Page 17 of Banter & Blushes

My brows slam together.No apology for the fifteen-minute delay?

“I believe we were deciding on what to order.”

“Right. Seafood or seafood,” she says in a snide tone.

“Would you prefer to go somewhere else?” I offer.

She waves her hand in a dismissive manner. “I’ll probably just have the lettuce side salad.”

Really?We go to the premier seafood restaurant in the area and she’s having a salad? Something she could have ordered from any restaurant.

“I’m having the baked tilapia. The Golden Anchor’s special sauce gets rave reviews.” Maybe she’ll reconsider getting an entrée with a little encouragement.

She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t like sauces, especially on fish.”

“But you like lettuce slathered in dressing?” The words slip out before I can stop them, my frustration with this date bubbling to the top.

Her eyebrows rise. “I’ll ask for the dressing on the side, of course.”

Womp! Womp!The sound of a sad trombone plays in my head. This woman is strung as tight as a guitar string, and she’s as personable as a turnip.

When the Taylor Swift song pierces the silence again, I sag in relief.Maybe this fire will require her full attention and she’ll have to leave?

“Sorry, I have to get this.” Caroline leaps out of her seat and dashes back to the lobby. I watch as she argues with someone, using a lot of hand gestures and angry facial expressions. A few minutes later she returns to our table. “You’d think one of my assistants could handle this situation,” she grouses. “But apparently it requires my full attention.” She grabs her purse and stands, finally making eye contact. “Maybe we can reschedule?”

Not in a million years.

Before I open my mouth to turn her down gently, she puts her phone to her ear, starts talking, and walks briskly away.

“Do you still wish to order, sir?” the waiter asks a few seconds later.

Just wanting this evening to be over, I say, “Please give me the check.”

He throws me a quizzical look, probably wondering what to charge for two ice waters. I toss a fifty-dollar bill on the table, thank him, and stride out of the restaurant as fast as my feet will take me. I’m never going to show my face at The Golden Anchor again.

As I drive through town on the way to my beach house, I see the lights on in Luna’s shop. Without second-guessing myself, I whip into a parking spot right in front of her store.

The bells jingle as I enter. Luna appears, and her eyes grow wide as saucers. “I thought you were on your date with Caroline.”

“How about we go out for dinner and I tell you all about it?” I blurt.

A smile bursts across her face. “Sure! I was just getting ready to close. What are you hungry for?” she asks as she flits around, turning off lights and shutting down the register.

“Not seafood,” I mutter under my breath. “How about pizza?”

“That sounds delicious. I know just the place and we can walk to it.” She pauses and nods towards my outfit. “Do you want to change first?”

Glancing down, I remember that I’m wearing a three-piece suit and tie. I shrug out of the suit jacket and hand it to Luna, yank off the tie and vest, and roll up my sleeves. “This’ll be fine. I’ll just put these in my car,” I say.

She locks the shop door after I take back my jacket, then she falls into step beside me. I smile at her, and she smiles back, making my heart flip in my chest. This evening isn’t going to be a bust after all.

CHAPTER 10

LUNA

My heart beats happily in my chest as Cade and I walk to the pizzeria. Since I’m his matchmaker, I should be more concerned about what happened on his date. But I’m not. In fact, I’m secretly glad he’s here with me and not out with Caroline.

Natasha greets us as we walk into the Pizza Palace. After she married Anders, she cut back on her hours at theBob and Curlso she can work here. Tantalizing aromas of tomato sauce, garlic, and baked dough greet us, and my stomach rumbles.

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