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I’ll do it. That’s a beautiful shirt, by the way.”
    “Thank you.”
    He peered closer at it. “It’s ... can I use the word ‘elegant’ without you thinking I’m one of those men who’s into fashion?”
    “You sure can.” I eyed his “guy clothes.” This was a man who dressed in an outdoorsy, bring-on-the-fishing-and-hunting kind of style.
    “It’s all lace, isn’t it? The whole thing, same with the shirt underneath it. Very feminine.”
    I wanted to yell, “I made it!” But I was too shy for that. Instead, I felt myself growing hot again. I would probably melt by the end of this lunch.
    “Stylish. Maybe you’ll wear it again when you give in and go out with me. There’s this great restaurant down the road, ocean view, candles, excellent steak ...”
    “No.” Yes.
    “And stuffed baked potatoes that are incredible.”
    “No.” Yes.
    “And a seven-layer chocolate cake that is the best I’ve ever had.”
    I hesitated. Yummy! “No.”
    “No and no and no,” he sighed. “Break my heart, June, break my heart. The cake is mouthwatering, and I have to say I’m a bit of an expert on cake because I eat it all the time.”
    My mouth was already watering, and it wasn’t for the cake.
     
    I drove home from Marlene’s, after insisting and arguing with Reece to let me treat him to lunch, which he refused. Reece followed me down the road, his truck following my truck. That’s how we’d gone to the hospital, too. I figured that someone who had saved my life, got a kick out of my nomadic childhood, and had eyes that made my heart kick-start into heaven was probably safe. If he and that sexy smile had asked me to climb into a parked spaceship bound for Pluto, I probably would have said yes.
    But there was no invitation to Pluto; instead, Reece said, “I know we just met and I know you don’t want to be in a truck with a man you don’t know ...”
    With you I do! Bring on the spaceship!
    “So I’ll follow you to the hospital. It makes me nervous having you drive alone, but I’ll be right behind you and it’s only a ten-minute drive. If you feel the slightest bit sick, pull over, okay?”
    I’d nodded on automatic. I would have liked being in a tight spaceship with him.
    And that’s what we’d done. When we left Marlene’s, I said, “You don’t have to follow me home, Reece. I’m sure you’re busy.”
    “Not busy at all.”
    “But I’m fine.”
    “I know.” He smiled. “You’re more than fine.”
    I smiled like a drunken, love-struck fool, though I’d had nothing to drink.
    So, we drove down the highway, through the town and shops filled with kooky souvenirs, ceramic lighthouses, fake shells, and taffy, the ocean sparkling on our left. We entered the residential area where I live and drove past my neighbors’ houses, down around a curve, and up the hill to the end of the street. I turned into my driveway and watched his truck in my rearview mirror.
    Reece turned into the driveway next door to mine. I assumed he was pulling around. I climbed out of my old, rumbly truck and waved at him as he got out of his new, black truck. “Thanks again for pulling me out of the ocean. I would not have wanted a shark to eat me for a snack. It would have been painful. For me,” I clarified ridiculously. “Not for the shark.”
    He laughed; oh, the man was a laughing sort. Was I that amusing?
    “I didn’t think it would be painful for the shark. I think he’d find you quite tasty.”
    I turned to enter my little blue cottage, the cottage I so didn’t want to lose, and instead of backing up, he headed for the front door of the home next door.
    The home was two stories and the quintessential beach house, with shutters and shingles, the view of the ocean from the floor-to-ceiling windows incredible. Inside, it was modern with wood floors, an open floor plan, and two fireplaces.
    “What ...” I called. “What are you doing?”
    “I’m going into my house.” He smiled. My heart flittered.