The phone chimed again before she could set it down.
I’dlove both.
Okay,then, first the tacos, then the jazz.
Soundswonderful.
Pickyou up at 11?
Ihave to be over your way this morning, so I’ll pick you up, okay?
She typed in Okay.See you then, and debated whether to add a smiley face. She addedit, hit the Send button, and was immediately rewarded with a smiley face inreturn.
Panda snaked between her legs. “Good call, buddy.” She scratchedunder her chin before rushing up the stairs to take a shower.
* * *
Emma pulled up in front of Dex’s house and sat for a minuteadmiring the modern landscape. The design was crazy intricate, with coloredgravel defining small pathways. Everything was arranged in symmetry. Flowerbeds were contained within crisp lined areas near the house, and giant potsfilled with pencil hollies flanked the porch. Dex had an undeniable talent. Howhad she come about her profession? She picked up her phone, clicked on Dex’sname, and smiled at the text she’d received from her last night.
Ihad an unexpectedly awesome time tonight, thanks to you.
She let the quick jolt buzz through her and then quickly scrolleddown and typed in a message letting Dex know she was here. Within a minute ortwo, Dex sprinted out the door. She couldn’t help but notice the beautifulsmile on her face when she slid into the passenger seat.
“Hey, you,” Emma said, trying not to give away the ridiculouslycrazy excitement she felt to see her again. Her stomach vaulted like she was onthe downside of a roller-coaster ride.
“Hey,” Dex said with a huge grin.
Emma lost the battle and grinned in return. She took in a breathto settle herself. “Your landscaping is even more beautiful in the daylight.”
“Thanks.” Dex’s cheeks reddened. “I’ve been so busy lately. Idon’t always have time to work on my own yard.”
Emma’s stomach flip-flopped. She hadn’t thought Dex could get morebeautiful, but the blush had done it. She cleared her throat and focused backon the bushes. “Maybe you could give me some ideas on how to landscape myparents’ lawn. My dad tries, but he just doesn’t have the knack for it.”
“Sure. What area do they live in?”
“They actually live not far from here. That was my stop on theway. I’d be happy to pay you,” she blurted as an afterthought. She didn’t wantDex to think she would take advantage of her.
“Oh, awesome. I love Oak Park. This is a great neighborhood.” Hereyes sparkled as she spoke. “Let me take a look at it first and see what it’lltake.”
“Okay.” She smiled and held Dex’s stare for a moment longer thannecessary.
Dex broke the stare and took out her phone. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“Great. I programmed the address into my phone, and Siri says,‘Let’s go! People are beating us there, and the tacos may soon be all gone!’”
“On it.” Emma laughed as she put the car into gear and pulled awayfrom the curb. “We don’t want them to run out of tacos. That would be tragic.”
“A colossal disaster.”
Emma took in a deep breath and kept her eyes on the road. Tacos and jazz.This woman knew all the right buttons to push, and she did it well.
The taco festival was already packed when they got there. Itdidn’t surprise Emma that it was close to seventy-six degrees, which wasunusual for October. Chicago was known to have average temperatures betweenfifty-nine and sixty-five degrees, and today was an exception, with minimalwind and spectacular sunshine. It was as though Emma’s fairy godmother hadconjured up the weather just for her date with Dex.
The taco choices were imaginative. Some were made with traditionalingredients such as chicken, steak, chorizo, and beef, as well as unusualingredients such as mushrooms, shrimp, cod, goat, and duck. Emma opted for atrio that included shrimp, mushrooms, and chicken. Dex went for steak, cod, andduck. After they picked up a couple of seasonal beers, they sat on a concretebarrier and shared them like they’d been a couple for years. The wholesituation was surreal. Emma had never thought she’d meet anyone she clickedwith so perfectly.
“Oh my God, this mushroom taco is divine.” It was like anexplosion of flavors in her mouth. She hadn’t ever tasted anything quite likeit, the blend of ingredients staggering.
“What’s in it?” Dex asked.
Emma peeled the corn tortilla back. “One, two, three differenttypes of mushrooms, kale, pickled carrots, and…” She pushed the mushroomsaround with her fork. “Um, I think thyme.” She took another bite and then heldthe taco up to Dex. “You want to try?” she mumbled, still chewing her lastbite.
When Dex widened her eyes, tilted her head sideways, and openedher mouth, Emma couldn’t hold her laughter and had to cover her mouth toprevent the food from bursting out. She fed her a bite, and Dex groaned.
“You’re not kidding.” Dex pointed at what was left of the tacoremaining in Emma’s hand. “That, right there, is the star of the festival. Weshould get ten more.”
“Just ten? Not twenty?” She raised her eyebrows.
“At least twenty.” Dex glanced around. “But what if they’re soldout?” She held up her plate of tacos. “I’ll trade you this tastytempura-battered fish taco andthis appetizing coffee-rubbed steak taco for the last bite of your magnificentmushroom taco.”
“Sold.” Emma laughed hysterically as she fed Dex the rest of thetaco. “You’re adorable.”
Dex sat up straight, twisted to peek behind her, and shifted hereyes back and forth. “Me?” She pushed a finger into her own chest.
“Yes, you.” Emma chuckled at her unpretentiousness. This gorgeous,funny woman apparently had no idea what kind of an effect she was having onher.
Dex lifted an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely.” She instinctively reached over and wiped a drop ofsauce from the corner of Dex’s mouth with her thumb and then leaned forward andkissed her softly. She held the kiss for just a moment while every nerve endingin her body came to attention. How could this woman ignite every part of herwith just a slight touch of her lips? Emma broke away and took in a deepbreath.
“Wow,” Dex said. “And I’m not talking about the taco.”
Totalunderstatement.
