by Roxy Wilson
He looked shocked by her admission. “Yeah, umm—well, maybe I could have been a little more sensitive. It’s just that this is—weird.”
A laugh just slipped out of her throat. He sounded desperate. “Yeah, it is. I didn’t imagine having my first child with a man I barely knew.” She winced. “I just heard what I said and it didn’t sound good at all. I’m not the type...to sleep around.”
“I didn’t think you were, and neither am I.”
“It was my first one-night stand...and look where it landed me.” Awkward as it was to have this personal and intense conversation in the clinic, while people bustled about, it also felt nice to say these things and get them out of her system.
“Neither of us is in a position to judge the other person.” He seemed so understanding and accepting of the situation.
Perhaps she could loosen up a little and give the guy a chance. It would be more productive and pleasant to have an amicable relationship with her baby’s father.
“So about that lunch…”
Tasha smiled. “Yeah, let’s go.”
While Tasha waited, Heath brought his car from the parking lot.
He stopped in front of her, adjusted the gear, leaped out and hurried to the passenger side, amidst her protest. He opened the door and she slipped into the seat. Just as she snapped the seatbelt in place, Heath sat in front of the steering wheel.
Tasha became breathless. It’d been at least an hour or two while they were in such close proximity to each other, and it was definitely affecting her libido. Trying not to sound too breathless, she dared to ask him a question, “Where are we going?”
“Do you like Italian? There’s a nice restaurant three blocks from here. It’s run by this eccentric Italian named—”
“Angel. Yeah, I know the place.” She nodded. “I eat there a few times a month. It’s my favorite Italian restaurant in town. Angel’s pasta is to die for.”
“It turns out we have a lot more in common than we realized.”
Tasha wasn’t sure if liking the same restaurant counted as something, but she felt ready to clutch at straws. As was he, apparently. It would take them some time to build a bridge but at least it was a step in the right direction. “Do you come to Manhattan often?”
“Once or twice a week. Although my farm isn’t that far out of the city, I prefer to stay there. Less people, more peace. And you? Are you a city girl through and through?”
“Actually, I grew up on a farm in Missouri, at least for the first ten years of my life.”
“No way. You don’t look like a farm girl at all.”
“I loved it there, but after my parents divorced, my mom and I moved to Manhattan and I’ve been here ever since.” Luckily, he didn’t ask any questions about her parents’ divorce. Perhaps he sensed she didn’t want to talk about it.
“I’m the opposite. After growing up in New Jersey to parents who couldn’t imagine life on a farm, I moved base completely. But I love horses. Always did. And this is my dream job. I was working as a project manager in a construction company, but when this opportunity landed on my plate, I couldn’t deny taking that leap of faith. It was scary in the beginning to start something different from what I was used to, but it paid off in the end,” he paused. “I’m at the place where I always wanted to be.” He stopped at the red light and eyed her. “Do you miss farm life?”
Tasha could tell he felt uncomfortable sharing so much. “Yeah, I do,” she admitted. If he could open up to her, why couldn’t she do the same? After all, they needed to get to know each other. What was more precious than reliving childhood memories with someone? It would be the best way to get to know each other. “Although I love city life, I do miss the open spaces and food that actually smells fresh.” She waved her hand. “And now with the baby on the way, I’m thinking whether I really want to raise him or her in a cramped apartment.” Tasha didn’t realize she’d been harbouring these thoughts until she actually voiced them. “One of my childhood friends has been after me to move back to Missouri.”
The car lurched and he gripped the wheel. “You’re planning to move out of the state?”
“Oh, no! I would never take the child so far away from you, now that I know you want to be involved. It’s just that—well, I would like the baby to grow up in an environment similar to mine, you know what I mean? City life is great but there are so many things that kids don’t know: doing chores early in the morning, helping with the animals, all of it builds character.”
“Our kid will have that because he or she will be spending some time with me at the farm.”
She nodded. “Of course, yes.”
After they reached the restaurant, he parked the car and they strolled to the restaurant.
Angel stood at the entrance, as always while involved in a big dramatic situation. He kept talking loudly on the phone and letting the entire restaurant hear his conversation. “No, no, no! I tell you fresh fish, three buckets. That’s what I ordered.” He shook his head, his curly, dark hair flying about. “Three, three, three, I said. And what did I get? Two buckets. That is not enough. No, it is not.”
Smiling at his usual antics, Tasha and Heath followed the waiter and sat at the last table. The waiter handed them the menus and left.
Within a few minutes, Angel stood at their table. “Tasha and Heath, together? I didn’t think you guys knew each other.”
Tasha hid her smile behind the menu. Angel was notoriously nosey and wasted no time before delving into the personal histories of his customers.
“We met a few weeks ago,” Heath said.
“This is so beautiful, so romantic. I love it!” He waved his hands, his face beaming with excitement.
“It’s not like that,” Heath interjected before the man got overwhelmed with excitement. “We’re not together like that.”
Disappointed, he tapped his finger on his lips. “No? That is a shame. You two are perfect for each other. And I can tell. I am very good at this sort of thing.”
They both listened as he told long convoluted tales of the number of couples he got together.
