Sweet Montana Christmas (20 page)

It didn't matter. A job was a job.

He really wanted to get off this topic of conversation. Maybe he could distract her with something...

“How's that Christmas list coming? I mean, if I'm going to find all the items, I'll need some time.”

“I won't make it too hard,” she said with a smile that slid into his psyche.

The waitress placed their plates on the table, fish for Sue Anne, steak for him.

“
Bon appétit
!” she said before moving on to another customer.

They were quiet for the few moments it took to dig into their food.

“So you're a big fan of Mickey?” she asked.

“Actually, I had a crush on Sleeping Beauty when I was a kid.”

She laughed.

“Seriously. I wanted to be the prince. Imagine, bringing a woman to life with a kiss.”

“Is that why you do what you do?”

“Kiss people? I don't make a habit of going around kissing strange women.”

“Just in my case.” Sue Anne's eyes were sparkling.

“That was the one exception. I wonder if it was as powerful as Sleeping Beauty's prince.”

“Hmm.”

Something in her expression caught his attention.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“About the power of kisses.”

There it was, that little tension that started his blood pulsing a little faster.

“What about them?”

“Well, some people's kisses do bring a woman to life ... in all kinds of ways.”

He swallowed hard. What did he say next that wouldn't be too outrageous?

“I mean,” she continued, looking at him with a definite twinkle in her eyes. “I imagine an expert kisser like you could awaken a woman from a coma.”

“I've never brought anyone back to life—at least not with a kiss.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Quite.”

They were quiet as they ate. He searched for a more neutral topic. There were still things to know about her.

“Do you like sports? Have you been to an Osprey game?” He hadn't been to see one of the minor league baseball teams either, but baseball had been in his blood growing up. Everyone had been on a team when he was a kid.

“No. I don't think I've ever been to a live baseball game. It's boring enough on television.”

“That's un-American! You're missing something great. I've got to take you. You'll love it! I'll make sure of it.” Even if he had to kiss her every inning.

“I'll give it a try, but then you have to try one of my movies.”

He supposed it was only fair.

“Deal.” He put out his hand, and she shook it. They laughed.

Sue Anne was fun. She could build a business, but she could also relax, something he needed in his life, as the intensity of his job could get to him. He told her about the latest incident at the airport, a guy who wanted to take a hunting knife on the plane and couldn't be persuaded to leave it behind.

“What happened?” she asked before taking another forkful of food.

“He missed his flight. His wife had to come to get the knife so he could get on the next plane.”

“Didn't he need it wherever he was going?”

“Probably not a lot of legitimate use for it in Seattle.”

The conversation for the rest of the meal was pleasant as they discovered more interests they had in common and made plans to hike up the Bass Creek Trail in a few weeks. When dinner was over, he paid for the meal.

“Wait a minute,” she said. “I thought it was my turn to buy.”

“This is an official date. I treat.”

“Awfully old-fashioned of you.”

“That's me. An old-fashioned guy.”

“Ready for our walk?”

She nodded, and they strolled toward Caras Park. The space was alive with music, dancers, and artists. Big signs announced the Summer Solstice Festival.

“Favorite color?” he asked.

“Blue. You?”

“Uh. Not sure.”

“Favorite food.”

“Steak.” Easy.

“A man's man.” She smiled. “When I'm not gorging on chocolate, I like Asian fusion—like Mustard Seed.”

“Girly.”

“Good.”

The teasing banter continued as they walked around the displays, admiring the artists as they worked to capture the scene and the setting sun. Some provided a recognizable picture, some were a mystery.

After they'd made the circuit, they headed back across the river. Once again, he took her hand, rubbing her smooth skin with his thumb, contentment infusing his spirit.

Was it wrong to feel this good when his future was still hazy in the mist?

“I had a good time,” Zach said when they reached her door. Like Sue Anne, he'd been silent on the walk back, apparently enjoying the sounds of the summer night surrounding them—kids out later on a Saturday night, the quiet talk of neighbors, and the whir of bicycle tires on the pavement.

Should she invite him in for a beer or something? She'd laid in some supplies earlier just in case. Or was that too premature? It was only a first date—sorta. She took the plunge.

“Do you want to come in? I have some wine, and a few beers.”

“Uh. Sure.”

Awkwardness made her clumsy as she unlocked the door.

Sugar bounded up from her place on the couch and trotted eagerly over to meet them. After getting her welcome from Sue Anne, she wiggled her way over to Zach.

“How are you doing, girl?” Zach crouched down by the dog with ease and a happy grin. A man who liked dogs usually didn't want to break your heart.

“What'll you have?” she asked after setting down her purse and keys.

“A beer would be nice. I don't need a glass,” he added as she reached to open a cabinet door.

“Okay.” She pulled down a wine glass and shut the door. “Why don't you have a seat? I'll get everything together and bring it over.” Really? She sounded like a fifties housewife. All she needed was a poodle skirt and a frilly apron.

Behind her, she heard him cooing to the dog, and the clack of Sugar's nails on the floor let her know how excited the small animal was.

Traitor
, she silently told her pet.

She arranged the drinks and bowls of nuts and chips on a tray and put it on the steamer trunk that served as her coffee table.

Zach was sitting at one end of the couch. She handed him his beer and hesitated a moment before choosing the other end. Sugar switched her attention and bounded up on the couch between them.

Was that a good or a bad thing? It depended on how much she wanted to compete with her dog for attention.

She snuggled Sugar close to her, and the dog settled down.

“I'm looking forward to taking you to a game,” he said with a smile. “Teaching you the finer arts of ball play.”

