Page 37 of Forever Flustered

“Would you mind?” he asked hoarsely, looking surprised. “I didn’t want to impose, but I know that we’ve been done eating for a little while now and the waitress is probably waiting on us to give up the table.”

“I’d love the company – and no, I’m not ready for our evening to be over,” she smiled, feeling such a wave of relief that he didn’t take things the wrong way. “I’m really having a nice time and would like to continue talking.”

“Me too.”

“Then let’s get out of here,” she replied gratefully and pulled out her wallet – only for the plates to rattle and her cup almost fell over as Eli leaped to his feet, leaning over the table and putting a hand over hers.

“What are you doing?” he said bluntly, and she glanced around, seeing others looking at the sudden commotion in concern.

“Paying for my half,” she offered in a hushed voice, meeting his eyes. “I’m not sticking you with the bill.”

“You’re not paying when we’re on a date,” he replied in the same hushed voice, his nose precariously close to hers, but he didn’t move. She glanced down briefly to see the edge of his shirt was on his plate; his eyes were awfully intense this close and were making her feel butterflies. “Put it away, Maureen… please.”

“If it’s a date, does that mean you’re going to kiss me?” she murmured, turning her gaze back to his and basking in that icy warmth that blazed brighter than the sun at her words. “I’m just clarifying.”

“It’s a date,” he replied, pressing down on her hand, indicating that he wanted her to put her wallet away. “And yes.”

“Yes?” she whispered breathlessly. “Really?”

He just swallowed, his eyes holding hers as he waited. She moved her hand and placed her wallet back into her open purse before lifting an eyebrow in almost a silent challenge. He did the same, but the side of his lip curled upward in a slight smile as he murmured a soft, “Thank you.”

“You’re cute when you're beating on your chest all manly-like,” she teased. “But you can use your words too. You don’t have to turn it up to a thousand on the man-scale. I get it, and I’m not really gonna argue that hard if you want to pay for dinner… okay? Now, can we go because people are staring and your shirt is in your sour cream.”

He cursed slightly under his breath and rolled his eyes as he leaned back. “So much for looking nice this trip – first my forgotten bag, now my shirt.”

“You look fine,” she replied as they stood up beside the table. “Remember, my nefarious plans are to get you naked and on my table.”

There was a clattering of forks nearby as the restaurant’s dull roar of conversations suddenly dropped in crescendo. Eli’s head swiftly turned to her in obvious disbelief that she’d said something like that so loudly. Maureen winked at him and held out her hand - waiting.

“Lucky guy,” a man said openly as his wife quickly shushed him.

“Don’t you even start, Martin!”

Eli laughed nervously. The tips of his ears practically glowed a scarlet red – but there was something different about him. The aloof mask he normally wore was gone. He looked completely at ease and vibrantly alive, slipping his hand into hers as they walked outside side-by-side into the night.

CHAPTER 13

ARCHANGEL

Eli felt completely in over his head… and it was eye-opening. Maureen seemed so genuine, so easy-going, and it felt so comfortable to be himself around her that it was a little invigorating, like yanking off his flight mask and drawing in that first breath in relief after a mission. There were a few moments where he was afraid that he had already ruined things or crossed a line, but Maureen was strong and outspoken. She told him openly what she liked or didn’t like – and it was as if she had the inside track of what was going on in his head. He’d admitted that he had a rough childhood to others, but somehow, she ‘got’ him on another level.

He sat silently on the passenger seat, trying not to obviously stare at the woman beside him. There was something about her that tugged at something deep within him. Everything in his mind screamed for him to back away, reminding him that he was no good for her and would only create problems in her life… but another voice was there too - a voice deep within his soul that whispered something much different.

Fate was not something he believed in. Destiny was a cute name for a girl, not a practice he subscribed to. He’d dealt with too much pain to allow himself to hope for something more, that this was all part of a greater good or some elaborate design… but lately he’d begun to wonder. There were too many coincidences, too many chances that lined up perfectly, and that had him questioning everything. First, it was Bode… then it was Maureen.

“Here we are,” she said simply, but her voice breaking the silence was enough to make him jump. He hadn’t even realized the car had come to a stop in the driveway. She was distracting, put him off-balance, and made him consider things that he’d never imagined for himself - a future.

Looking at the small house with a simple front porch light that glowed dimly, he frowned. “You need a bigger light on the house. It’s too dark out here.”

“Bug light,” she explained, shrugging. “Means fewer bugs.”

“Someone could mug you…”

“Then they’d be awfully disappointed,” she chuckled and patted his leg placatingly, causing him to jump once again. “You’re sweet to worry about me, but I’ve been alone a lot longer than you’ve been to Yonder both times -combined – and I’ll make it. I promise.”

I’m going to replace that stupid light before I fly out… he thought grimly, opening the car door and getting out. He was walking toward her side to open the door, but she was already halfway to her feet – causing him to frown again.

“Do you need to go to the bathroom?” she asked candidly, her eyes dancing as she dug out her keys from her purse that was still unzipped. He’d noticed it at the restaurant, too. Did the woman not have any idea of how easy she was making it for someone to rob her?