Promises of Forever

by Celya Bowers

  They’d listened to several poets, and Finn even got into it. He’d ask questions and commented on the poems. Brown Betty had just announced open mic.

  “Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.” Finn stood and left the table.

  Of course, Harley used this time to talk to Kayleigh. “I can’t believe you brought him here. He seems like he really enjoys it. Or is it the company of his date? He sure wanted everyone to know you guys had been on a date. He doesn’t know about Manny, does he?”

  “Harley, what did I tell you about asking so many questions at one time?” Kayleigh laughed. “Yes, I told him about Manny.”

  “Kayleigh, Dating 101, you don’t talk about exes.”

  “He brought it up. He wanted to know what our relationship was, I had to tell him. You know how I hate lying.”

  “Did you tell him about the lupus thing?”

  “No.”

  “Now who’s lying?”

  “I’m not lying. I just didn’t tell him. There’s a difference.”

  Harley grunted her opinion. “Okay, since it’s your illness, I’ll let you make that call. Speaking of, I noticed you yawning.”

  “Don’t start. I took a nap after you guys left. I honestly didn’t think he would have wanted to come here. What was I thinking, letting him drive here?”

  “Oh, this just keeps getting better.”

  “Shut up, Harley.”

  But Harley always knew which buttons to push with her. “How long does it take to pee?”

  Kayleigh had been so involved in her conversation with Harley she hadn’t realized Finn hadn’t returned. “Maybe there’s a line in the men’s room?”

  Harley narrowed her blue eyes at Kayleigh. “When was the last time there was a line in the men’s room? They barely stay in there long enough to wash their hands.”

  Kayleigh was about to fire a retort to Harley when she noticed Finn walking back to the table. “Sorry, it took so long.” He sat down and put his arm around Kayleigh’s shoulders. “Miss me?”

  Flabbergasted, Kayleigh sputtered, “Yes, no, I don’t know.”

  Finn laughed. “Okay, it was more than I was hoping for, so that’s good.” He kissed her gently on the lips.

  Not only did her lips still tingle from the brief contact, but so did other parts of her body. “Huh?”

  Finn didn’t respond. Brown Betty was back on stage introducing another poet wannabe. “We have a newcomer. Finn Callahan, is going to recite a poem about Ireland. Welcome, Finn.”

  Finn rose and walked to the stage. Kayleigh was in utter shock. Who was this man? Finn told her he didn’t have a creative bone in his body. She blamed Harley for this!

  “Hello, this is a poem my grandfather told me when I was young. I think it’s a beautiful piece of literature, and I hope you do, too.”

  If you want love to last,

  Find a woman with the

  Soul of Ireland.

  A woman who is strong,

  Passionate and loving

  Won’t care if your

  Poor, rich or in between,

  She will only care

  That you have the

  Soul of Ireland in you, too.

  After he finished his poem, the crowd applauded. “Thank you,” he said. “I dedicate this poem to my date, Kayleigh Hardy, a woman with the soul of Ireland.”

  Harley leaned over and said, “If you don’t give him some for saying that poem, I’m taking away your woman card.”

  Kayleigh shook her head. Not even Harley would ruin that moment. “He might not be getting any, but he sure did earn some cool points for that.”

  Finn made it back to their table and took his seat. “Did you like it?”

  Kayleigh nodded, wiping tears away. “This has been the greatest date ever.” She pulled him in her arms and kissed him. “Thank you.”

  He kissed her again. “Thank you,” he said chuckling. “If I known just saying a poem would get you to kiss me, I would have recited it the first time we met.”

  Kayleigh was shocked. “Really?” Was everyone around her right about Finn? Did he see this is more than just a casual date? Was she ready?

  “You’re a very beautiful woman,” Finn said. “I’m honored that you invited me here.”

  If she’d been a romantic like Harley, Kayleigh hesitated to think where the rest of the evening would take her. Luckily, she still had a little cynicism left, so she knew where the evening would leave her. Alone.

  Finn glanced at his watch. “Hey, it’s almost three in the morning. Ready to go?”

