Her feelings were mixed as she walked toward the display. There was no doubt in her mind about who’d sent them. But that she’d received flowers instead of a phone call didn’t exactly make her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. In fact, a part of her was downright peeved. What did he think a bouquet of flowers would do? Make up for the unreturned phone calls, or the fact that he’d been MIA from her life for weeks?

She walked over to the bouquet, and the scent of orchids, lilies, and star gazers assailed her nostrils. She touched the silky white and pink petals dotted with black, leaned in and inhaled. The smell was heavenly and her frown somewhat lessened as she reached for the card.

Nick,

I’ve been the senseless jerk that I warned you about, and I’m sorry. I know that we need to talk. I’ll be at our restaurant at six o’clock. Hope you can meet me there.

Jake

Dominique read the card a second time before she folded it and walked to her desk. Now that a conversation she swore would happen today was about to take place, Dominique wasn’t sure she was ready for it. What if he wanted to meet to officially break things off? Or as important, what if he didn’t? Was she willing to continue with someone haunted by his father’s death and the heart disease that ran in their family? What if Harold had another heart attack, or worse? Would Jake run away again? Dominique placed the card in her purse and turned to her computer. There were a few hours left in her workday and she needed to stay focused. She’d have the answers regarding Jake McDonald soon enough.

At exactly six PM, Dominique handed her car over to the valet at the cozy Italian eatery in her and Jake’s neighborhood. She hadn’t eaten there since running into him there months ago and was immediately filled with thoughts of that evening. The flutter that often happened when he was near began in the pit of her stomach. Dominique took a breath, reached for the door, and walked inside.

She saw him right away, sitting at the booth where they’d shared dinner. He looked up immediately. Their eyes met and held. Dominique lifted her chin, quelled her nerves, and walked back to where he was seated.

Jake stood as she approached. He wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her senseless, but he could tell from the look on her face that that probably wasn’t a good idea. So instead, he said simply, “Dominique.”

“Jake,” she said, sitting on the other side of the booth.

Jake sat as well. “You look beautiful.”

And you look fine as hell. “Thanks.”

An awkward silence followed, ended by the waiter who came over to take drink orders. Jake ordered a beer; Dominique, a white wine.