“You mean it's more than nine guys standing around looking at each other interrupted by moments of activity?”

He laughed.

“Yep. But sometimes that's a description, too. It's more fun when you have a team to root for, but there's a psychology to everything about it—which player goes where, the lineup, and the dynamic between the pitcher and the catcher.”

“You sound like you love the game.”

“I played a little in high school. It was one of my dreams to try to make it into the pros.”

“Why didn't you?”

He turned his beer bottle in his hands, as if he'd never seen it before.

She'd stepped into personal territory, but they were going to need to get to subjects deeper than favorite colors if they were going to develop anything of value. So she waited.

After clearing his throat, he leaned back and looked at her, his lips pressed together. “Ultimately, I wasn't good enough. I went to a few tryouts and made the first cuts, but there was always someone who could play better.” He took another deep breath. “That's when I learned I don't deal well with rejection. I decided to find another occupation that didn't require me to put myself out there like that.”

If he didn't like rejection, no wonder the attitude of his squad in Denver had been difficult for him to accept.

“Well, I guess you found it. No one's going to say ‘go away' to a trained professional when they're in an emergency situation.” She kept her tone light.

“Unless you're a criminal or high on something. Those people aren't exactly friendly.” His grin returned as he took the last swallow of his beer.

“Guess I'd better be going.” He stood, and she did as well.

He stepped toward her and placed his hand on her jaw, lifting her face slightly. After staring into her eyes for a few moments, he bent to kiss her. His lips were tentative at first, as if he was trying not to reveal too much of himself.

She responded but made sure there was air between her body and his. She'd be a fool to let her guard down totally. She wanted more commitment before getting too close.

He must have sensed her reticence, because he broke off.

“I've got a bunch of night shifts coming up, and that always messes with my schedule. I'll text you and let you know when I come up for air. Maybe we can take in that Osprey game.”

“Okay.”

“Sounds good.” He kissed her lightly and left.

She closed the door behind him and leaned against it. Would she be enough to keep him in Missoula, or would he take the next big job that came along?

• • •

Sue Anne had just grabbed a cup of coffee when her phone rang on a Saturday morning a month later.

Mom.

“I'm going to take this back in my apartment and let Sugar out. Okay?” she asked Julie.

“Sure.”

Sue Anne accepted the call and swiftly unlocked the back door.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Hi, sweetie. How are things going? You still making a success of this chocolate thing?”

“We're doing well, Mom. I got a chain of stores in Missoula, Bozeman, and Billings to carry the chocolates, and I'm headed to Helena and Great Falls next week to see if they're interested.”

“Busy girl. Are you driving to all these places?”

“Yeah. It doesn't make sense to fly. I need my car when I get there. Besides, other than the construction, the roads are fine.”

“Be safe, sweetie.”

“I will.”

“How's your boyfriend?” Her mother got to the real reason she was calling.

Sue Anne settled into the back porch chair and lazily threw a ball for Sugar.

“We're going to a baseball game tonight.”

“You don't like baseball,” her mother said.

“I know, but he went to one of my movies, so I agreed to go to the game.”

“Sounds fair.” Her mother hesitated. “I know it's none of my business, but you don't seem very enthusiastic about
him
. I thought you'd gotten over this friends nonsense and were really dating.”

Sue Anne fought Sugar for the ball and threw it again before answering.

“He's too private. There are things he doesn't like to talk about.”

“Like what?”

“Like what he wants in a relationship ... his plans for the future ... that sort of thing.”

“It's probably a little early for that.” Her mother chuckled. “He is a
guy
after all.”

“Seeing anyone special?” Time to get the focus off her. Whatever was wrong between Zach and her, she was going to have to be the one to figure it out.

“Well, there is this one man. He owns a big spread up by La Grange and comes into town a few times a month. He seems to be here more often now.”

Sue Anne grinned. It sounded promising.

“His wife died of cancer about ten years ago. He hasn't had the energy to consider anyone else since.”

“Until now.”

“So it seems.”

“Oh, Mom, I hope it works out for you.”

“Thank you, sweetie. That means a lot.”

“I've got to get back to work,” Sue Anne said.

“Okay.

“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

After hanging up the phone, she stayed where she was and watched the dog. Life with Sugar was uncomplicated; the pug held nothing back. But the potential for an awesome connection with another human being wasn't there, either.

But was it with Zach?

She stood, and the dog raced back to her.

The baseball game was tonight. It was time to stop dancing around the issue and have a heart-to-heart; otherwise, they were going nowhere. It took two to mess up a relationship, just as it took two committed people to create one.

• • •

Zach poured a cup of coffee and looked around the squad room. His shift was almost over. He'd have enough time to shower and change before he picked up Sue Anne for the baseball game, but not much more.

Where were they going? Was it time to drop the effort and let her find someone new?

They hadn't seen too much of each other. His schedule had been jerked around by illness of first one member on the team or another. They'd gone to a movie she'd picked. To his surprise, he'd actually enjoyed
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
, but there was something missing between them. Their dates were fun, but they weren't getting to the next level.

He suspected the missing piece was his inability to be all in, but he wasn't ready to take that risk. Would he ever be? Just like him, she was holding back a piece of herself.

He straddled a chair to face Pat who was staring at a manual at the other end of the table. “When did Ellen ask you what you wanted from a relationship?”

Pat chuckled. “That's a standard woman question after the first three or four dates. They're trying to figure out if they're investing the little time they have to find a mate in the right place. Oh, they may not know it consciously, but I've been around enough women to know it's true.”

“Were you ready to tell her then?”