  Harley answered for her. “Yes, she needs her rest. Why don’t you take her home?”

  Kayleigh shook her head. “Excuse Harley. She’s been reading too many romance novels. But I am ready to go home.”

  He looked at her with those big blue eyes simmering with something Kayleigh wasn’t quite ready for. “Me, too. We need to talk. Privately,” he said.

  “Yummy,” Harley said.

  Both Kayleigh and Finn looked at Harley. “Okay, okay. I know I’m not invited.”

  “Spot on.” Finn stood helped Kayleigh with her chair. “Besides, she might not want you to see her trying to seduce me later.”

  Kayleigh, not wanting to comment, grabbed Finn by the hand and led him out of the club.

  * * *

  “I had a wonderful time, Finn,” Kayleigh said as Finn parked the truck in front of her house. She’d been puzzling over her next move the entire ride home from the Rhymin’ Shack. “Would you like to come in?”

  “Maybe for just a minute,” he said, opening his door. He walked to her side of the truck and helped her out. “Tonight was fun. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun in quite a while.”

  Kayleigh’s mind swirled with thoughts of why he hadn’t had fun. She knew why she hadn’t had any fun. Life had her in a Texas tornado the last few months. She still had at least two months before the semester ended. She hoped she could keep her illness at bay.

  “You haven’t heard a word I said,” Finn commented. “I was telling you we should go inside or your neighbors were going to call the police.” He nodded to the little old woman standing on her porch.

  Kayleigh laughed. “That’s Mrs. Haynes. She and my mom were friends. She been very helpful since my dad died.” She waved at her neighbor. “She’s also nosy as all get out. We’d better go inside. I can’t believe she’s out at this hour.” Kayleigh grabbed his hand and led him up the walkway to her house.

  Once inside, she offered him coffee, but he refused. He sat on her comfortable couch. “What I’d really like to do is to talk.”

  Kayleigh had no idea what he wanted to talk about. Apparently, it was very serious. She sat next to him. Not so close that he’d get any wrong ideas, but close enough so they wouldn’t have to shout at each other either. “Okay, shoot.”

  Finn nodded. “Okay, I’m going to put my cards on table. Regardless of your answer, I’ll still be your financial consultant unless you feel otherwise, and I won’t hesitate to give you the name of a qualified colleague.”

  This did not bode well at all.

  He took a deep breath, relaxed his neck muscles and began speaking. “I’m attracted to you, Kayleigh. Initially, I thought if I had one evening with you I’d get over this intense attraction I felt.”

  “But?”

  “But it only fueled the fire. I’m willing to see where this will go. What do you think?”

  Okay, it wasn’t what she was expecting. “Finn, you know I don’t have a lot of free time to date. I’m in school full-time, plus my life is a mess.”

  “I’m aware of your lack of time. I think we could work something out. I’m not asking for every minute of your time. This isn’t a marriage proposal. Just a date here and there.”

  Sex? she wanted to ask. “Finn, I don’t think I’m your type.”

  He leaned back on the couch, looking absolutely at home on the plaid sofa. “Tell me, what is my type?”

  “You know, tall, educat
ed at only the best school, well-traveled, blonde, brunette and someone who comes from money. I’m not in your league.”

  “Well, I hate to be the one to burst your stereotype of me, but here goes. First of all, I considered Fort Worth University one of the best schools in the United States. Traveling is over-rated. I don’t actually travel that much. I haven’t taken a real vacation in three years. You’re a beautiful, vibrant woman who is not afraid to break the rules. And last, my family is a working-class family. My dad owns a bar in Virginia with his cousin. My brother-in-law is in the military. My other siblings are teachers, attorneys, doctors, and police officers. My family is no different than any other family.”

  Once he said that, they didn’t seem so different. Of course there was the one big factor. “Finn, you’re white. I’m black. I don’t know how your clients will handle that.”

  “One day, you may get to know how insane that charge is. You met some of my clients, and no one cares. If they do care, I don’t want them as clients. Any other charges?”

