Page 31 of Just Another Meet Cute
But it had to beexactlythe same. Right down to the star necklace and worn cowboy ankle boots. Once I wore sandals because it was hot, and Dad came to pick me up from school instead of Mom. And then our car broke down on the way home.
Longest. Afternoon. Ever.
I didn’t want Ian to think all this effort was for him. If I had dressed with only him in mind, I would have worn my rattiest sweats and T-shirt. Instead, I put on the high-waisted flowered cream skirt and black tank with the thick straps. Add the cardigan, along with the necklace and boots, and I was dressed and ready to do battle.
Now if only I knew where my opponent was.
My eyes skimmed all the tables, but I still didn’t see Ian anywhere.Was I early?It was already past seven. Maybe I got the time wrong or he changed his mind. Maybe the outfit was working already.
I started to text him, when I heard someone in the back of the crowd call out, “Two steaks and a pork chop coming up!”
That voice sounded familiar. I edged around the crowd and found Ian standing behind the grill with an empty plate in each hand. The front of his hair was a little damp and stuck to his forehead. He rubbed his right forearm against his face, but all he did was make the ends stick up in funny angles.
“Uh, Ian?”
He flickered a glance over his shoulder at me. “Hey.”
Then Ian visibly froze and turned to look at me again. Longer this time. His gaze went from the top of my head down to the tips of my cowboy boots beforegoing back up again. I noticed that he lingered a few additional seconds on my legs, and I fought the urge to shift back and forth.
When he finally glanced back up at my face, Ian turned red, realizing that I was watching him. With an embarrassed cough, his head snapped away. I couldn’t help blushing a bit, too. He annoyed me, but it was still nice to be admired.
The power of the Lucky Outfit was strong today.
Clearing my throat, I took a couple of steps closer to him. There were big containers of steaming corn and mashed potatoes along with a basket of small biscuits. “What are you doing?”
He grabbed a ladle and plopped a scoop of corn onto each of the plates. Then a scoop of mashed potatoes for each, before topping it with a biscuit. “Sorry, I thought I’d be done by now, but the crowd today is crazy. Must be because of the nice weather.”
“Done?”
Grabbing the plates, Ian brought them over to a picnic table nearby and handed it to them. He came back and grabbed another empty plate from the side. “Yeah, I help out Mr. Alan a couple nights a week for Steak Night. We stop taking orders at seven though, so we’re catching up now.”
I nodded even though his explanation still made no sense to me. “Should I wait for you to finish or—”
A tall man with a nice smile came over and dropped a steak on a plate. “Ian, you didn’t tell me that you had a date today.”
“This isn’t a date,” we both said in unison.
I frowned at how quickly he agreed with me. I mean, it’s true that we weren’t on a date, but did he have to be so adamant about it? Maybe the Lucky Outfit was losing its powers.
Looking thoughtful, Ian chewed on his lower lip. “Actually, Mr. Alan, Nina’s here to help.”
“I am?”
As he grinned at me, I could practically see the devil horns sticking up from his dark hair. Especially as he held up the fork like a pitchfork and pointed it at me. “Remember I told you I needed some convincing? Well, helping us out would get you a ton of points for that.”
I narrowed my eyes at him as Mr. Alan watched us curiously. “Yeah … I don’t mind helping. Do you need me to take orders? Wash dishes?”
Mr. Alan laughed. “No, sweetie, the customers order inside and clean up after themselves. All you have to do is help Ian fill these plates with the sides and bring them to the tables.”
“Okay, that doesn’t seem too bad.” Sweeping my hair over one shoulder, I leaned over the picnic table toward Ian. “Why don’t you fill the plates and I’ll serve it to the tables?”
He scooped up the corn and dropped it on one of the plates. “Are you sure you can run around in that skirt?”
“Excuse you.” I waited until he finished loading up the plate before grabbing it from him. “I could run laps in this skirt.”
His eyebrow rose, but he nodded. “Ah, another one of your many talents? Well, that goes to the third picnic table on the right corner. For the lady in blue.”
I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at him. “Okay.”
