Page 56 of Surprised By Love

I close my menu. “I’m going to go with the fettuccine carbonara.”

“Perfect. If you want, you can try some of my lasagna. Did you want a house salad or Caesar?”

“I love a good Caesar salad.”

“Then we are all set,” he says this just in time for Ramona to return with two glasses of water and a small loaf of garlic bread that smells heavenly. There’s a small pad of butter alongside the bread.

She looks at me, then at Josh. “Have you decided?”

“Yes, we have. She’ll have the Fettuccine Carbonara and I will have the Lasagna both with Caesar salad.”

“And to drink?” Ramona asks, not even looking in my direction.

Josh grabs my hand again. “Is a Pinot Noir okay with you, baby?”

I smile so wide with him calling me baby. “Yes, that’s perfect.”

He looks up at Ramona, who now has a scowl across her face. “We would like your best, Pinot Noir.”

“Alright, coming up,” she says and storms off.

“Oops,” I say, trying not to laugh. “It looks like you pissed her off.”

Josh doesn’t hold in his laughter. “Guess I did. I don’t think she liked the idea of me calling you baby.” He locks eyes with me. “Is it okay with you I called you baby?”

I grin. “Sure. You wanted to get the point across to her.”

He takes my other hand in his and squeezes. “What if I want to call you baby more often?”

“You do?” My eyebrows shoot up.

Josh grins, his dimples making an appearance. “Yes. I liked how it sounded. If you’re okay with that.”

I nod. “I liked how it sounded, too.”

He brings my right hand up to his mouth and kisses my knuckles, and I swear I swoon. Good thing I’m sitting down. I might have fallen if I were standing. No guy has ever kissed my knuckles like that.

Ramona brings us the salad and wine without a word. Well, she grunted, but that doesn’t count as words.

“So, like I was saying. We had a one-time thing. Since Christine passed away, it’s all I’ve been interested in. I’ve never wanted to have more than that.”

Message received. He isn’t looking for more than a one-time thing. I should’ve known a guy like Josh wouldn’t be interested in someone like me. I’m not Ramona, that’s for sure.

“Okay.” I stab the salad with my fork and take a bite.

“No. Sam, that’s not what I was getting at.”

I take a sip of my wine. I might need more than one glass.

“Sam, please look at me.” Josh reaches out his hand to stop me from taking another sip. “I’m trying to tell you itwasme, but not anymore. I don’t want just one night with you.”

I pause, my hand halfway to my drink. “Really?”

He nods. “Yes really. There is something about you and I need to know more. Is that alright with you?”

“Yes.” Nodding my head like a fool. “I’d like that.”

“Great, let’s eat this delicious meal, then we’re on to part two of our first date.”

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