  Kayleigh realized how unnecessary the conversation was. Did any of that matter? “No.”

  “Much better.” He leaned over and kissed her. It was a soft, gentle kiss that warmed her tired soul and put her body on high alert. Finn was an excellent kisser, and Kayleigh knew the road she was on was about to get rocky.

  CHAPTER 8

  Finn woke up early Sunday morning. Not that he could get a good night’s sleep after leaving Kayleigh’s last night. Sleep was the last thing on his mind. Sex, however, was a different story.

  After he dressed, he went downstairs to his oversized kitchen to make some coffee. His phone rang as he turned on the machine. “Hello.”

  “Finn, where were you last night?”

  He laughed at the caller. It was his best friend since arriving in Texas, Brendan Campbell. “Brendan, I told you I had a date last night.”

  “Yeah, you had a first date with a client. I take it all went well.”

  Finn thought about the evening. “Well would be a matter of opinion. We went to the play, then to eat, then we went to the Rhymin’ Shack.”

  He heard Brendan bang his phone against the counter. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you right. You went to the Rhymin’ Shack with all those youngsters? How old is this girl, anyway?”

  Finn laughed. “She just turned 35. A classmate of hers was speaking. It was a nice place. I recited a poem.”

  “Not the ‘Soul of Ireland’?”

  “Yep.” He walked to the refrigerator to look for the makings for breakfast. He spotted some eggs, bacon, and hash browns.

  “This girl doesn’t know what she’s in for. So what time did you get back?”

  “About four.”

  Brendan gasped. “Man, it’s barely eight. I know you’re going to sleep for the rest of the day.”

  His body was too keyed up to sleep. “I wish I could. I’m trying to think of the next move.”

  “Why not take to her to brunch or something? Show her you can keep up with her.”

  Finn closed the refrigerator door. “Brendan, that’s a great idea. Later.” Finn ended the call and headed to his home office. He’d invite Kayleigh to brunch.

  He made reservations for one at Hidalgo’s, Arlington’s finest restaurant of American cuisine. Finn ate there frequently and had often taken dates there in the past. After securing the table, he took a deep breath and dialed Kayleigh’s home number.

  “Hello,” a sleepy voice said after the fourth ring.

  “Hi, Kayleigh, it’s Finn.” He inhaled and pushed forward, “I know it’s early, but I wondered if you had plans for later.”

  “I have some homework to do. What did you have in mind?”

  “How about brunch. Hildalgo’s at one. Would you like me to pick you up?”

  “No, I actually need to go to the library in Arlington, so I can meet you at the restaurant.”

  He heard the laxness in her voice and wondered at it. “If you’d rather not, I quite understand.”

  “No, I’m just waking up,” she explained. “I’d be happy to meet you at one.” She ended the call.

  Finn looked at the phone as it hummed. Why wasn’t he more upset? Kayleigh upset his plan for a long, casual conversation. Now he’d have to grill her at lunch. It was time to heat up the game.

  * * *

  “What was I thinking?” Kayleigh asked her silent room. “I only have an English paper due in six weeks, and here I go having lunch with this man like I don’t have anything else going on in my life!”

  She looked at her bedside clock and noticed the time. It was barely eight on a Sunday morning. She tossed the idea of calling Harley or Manny and telling them about her date with Finn. Both would probably make a fuss and drive her completely nuts. Yawning, she decided against it and decided to go back to sleep.

  * * *

  She made it to Hidalgo’s with a few minutes to spare. Since it was Sunday, the popular restaurant was crowded. Kayleigh walked to the desk and was about to ask how long the wait was to get a table, but the hostess had a surprise for her.

  “Are you Kayleigh Hardy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mr. Callahan said he was waiting on a beautiful woman. Just a moment and Juan will show you to the table.” The young man arrived at the hostess stand.

  “This way, ma’am.”

  Kayleigh followed him to the busy section of the restaurant and Finn was sitting at a table, looking at the menu. He instantly stood the minute she came into view. Finn looked like a picture in a fashion magazine. He was wearing a blue cotton shirt, dark blue slacks and leather shoes.

