled and sat back on his stool, gazing at me. "I’m sorry. Are you on a blind date or something?"

"No, it's supposed to be… a job interview…"

He tilted his head at me. "Why do you sound so uncertain?"

"I, uh, because I thought you knew that already. Plus, I regret coming here. I've never worked in the restaurant business. I'm not sure if I'm cut out for this."

"What business do you work in?"

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