late.”
“So . . . ?”
Gina came over and fiddled with one of my many Detailed Dating pens, seemed lost in thought for a few moments, then shook her head as if to snap out of whatever she’d been thinking. “The Oasis had a new band playing last night and they totally rocked. George and I hung out with them until almost midnight when Dillon and Rachel went out for coffee. And according to George, Dillon didn’t get home until after two.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t pegged Mr. Beach Hottie as a big conversationalist. “Good for Rach.”
“Yeah.” Gina set the cherry-red pen back on my desk and gave me a sad look. “Watch it work out between them. They could be married before George even proposes.”
My heart went out to her since it really did seem like George was proposal challenged. “Gina, talk to him. Ask him where it’s going.”
“I have. Maybe it’s time again.” She gave a forced smile. “How are things in the Detailed Dating world?”
“Great,” I said, mentally reminding myself I was supposed to be excited about my face-to-face tonight. “I’m taking Rachel’s pooch to doggy class after work, then I’m meeting one of the guys for dinner.”
Gina raised an eyebrow. “You’re taking Chester to dog class? Why?”
The image of deep gray eyes framed with dark lashes popped into my head, but I ignored that and lifted my foot onto my desk. “See what her mutt did?”
Gina glanced at the marked-up boot and shook her head. “Ouch. Those were cute, too.”
My mouth turned down. “I’m determined to get my money’s worth out of them.”
“That’s big of you to take Chester to obedience school, but I have to say I think it’s a lost cause.” She paused, probably thinking the same thing I was. That George was a lost cause, too. “Well, I’d better get back to my desk. Have fun on your date.”
“Thanks.” I waved to her, then turned to my computer, and pulled up the Detailed Dating website. A few keystrokes, plus the click of my mouse, and a picture of Craig displayed on the screen.
He was a handsome man, for sure. Plus, we both liked skiing, boating, traveling, wanted at least two kids maybe three, had similar political views, and sounded compatible.
So, why was I more into taking Rachel’s pampered pup to All Things Furry than a date I’d been screening for almost six weeks? Intense chemistry shouldn’t trump compatibility if I wanted a lasting relationship, which I did.
I closed out the screen, drafted a message to our service department setting up Gilbert Watson’s appointment on Friday, and hit SEND so hard the key nearly broke.
I would not make the same mistakes my mom had with my dad and pick a guy just because he made me go weak in the knees. No, I wanted a marriage that would last for life, which meant choosing a guy who makes the most sense logically. Tonight, I’d enjoy my first face-to-face —even if it killed me.
****
I rapped my knuckles on Rachel’s apartment door half an hour before the Simply Skilled class started.
Rachel’s front door flew open and she stared at me. “I got your message that you’re coming to pick Chester up. What gives?”
“Nothing.” Since I couldn’t make sense of my irrational feelings, I so didn’t want to talk about them with her. “I just want to borrow your dog. Is that so wrong? Chester? Come here little poochie.”
Rach blocked my path with her arm. “Last week you didn’t even know his name. I’m officially scared.”
“Aha!” Her little maniac was curled up by the heating vent on a bone-shaped doggy bed. His big, brown eyes widened as I approached. “Auntie’s going to take you to obedience class. Yes, I am.”
Rachel knelt down protectively over her dog. “This is about my going on a date with Dillon. Isn’t it? You’re feeling left out because Gina asked me instead and so you’ve snapped.”
“Pfft. You think I want that six-one, surfing-dude who looks like he works out twelve hours a day? You can
“So . . . ?”
Gina came over and fiddled with one of my many Detailed Dating pens, seemed lost in thought for a few moments, then shook her head as if to snap out of whatever she’d been thinking. “The Oasis had a new band playing last night and they totally rocked. George and I hung out with them until almost midnight when Dillon and Rachel went out for coffee. And according to George, Dillon didn’t get home until after two.”
“Wow.” I hadn’t pegged Mr. Beach Hottie as a big conversationalist. “Good for Rach.”
“Yeah.” Gina set the cherry-red pen back on my desk and gave me a sad look. “Watch it work out between them. They could be married before George even proposes.”
My heart went out to her since it really did seem like George was proposal challenged. “Gina, talk to him. Ask him where it’s going.”
“I have. Maybe it’s time again.” She gave a forced smile. “How are things in the Detailed Dating world?”
“Great,” I said, mentally reminding myself I was supposed to be excited about my face-to-face tonight. “I’m taking Rachel’s pooch to doggy class after work, then I’m meeting one of the guys for dinner.”
Gina raised an eyebrow. “You’re taking Chester to dog class? Why?”
The image of deep gray eyes framed with dark lashes popped into my head, but I ignored that and lifted my foot onto my desk. “See what her mutt did?”
Gina glanced at the marked-up boot and shook her head. “Ouch. Those were cute, too.”
My mouth turned down. “I’m determined to get my money’s worth out of them.”
“That’s big of you to take Chester to obedience school, but I have to say I think it’s a lost cause.” She paused, probably thinking the same thing I was. That George was a lost cause, too. “Well, I’d better get back to my desk. Have fun on your date.”
“Thanks.” I waved to her, then turned to my computer, and pulled up the Detailed Dating website. A few keystrokes, plus the click of my mouse, and a picture of Craig displayed on the screen.
He was a handsome man, for sure. Plus, we both liked skiing, boating, traveling, wanted at least two kids maybe three, had similar political views, and sounded compatible.
So, why was I more into taking Rachel’s pampered pup to All Things Furry than a date I’d been screening for almost six weeks? Intense chemistry shouldn’t trump compatibility if I wanted a lasting relationship, which I did.
I closed out the screen, drafted a message to our service department setting up Gilbert Watson’s appointment on Friday, and hit SEND so hard the key nearly broke.
I would not make the same mistakes my mom had with my dad and pick a guy just because he made me go weak in the knees. No, I wanted a marriage that would last for life, which meant choosing a guy who makes the most sense logically. Tonight, I’d enjoy my first face-to-face —even if it killed me.
****
I rapped my knuckles on Rachel’s apartment door half an hour before the Simply Skilled class started.
Rachel’s front door flew open and she stared at me. “I got your message that you’re coming to pick Chester up. What gives?”
“Nothing.” Since I couldn’t make sense of my irrational feelings, I so didn’t want to talk about them with her. “I just want to borrow your dog. Is that so wrong? Chester? Come here little poochie.”
Rach blocked my path with her arm. “Last week you didn’t even know his name. I’m officially scared.”
“Aha!” Her little maniac was curled up by the heating vent on a bone-shaped doggy bed. His big, brown eyes widened as I approached. “Auntie’s going to take you to obedience class. Yes, I am.”
Rachel knelt down protectively over her dog. “This is about my going on a date with Dillon. Isn’t it? You’re feeling left out because Gina asked me instead and so you’ve snapped.”
“Pfft. You think I want that six-one, surfing-dude who looks like he works out twelve hours a day? You can
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