The waitress puts our drinks in front of us,and as I’m taking a gulp of my ginger ale, Gio walks in with abeautiful, petite woman by his side. I nearly choke as I put downmy glass. As they approach the table, they’re talking, and she’sanimated, her long dark hair swinging past her shoulders and seemslike it goes halfway down her back. She looks up at him whilesaying something that makes him laugh.
And I know.
Down to my soul.
That’s her.
My Theresa.
My mouth goes dry, my palms start sweating,and my heart is thundering in my ears.
I can’t stop looking at her, and I want tojump up, gather her in my arms and kiss her until the sun leavesthe sky.
She’s fucking perfect from her kickass bootsto the waves in her thick dark brown hair.
Natalia must’ve caught me staring and turnsaround. When she sees Gio, she gets up and steps in the aisle. Hewalks right to her, wraps her up in his arms, and they kiss likethey haven’t seen each other in days. When he lifts his head, hesmiles down at her, then looks over to me and Adam.
“Hey, man.” He puts out his hand and it takesa moment for me to remember what to do. I shake and he calls,“Hey,” to Adam.
I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comesout. Theresa has sidled up to the table and is standing inches awayfrom me. She’s surprised, and she’s looking at me like she knowswho I am.
Adam sticks out his hand to Gio. “I’mAdam.”
Finally, I find my voice, but barely, herfloral – of course – scent is permeating my brain and it’sdifficult to string two sentences together. “Adam’s mypartner.”
“At the FBI,” Natalia throws in fast as sheglances at Theresa, whose cupid’s bow lips form a small O at thatinformation.
Natalia’s taking us in, and smart as she is,she misses nothing. “Ethan, Adam, this is a dear family friend,Theresa Calapiano.” Theresa waves to us, and it’s fucking cute.Usually, I don’t do cute, but it’s Theresa, so it’s fantastic.“Theresa, our friend Ethan, and our new friend, Adam.”
She sticks out her small hand and reaches herarm across the table to Adam, who wraps his big paw around herdelicate fingers. I get ready to smack him if he’s not gentle, andas if he senses my thoughts, lightly, he squeezes her fingers.“Pleasure to meet you,” she says in the exact husky, sultry voiceI’ve heard in my head for months, and now feel in my dick.
He nods his greeting, and I stand up.
“I’m Ethan Berenikoff.” I hold out my hand toher and pray I don’t do something stupid when she touches me. Herhand is light and warm in my palm, and without thought, I turn myhand and twine her fingers with mine. “Here.” I guide her to myseat. “Please sit. I’ll get another chair.”
After she’s seated, she continues to clasp myhand, and the moment is frozen in time. Gio, Adam, and Natalia seemto be holding their breath, and while I know they’re watching us,all I can see, feel, and smell is Theresa. Her piercinggolden-brown eyes are captivating, and I don’t want to tear my gazeaway from her sweet face.
“The chair,” I manage to rasp out.
“Of course,” she says as she releases myfingers and puts her hand in her lap.
At the loss of her touch, I feel like a partof me has been ripped away. I nearly trip myself up when I turn tolook at the other tables to see if there’s an empty chair. Afour-top a couple of tables up has three people. I force one footin front of the other to head over to them to ask them for thechair.
As I’m walking away, I hear Theresa say,“He’s the one from Oregon, right?”
Somehow, my intuitive Flower has figured outI’m her Ross.
***
“Oh my god, she didn’t.” Theresa is laughingand her amazing eyes are dancing as Natalia continues telling talesabout my mother’s matchmaking escapades.
“Honest. Every time Ethan came home to visit,Mrs. B had another willing victim—”
“Hey now,” I warn.
Natalia smiles and says, “Single woman,” thencoughs like something’s stuck in her throat, “at the dinner table.Then, after months of Ethan politely telling each woman ‘Nice tomeet you,’ Mrs. B decides he must be gay,” Adam barks out a laughonly I fully understand, “and starts inviting single men over tojoin them for dinner every time Ethan came home.”
Theresa’s slapping the table, her hand inchesfrom mine, barely missing hitting my plate with each smack. She’slaughing so hard there are tears forming in the corner of hereyes.