Page 40 of An Overdue Match
“This looks delicious, thank you.” Tai moved his napkin to his lap.
“I’m good as well, thanks.” Evangeline eyed her plate with appreciation.
“All right. Just holler if you need anything.”
Tai waited until they were alone again, then held out both hands across the table, palms up. “Mind if I say grace?”
For the second time that night, she gaped at him. “You do that?”
He pressed his smile down to keep it from fully forming. “Yes, I do. I’d ask if there was a reason you automatically assumed I wasn’t a God-fearing man, but I’d rather eat this food while it’s hot than wait while you list my apparent sins for me again. Not that you’re the type to judge, of course.”
Her cheeks pinkened, and he wiggled his fingers.
“Now, should I say a silent prayer or are we going to join hands? I promise you, nothing salacious is going to happenif you touch me.” Because he knew it would irk her, he gave her a lopsided, playful grin.
Her mouth pinched as she shoved her hands into his.
His grin slid off his face the moment her fingers touched him. She hadn’t placed her palm in his gently or delicately, but forcefully. And his pulse responded in kind—fierce and aggressive. A reaction so powerful it took him by the throat and made his life flash before his eyes. A life in which a matchmaking librarian played a central role. He shouldn’t have opened his big mouth to make any promises that nothing would happen if she touched him. Because something had.
His entire world just split wide open.
17
Tai wasn’t sure how he managed to get through saying grace without stammering or stuttering, but he silently thanked God for the miracle anyway. It was almost with relief when he muttered an amen and Evangeline removed her hands from his.
He needed a moment to think. To process.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t known he’d be affected by her touch, because he had suspected he would be. He was attracted to her, after all. No, what had surprised him was just howmuchhe’d been affected.
It was kind of like someone wanting a tattoo and knowing that getting one would hurt, but it wasn’t until they were in the seat and the needle was jamming into their skin repeatedly for hours did they realize just how much pain the process would be.
Prepared, but not.
Totallynotprepared.
Tai folded his fingers into two fists and brought his hands down to his lap, as if by curling his fingers he could hold on to the moment forever. He wanted to shake his head and release his grip. Tell himself he was being ridiculous and making more out of things than what was really there. And maybe he was.At least, he was making more of what was therenow. But he had a feeling—a certainty, actually—that whatever thisthingwas between Evangeline and him was only going to grow and get stronger.
He glanced across the table to Evangeline. His Angel.
His Angel, who seemed to not be affected in the slightest.
His Angel, who was all but ignoring him, cutting a piece of meat with her fork and knife.
His Angel, who he’d had to coerce to even get her to give him the time of day.
His Angel, who had a telltale delicate blush to her cheeks that hadn’t been there before.
His heart lightened. Oh yes. This was not one-sided. But a certain party was being particularly stubborn in ignoring the pull between them. She had her reasons, he was sure. Ones he hoped she’d eventually share with him. Although that wouldn’t happen until she trusted him, and she wouldn’t trust him unless she spent time with him and opened up to him. Two things he was currently working on.
He picked up his fork and stabbed a roasted potato on his plate. “So, now that I’ve demonstrated that I truly am a gentleman, it’s your turn.”
She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “Pardon?”
“The three questions. Don’t tell me you’re still trying to get out of answering.” She was, of course, but hopefully him teasing her would put her a little more at ease. “We’ll do the easiest one first. Do you, Evangeline—wait, what’s your middle name?”
“What’s yours?” she countered, probably trying to buy herself some more time.
“Always going to make me answer first, are you?” He’d play along. “It’s Albert.”
