Separate Bedrooms...?. Carole Halston

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СКАЧАТЬ was quitting time, and the store employees were leaving. Cara did a few tasks and straightened her desk, not finding Neil’s request unusual. She assumed he wanted to discuss some store-related matter.

      As soon as everyone had gone, he came back into the office. “Are you seeing Xavier tonight?” he inquired.

      “No, he has a poker game.”

      Her answer seemed to give him pause. “Then why don’t I take you out to dinner?”

      Cara’s immediate reaction was pleasure. “I’d like that.”

      “Good. I’ll pick you up about seven o’clock.”

      “Where are we going? Just so I’ll know how to dress.”

      He named a popular restaurant that served steak and seafood.

      On the way to her apartment Cara wondered what had prompted Neil to issue the invitation. Did she look so down in the dumps that he’d felt sorry for her? Whatever the reason, she was glad. It would be a treat to get together with Neil away from the store. Cara meant to keep the conversation on subjects other than her problems.

      As she changed clothes and freshened her makeup, Cara found herself remembering how as a preteen girl she’d daydreamed about getting old enough to date Neil. She’d been so envious of his girlfriends. Cara was seventeen and going steady with her current heartthrob when Neil became engaged to be married, but she still suffered jealous pangs when she met Lisa, Neil’s fiancée and later his wife.

      If tonight were really a date, it would be the realization of a lot of wishful thinking at more youthful stages of Cara’s life. But tonight wasn’t really a date. Cara and Neil were long-time friends, employee and employer. He wasn’t—and never would be—interested in her as a woman. The grown-up Cara accepted that fact of life and was happy with their relationship.

      But what if Neil were interested in her? Cara brushed aside the question, since such speculation was pointless.

      Neil arrived a couple of minutes early. Cara was ready and keeping a watch out for him. He’d changed clothes, too, she noticed as she climbed into the passenger seat of his pickup. Instead of his khaki pants and red knit shirt with his first name and Griffin Auto Parts embroidered on the pocket, he was wearing navy slacks and a crisp striped shirt. He looked clean-cut and handsome, his sandy hair neatly combed and his tanned skin emphasizing the blue of his eyes.

      It occurred to Cara as she clipped her seatbelt, that Neil’s looks appealed to her a whole lot more than Roy’s ever had. The honest insight made her feel guilty. Talking herself into marrying Roy just because he was available and willing hadn’t been fair to him.

      “Mom said to tell you hello,” Neil said. “She called right after I got home from the store.”

      “How is her golf game coming along?”

      “Not too good. But she’s having fun playing with a group of retirees who’re also beginners.”

      “Is your dad managing to keep himself occupied?”

      “Yes, he’s discovered the Internet and is looking up old army buddies.”

      “How neat.”

      They chatted about his parents on the short drive to the restaurant. Cara’s interest was genuine; she was very fond of Dean and Judith Griffin and had missed them since they’d moved off to Florida.

      “Maybe I should have gotten a reservation,” Neil said, parking his pickup in one of the few available spots. “I didn’t think it would be this crowded on a weeknight.”

      Inside they were able to get a table. Not surprisingly, Cara recognized a number of friends and acquaintances, as did Neil. They responded to greetings, following behind the hostess.

      “I thought that was Agnes Tanner’s car outside,” Cara commented when they were seated. “Wouldn’t you know she would pick this same restaurant tonight?”

      “So what?” he replied.

      “She just happens to be the biggest gossip in Hammond. You know that.”

      Neil grinned. “Should we give her something juicy to gossip about?”

      Cara hadn’t seen that streak of playfulness in Neil during the three years since he’d returned to his home town a widower. “Let’s,” she replied, smiling impishly.

      He leaned across the table, picked up one of Cara’s hands and brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Cara felt a jolt of electricity at the contact of his lips against her skin. Warm pleasure gushed through her, all the way to her toes. Wow, she almost said before she caught herself.

      “Was she watching?” he asked, returning her hand to the table.

      Cara had forgotten all about Agnes Tanner. She glanced in the woman’s direction. “Gawking is more the word.”

      Apparently Neil hadn’t experienced anything similar in reaction to his playacting. He opened his menu and began perusing it. Cara followed his example. Neither of them made any further mention of Agnes or paid her any further attention.

      They ordered their meals. The waitress soon brought their salads and a basket of hot rolls. Cara ate with relish, enjoying the food and Neil’s company. The conversation never hit a lull. The two of them always had things to talk about. Cara didn’t bring up Roy’s name, nor did Neil until the plates were cleared away and they were having coffee.

      “You said you’d decided to break off with Xavier,” he stated, stirring cream into his coffee.

      “Yes, I had gotten up the courage to tell him last night, but he worked late, and we ended up just talking on the phone. So I put off telling him.”

      “Don’t procrastinate, Cara. The sooner you stop the wedding preparations, the better for everybody.”

      “You’re right.” Cara sipped her coffee.

      Neil frowned, obviously not satisfied with her answer. He leaned toward her and lowered his voice before he spoke in the same sober tone, “After our conversation today when you were leaving to go to the post office, I did some thinking. If you’re going to marry anybody out of desperation just so Sophia can attend your wedding, I’d rather it be me.” Cara was so taken by surprise and so humbled by this proof of his affection for her that she just gazed at him, tongue-tied. He went on, “Not that I’m in favor of the whole idea, mind you. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a real marriage. We wouldn’t sleep together, naturally.” This last statement came out sounding stern. He sat upright again.

      Cara felt herself blushing and wondered whether he’d been aware of how she’d responded earlier to his kissing her hand. “Neil, I’m deeply touched. This afternoon I wasn’t proposing. Honest. I would never put you on the spot like that.”

      “I didn’t construe what you said as a proposal. My offer is purely voluntary. Consider it a backup plan if you start wavering about breaking off with Xavier.”

      “Oh, I see. You’re afraid I’m too big a coward to face the music.”

      “You’re under a lot of pressure. Don’t be hard СКАЧАТЬ