“I am very good.”
After he finally left, Heath sighed with relief. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not your fault. I once saw him actually join another couple at the table while he convinced them to marry each other. He’s quite a character. The regulars here come not only for the food but also for the insane conversation he offers.”
Heath tilted his head. “Not many women enjoy that kind of intrusion. I once brought a date here...bad mistake! We broke up right after.” He gazed into her eyes. “Sorry, I don’t know how that story slipped out—I shouldn’t be talking about my past.”
“Don’t be silly.” Tasha cleared her throat. This would be another hurdle they needed to get over. “We’ve both have a past. We can’t deny that. And we’ve got to get to that stage where we feel comfortable with who the other person really is.”
Heath nodded. “You’re right.”
Their food came and they dug into it with gusto. They talked about a lot of things. Tasha told him about her plans to open her own accounting firm at some point in time. He told her about the riding lessons he recently initiated. They talked about their families and the need to tell them about this development at some point.
Underneath all the banal talk, she was acutely aware of the sizzling chemistry that never seemed to leave them alone. She felt attracted to Heath, and without a doubt, he felt something. It was there in the way they looked at each other, the glance she nearly caught when he thought she wasn’t looking, the way they sidestepped around hot issues, and the manner in which his eyes rested on her. The man was hot, smart and funny.
In short, he was perfect. Then of course, he was the father of her child and nothing more than that. They weren’t compatible. They barely knew each other. She wasn’t sure if she liked the man all that much because of the unpredictable manner he seemed to shift from the kind, generous, and caring m
an to the egotistic jerk he sometimes appeared to be. He wasn’t the horrible monster she made him out to be after their first meeting at his farm, but he was also not the simple, easy guy she thought she slept with. The reality of Heath Dawson lay somewhere in the middle—an enigma, a puzzle—she hadn’t quite manage to crack yet.
Lunch went by uneventfully. By silent, mutual agreement, they both made an effort to stay away from any controversial topics. There would be plenty of time to finalize the details of their relationship later on. This was the time to mend the tear in the fabric of their joint parenthood.
“Any dessert?” Angel appeared after they finished their entrée.
“Nothing for me, thanks,” Tasha insisted.
Just the check, please,” Heath replied. “Thank you.”
“We have the most divine coffee cake. I made it with my own hands.” He kissed his fingers and then splayed them open as he moved his hand away from his lips. “It’s amazing!”
“You don’t bake,” Heath retorted.
“All right!” he huffed. “The cook made it but I watched it. È delizioso.”
Tasha laughed at his exaggeration. “Some other time, Angel, thank you. We’re in a hurry.”
“All right, darling. Anything for you.” Angel waltzed away.
Heath looked over at Tasha with a smile. “I’m amazed. He never gives up so easily.”
“He likes me,” Tasha replied. “Not in that manner,” she added hurriedly at the bemused expression on his face. “I once helped him out of some tax issues that he was having.”
The waiter came over with the check and Heath paid. “No wonder. Save someone from IRS, and they’re yours forever. My accountant quit a few days ago. Apparently, I’m too disorganized for him.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Tasha said. What kind of a trouble is he in? This is what she did for a living. Surely, she could help him. Should she offer? Would he like that or would he consider it as an invasion of his privacy? Their relationship was just starting to settle onto an even keel. She didn’t want to do anything to rock the boat again.
Heath collected his credit card from the waiter and left a generous tip. He stood. “Yeah, it’s all right. I’m in talks with another one. I’m sure it will work out soon enough.” As they strolled out of the restaurant, he waved at Angel who stared at them with suspicion. No doubt, he thought they weren’t telling the entire story. And of course they weren’t. How could they tell anyone they weren’t going out but yes…they were planning to raise a baby together?
For that matter, how would she break the news to her parents? Her father would be okay. Since he didn’t raise her after the divorce, he didn’t interfere with too many of her plans. It was enough for him that she kept in touch. Her mother wouldn’t approve of her single status, mostly because she wanted better for Tasha. Sure, she would disappoint her mother. But it was something to worry about on another day. “I’ll grab a cab.”
“No, you won’t. I’ll take you wherever you need to go,” Heath insisted.
Not wishing to get into another one of their pointless arguments, Tasha allowed him to assist her into the car. It was kind of him to go out of his way to take her home. The man did have a chivalrous streak. It was nice to still see it these days. Most men didn’t bother too much, thinking that since a woman was independent, she didn’t care for nice, old-fashioned gestures. Instead, all of it mattered. Being a gentleman was just as important as it was a hundred years ago. Tasha settled in.
Slowly but surely, all her inhibitions about Heath were disappearing. Hopefully, in time they would be able to form a bond which would help them become good parents. The silence wasn’t awkward. In fact, it felt comforting. It was rare to be with a person where she had little to say, with no need to fill the silence with words.
After he pulled the car to a stop, Heath got out so he could open the door for her. Another major point! The man was a sweetheart. Maybe she’d been the one being difficult for no reason. To make up for all her previous mistakes, Tasha smiled. Much to her amusement, he looked a bit taken aback by her unusual friendly manner.