  “Hi, Kayleigh. You look very pretty.” He kissed her on the cheek and helped her with her chair.

  “Hi, Finn. You look very handsome.” She glanced at a table of women, checking out Finn indiscreetly as he took his seat.

  The waiter appeared and they gave their drink orders and the waiter left them. Finn resumed his compliments. “You’re the prettiest woman in here. What would you like to eat today?”

  She shrugged. She’d eaten there many times before with Manny and sometimes Harley. She always ate the same thing. “Quiche.”

  He laughed. “That’s one of my favorite dishes to make.”

  “Oh, so you’re a modern man,” she said. “You like to cook?”

  “Sometimes. I started getting into the cooking shows a few years ago. Then when I bought my house I made sure it had a well-equipped kitchen. It relaxes me when I create something. It makes the house smell wonderful.”

  She shook her head. “So can takeout.”

  He nodded. “But you didn’t prepare it. I’m sure with your schedule, cooking elaborate meals is probably not on your agenda right now.”

  At least he understood that. Her father had a hard time getting used to her non-cooking skills. “No, it’s not. Maybe one day, when I’m finished with school, I’ll slow down enough to learn how to cook like that.” She noticed the waiter returning with two glasses of iced tea.

  The young man took their orders for brunch. They both ordered quiche, just different varieties. Finn ordered the cheddar, peppers, and bacon quiche, and she ordered the seafood.

  Finn’s cell phone rang. He looked down at the display and silenced the call. “My mom,” he told her. “I’ll call her later.”

  Kayleigh didn’t believe him for one second. “I’m sure.” But she wasn’t going to let it ruin her having a good meal. Besides, she and Finn had no ties to each other.

  “You don’t believe me,” he said, smiling. “I’ll prove it.” He handed her his cell phone. “Feel free to examine my phone. You can even call my mom, if you like.”

  It felt like a dare. “Of course you, could have also deleted the number.”

  “Look at the time stamp.”

  She did, and that was when she decided to call his bluff. Or in this case, his mother. He had a newfangled phone with more buttons than she could have imagined, but it had a touch screen. She pushed the call log op
tion, then the received call list and touched the screen. Pulling the phone to her ear, she smiled. “It’s ringing.”

  “Her name is Moira.”

  He was a cool cookie, she thought. If they went out anymore she’d have to stay on her toes around him. A very female voice came on the line.

  “Finn, I just called you. What are you doing?”

  “M-moira Callahan?”

  “Yes, who’s speaking? I thought I dialed my son’s cell phone number.”

  Kayleigh was at a loss of what to say, so she thrust the phone at Finn as he laughed at her. “That’s not funny!”

  He took the phone. “Yes, it is. You didn’t believe me.” He put the phone to his ear. “Hi, Mom. Actually I’m on a date with Kayleigh Hardy. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “That was an awful trick you played on me,” Kayleigh said. “You knew I’d fall for that.”

  “I did not. It was my mother. You should be more trusting.”

  Kayleigh decided not to rise to the occasion of men vs. women. “Possibly.”

  “Okay, maybe it was a little sneaky. My apologies.”

  A little. Yeah, right. “Okay, where does Mommy live?”

  “My parents live in Turner’s Point, Virginia. They’ve been married for about forty-seven years.”

  “That’s nice. My parents had been married about thirty years when my mom died five years ago. Those kinds of marriages are almost nonexistent nowadays.”

  “What about your friend Harley?”

  She laughed. “She and Ben are truly in love. It seems like they’ve been married forever, but they’ve only been married about five years.”

  The waiter returned with their meals and left the table. Kayleigh picked up her gold-plated fork and took a bite of her omelet.

  “That’s amazing. Most of my married friends hover around the ten-year mark before they start crashing and burning.”

  “See what I mean? Sometimes I wonder if I’m really missing anything.”

  “So what are you doing later?”

  “I have to do some research for my English paper.”

  She didn’t mention anything about him changing the subject. “What are you doing later?”