Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

he watched from the corner of his eye, but she never even glanced his direction. His shoulders slumped. He’d employed every possible excuse to walk past her cubicle, but she remained intent on her work. He was so full of water and coffee he was about to bust.

Leave it to him to fall for a workaholic. But really, it was better this way. She thought he was a player—what a joke. She’d be shocked to know he’d never even kissed a girl, though not for lack of opportunity. But he had this weird thing about wanting his first kiss to be special, and no one had seemed special enough.

He had a lot of female friends, but he’d always made sure he was never alone with them. He wasn’t sure how he’d gotten his reputation as a playboy of sorts, but all the girls seemed to believe it. They made suggestive comments and dressed in low cut shirts and flirted audaciously. For his part, he appreciated the scenery, but he’d had no trouble turning down what was offered. Until he met Emily.

She was different from all the other girls. She was beautiful, no doubt. She was taller than most girls, and she had long sleek muscles. She didn’t look as if she starved herself to be thin. Her hair was dark brown and shiny, always in a long neat braid. And her eyes—they were the most beautiful he’d ever seen, blue with little gold flecks in them. Her skin was amazing, and the most incredible thing was he didn’t think she wore a speck of makeup. She was naturally beautiful without any adornment.

But it wasn’t her looks that captured his attention. It was... It was... What was it? Her brains? Her wit? Her accomplishments? No, it was her smile. The first time he’d spoken to her and she’d rewarded him with that genuine smile, he’d melted inside. He knew he’d do anything to make it happen again. He could happily spend the rest of his life simply making her smile. Not that he was in love or anything. He merely liked her. Well… He liked her a lot.

It’s a good thing she doesn’t want to date. If she ever kissed me she’d be disappointed. She thinks I’m an experienced lover. Ha! What a joke. It would probably be the worst kiss of her life. But what can I do about it now. I read one time you could practice on a coke bottle—maybe I can try that. But I guess it doesn’t matter anyway, since I can’t even get her to notice me when I walk by.

He finally gave up on his waiting game, stopping to peek over her cubicle wall.

“Hi, Emily.”

She glanced up, rather dazed.

“Hi, Spencer. I was just, uhmm... I’m having trouble with my computer.”

“Want me to take a look?”

“Sure, I guess. It’s probably me. I’m sure I’m doing something wrong.”

Spencer leaned over her to examine her work. He reached out to access the keyboard and brushed against her shoulder. She jumped as if he’d burned her, and his heart fell. She didn’t even want him to touch her. He’d thought she at least liked him a little. No wonder she’d ignored him. He might as well give up on ever dating Emily Best.

“Look, you’re just in the wrong entry mode.” He tapped on her keyboard. “That should fix it. All you have to do is choose this option.”

“Thanks. I didn’t want to ask anyone because I’m supposed to know what I’m doing. But, I’ve been wasting the whole morning trying to make this work.”

She smiled.

His heart lurched. There it was—that smile. And it was only for him.

“Uhmm... No problem. Any time. I’ve worked with this program before.”

“So, uhmm... Do you want to go to lunch at Papa’s? I’m going with Mom and Steven.”

He tried to hide his surprise. Why was she asking him to go with her? He thought she wanted to avoid him.

She looked down as color rose to her cheeks. “Uhmm, you don’t have to go. I mean... If you have other plans...”

“No, I don’t have plans—I’d love to go.”

“Okay.” She lifted her huge blue sparkling eyes, peering through her lashes. “And, thank you.”

She smiled again, and his heart turned a flip inside his chest. He was in big trouble.

Chapter Two

Anne couldn’t stop smiling. Having lunch with her daughter brought such joy, and this would likely be the first of many. She’d missed Emily so much since she left Texas to move to New York. They were sitting at their usual lunch spot—a table in the private room at Papa’s Place. Papa George and May gladly accommodated Steven Gherring so he could dine away from the public eye. She and Steven had dined at this table numerous times since they’d gotten married. But today Emily was with them, and Anne was excited. She gave her husband an appreciative glance. He’d been instrumental in convincing Emily to make the move to New York. Now, if she could only get Charlie to move here as well, everything would be perfect.

Emily had brought Spencer along to lunch. Anne attempted to tamp down her curiosity. Did their relationship involved more than friendship? She thought she’d seen him glancing at her daughter with rather adoring eyes, but she couldn’t be certain. They spoke as if they were simply buddies. She really wanted to question Emily, but she’d been warned not to interfere in her love life. Since she’d been matching up couples for a number of years, Anne found it quite difficult to resist the temptation to intervene a little.

“You’re not eating your lunch, Mom,” Emily observed. “I thought pot roast was your favorite.”

“I know, but I’m not hungry.”

“And I think it’s becoming a trend,” said Steven. “Are you losing weight?”

Steven was getting worried—she had to distract him.

“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten on a scale. I get like this when I get stressed.” She pinned him with a playfully stern look. “Like when