“I was wondering if you would like to go out for coffee next week.”
“Sure.” The word slipped out of her mouth before she realized her intention to say it.
He scratched his forehead. “Actually, you know what...I’ve got something better in mind. I have two tickets for the opera next Friday. I was going to ask one of my friends, but most of them don’t enjoy opera.” He stopped. “Sorry. I didn’t even ask if you liked opera. It’s not something that’s up everyone’s alley.”
Something stirred in the pit of her stomach. “I love opera,” she admitted. Another thing they apparently had in common. “Most of my friends hate it too.”
He looked taken aback by her confession. “Really? That’s great. I’ll pick you up.”
They fixed a time and date and after he left, she stood at the entrance for a while. Surprisingly, it’d been nice to hang out with Heath. If they weren’t’ already embroiled in such a delicate situation, she would have enjoyed going out with him. Nonetheless, considering the fact that they were attempting to build a foundation for the future of their unborn child, she didn’t think it would be a good idea for them to date one another. If things didn’t work out, they would be back to square one. For the sake of their child, she didn’t want that.
Yeah, it would be for the best not to think along these lines.
And safer too, a voice whispered in her head. But Tasha ignored it. So what if she felt attracted to Heath? That’s what got her into this trouble in the first place. She certainly didn’t want any more problems to crop up. Dating Heath was so not an option.
Chapter Six
A little over a week later, Heath waited in the lobby of her building for Tasha to come downstairs. What the hell prompted him to ask her out? Was this a date? Did she think of it as a date? His chest tightened. Ever since he finalized his plans with her regarding the opera, he kept wondering if he’d made the right move. Yes, they needed to get to know each better. It would be nice if they liked and respected each other. Since they were planning to raise a child together, it seemed like a good idea to know each other’s basic likes and dislikes. But opera?
He hoped she didn’t get the wrong idea. Twice, he picked up the phone during the last few days to cancel their plan, but his nerves deserted him. He didn’t want her to get mad at him anymore. It wasn’t good for her to get all worked up…and over something so trivial. It definitely wouldn’t be good for their unborn baby. Their friendship was too new and too tenuous for him to take chances with it again.
Heath was attracted to Tasha. Then since attraction was the very reason why he was in this situation, he didn’t want her to know he still felt the same way. She was gorgeous and charming too. Easy to talk to. He could go on for hours and hours just looking at her and listening to her. The woman stole his sleep and his peace of mind. So, now here he was, compounding the problem by taking her out for an intimate evening.
Oh, well, he would just have to play it cool.
When she stepped out of the elevator, his jaw dropped at the sight of her. So much for cool.
In the strawberry red, ankle-length dress, she looked stunning. Her dark hair was tied on top of her head. Silver earnings dangled from her ears. Her skin glowed.
His breath whooshed out of his mouth as he forced himself to look away. By God! He was a goner. The woman was too beautiful.
She sauntered closer, an uncertain look on her face. “I hope you didn’t have to wait for long?”
“No, it’s fine.” Since it would’ve been impolite to say nothing else, he cleared his throat. “You look very pretty.”
“Thanks.” Together, they walked out into the parking lot and he helped her into the car. Her perfume, sweet and flowery, hit his nostrils while desire and need swept through him. All he longed to do was to take her in his arms and crush his lips against hers. With perfect clarity, he could recall how so
ft they felt against his when they made love. He remembered the way his fingers glided over her smooth, satiny skin and how she felt under him, wild and bucking in the heat of the moment.
Quit it, Heath! Concentrate!
With an effort, he brought his mind back to reality and took his seat. Sweat beaded on his palms as he fought the attraction that threatened to render him immobile. What was happening to him? This wasn’t a date, he reminded himself. This isn’t a date.
“Are you all right?” Her voice sounded breathy, soft. “You look a little pale.”
“No, I—just something I ate.” Shit! Heath felt like slapping himself hard on the cheek. Something he ate? What was he? Eight years old? Couldn’t he come up with a better excuse?
Luckily, she appeared satisfied, albeit a bit concerned, as she buckled her belt.
Heath drove the car. In order to avoid conversation, and in a bid to stop making a fool of himself, he switched on the music.
“Beatles? I love them,” she gushed.
Shit! Another thing we have in common. Is there no end to this torture? If she was any other woman, he would have asked her out, made fast and furious love to her, then gotten her out of his system. The cold fact was she wasn’t just another woman. And she never would be. “Yeah, me too.”
After they reached the opera house, he parked the car, helped her out, and led her inside. At least, they weren’t required to make any conversation during the performance. Heath had been looking forward to tonight’s event. Was Tasha actually interested in it or did she just say it to make him feel good? Most of his dates didn’t like opera. In fact, two of them slept through the performances. Over the years, he learned to enjoy it on his own. With Tasha, he wasn’t sure of her reaction. Not long after they were seated, the performance began. It was delightful and moving. Once he glanced at Tasha and was surprised to see tears in her eyes. He’d been compelled to reach out and hold her hand. It wasn’t entirely an unconscious gesture. Finally, it seemed he’d found the perfect person to enjoy opera with.
