The realtor’s office where Dallas worked was only half a mile from my condo. He had texted me this morning to tell me he had some showings, but he planned to be back early for our date. I pulled in front of a gingerbread-style house. Several of the businesses in our town had renovated old houses into cafés, insurance sales offices, and realty offices. As new businesses came in, they kept the charming village look with their décor.
The heavy wooden door had a glass pane at the top etched with Gold Realty Agency. I pushed the door open and was greeted by a blast of cool air and a hint of lemon scent. There were two desks in the main room, and I could see a couple of rooms-turned-into-offices down the hall. Dallas worked at a desk in the corner, and he looked up when I entered, his face brightening with a smile.
I held out the box of treats. “I’m sorry. Will you take a rain check?”
“Definitely, but this looks good too.” He opened the flap to examine the truffles and strawberries and then closed it and set it on his desk. He stepped closer to me and clasped my hand. “Can I see you later tonight? I’m covering a half shift, so I get off at nine.”
The bag of diamonds in the cemetery flashed through my mind. I had been trying not to think about my plans for the evening. “If it wouldn’t be so boring for you, you could. I have twenty minutes if you want to walk around the block. That’s the best I can come up with.”
“Can I introduce you to my coworkers first?”
“Sure.” I followed him down the hall into the first office. Two women who appeared to be in their forties were on either side of the large room working at computers.
“Kristie, Stephanie, this is my girlfriend, Adrielle Pyper.” I struggled to hide my surprise. Our relationship was moving at lightning speed, and I wasn’t sure I felt ready to refer to Dallas as my boyfriend.
The women greeted me. “Dallas is such a nice guy. You’re a lucky girl.”
I didn’t think it was possible, but his smile widened. He turned to me. “I’m the lucky one.”
“Oh, you’re the wedding planner, right?” Stephanie asked.
I nodded.
“That’s just perfect,” the woman named Kristie said and gave Dallas an exaggerated wink. “She can plan your wedding.”
I felt my face heat up, and I tugged on Dallas’s hand. Thankfully, he took the cue.
“I’m going to walk around the block. Be back in twenty.”
“It was nice to meet you,” they said in unison.
“Thanks, uh—you—have a nice day,” I stammered and felt my face go another shade of crimson as I followed Dallas out the front door.
“Sorry about that,” he said. “I’ve been talking about you a lot.”
“It’s okay.” It wasn’t, though, because I hated how my face turned beet red when I was embarrassed.
We turned right and ambled along under several green ash trees—their branches fully dressed in dark green foliage that provided a cooling respite along the sidewalk. “I’m sorry about today.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Dallas stopped and turned toward me. “I’m glad you came by.”
“Now you know why I’m still single.”
“I figured you just hadn’t met the right person.” He leaned closer and slipped his arm around my waist. His gaze was intense, and I stared at him a moment before he kissed me. My eyes fluttered as I gave into the kiss, but my mind wandered back to Dallas’s office, thinking about how he’d called me his girlfriend. It took a lot more than three dates for me to classify someone as my boyfriend. Maybe that was because I’d always been too occupied with work for a serious relationship.
Dallas was a great kisser. I allowed myself to enjoy the closeness and warmth of his lips. He trailed his hands through my curls, resting them on my hips. I kissed him once more and then pulled away. “We’d better finish our walk so I can get back to the shop.”
Dallas frowned. “You look like you need more mouth-to-mouth.”
I laughed as he leaned toward me for another kiss. Then pulling his hand, I moved at a brisk pace around the block. His fingers interlaced with mine as he hurried to keep up with me.
“When can I use my rain check for that trip up to the springs?”
I’d figured he would ask, but I hadn’t been able to think beyond the upcoming adventure in the cemetery. “I’m trying to see if I can move some things around this weekend. I might have time after Natalie’s bridal shower.”
“Are you going to bring your swimsuit?”
“It would be fun to soak, but I don’t know if I have enough time.”
We had completed the circle and stood in front of his office again. He turned toward me. “You have to take time for yourself.”
“Now you sound like my mother.”
“Sorry.” He placed his hand on my cheek. “I care about you, that’s all.”
“Thanks. Anyway, summers are my most busy time.”
He kissed me on the cheek and held onto my hand as he took a step toward the front door. “See you soon?”
I untangled my hand from his and blew him a kiss, leaving his question unanswered as I slid into the driver’s seat.
I felt so confused. One part of me wished I had more time to hang out with Dallas, feel his lips caressing mine—the rest of me felt relieved to be heading back to work.
