Page 28 of Guarding My Love

“It was a big event,” he said. “A wedding. Lots of people I haven’t seen in a while. I don’t do well with small talk.”

“I would have never guessed when you’re doing so well with me.”

Which was another thing he’d have to think about too.

“Maybe we are both doing something different. Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know about you, but I feel a level of comfort with you I haven’t with anyone else. Could be there is no pressure here other than coffee and me hoping I don’t spill it on me as another embarrassing move.”

He laughed. “We’ve all spilled things.”

“We have,” she said. “Since you know what I do, what do you do for a living? If you don’t mind sharing. You don’t have to tell me. I can see right away you’re a private person.”

She gave him an out, but he wouldn’t be an ass and say it’s not her business. There was no reason to.

“I work in technology. Set up networks and security for businesses.”

“I can see that,” she said.

“You can?” he asked. “Why?”

“Because I picture you as someone content to be with electronics over people. You can control those things and not always people.”

“You’re right,” he said, finishing off his coffee.

“Do you want another?”

“I’m good,” he said. But he didn’t make a move to get up and leave when most times he’d be bolting for the door.

“I bet you don’t mind awkward silences, but I hate them. I also don’t want you to think I’m grilling you for information either so I’m at a standstill on what to say.”

He didn’t want her to feel that way.

He looked around her kitchen. “I like the color in here. Did you paint it recently?”

It was white the last time he was in here bringing her ladder. Now it was a soft sunset orange. It went well with the cream cabinets and white counters that looked to have flecks of brown in it.

“I did,” she said. “I didn’t even get any on the molding or cabinets. This great guy showed me how to use painter’s tape. I’m not as fast as him, but I’m pretty proud of myself.”

He smirked. “You should be. Are they the only two rooms you painted?”

“I can show you the others,” she said.

“Sure,” he said, standing up. She’d waited for him to make that move and he liked she didn’t push it or assume.

They left the kitchen and the table they’d been sitting at and went to the living room. There was a light calming blue on the walls in there that went well with her gray furniture. It was a small room but didn’t feel crowded.

She put her hands out as if she was on a game show. “In here we’ve got blue. It was the second room I did, so better than my office, but not as good as the kitchen. I improved as I went along.”

He smiled. “Looks good to me.”

They moved down the hall and she showed off her bathroom in a light yellow, then her bedroom in the same blue as the living room.

Foster did his best to not focus on her bed. Looked to be a queen and had a white quilted spread on it with blues.

“I like the colors of the water if you can’t tell. That and the sunset. I never realized it, but I found that I was pulling colors from nature around me.”

“It works,” he said.

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