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feet will not do. Dang, I need a pedicure , she thought.
    What if he had a foot fetish? Her next choice was flats. She took a deep breath and focused on the reality that it was just dinner with a new friend, nothing more. There was no need to self-inflict pressure to look cute.
    She grabbed a pair of leopard flats, changed her t-shirt to a black one, and decided to leave the outfit alone.
    Maken zie approached the elevator but couldn’t go in. She let the cart go. Backing up against the wall, she stood there, her heart racing a million beats a minute. The inner turmoil of her thoughts driving her nuts. One minute she’s happy to move forward and letting bits of the past slip away, and then boom… The past grabs her by the throat and she can’t breathe anymore. She tried hard to remember the training from the FBI therapist. Be smart. Remember the goal. Stay focused. Live.
    The navigation app said that Ryler lived less than a mile away. How convenient. She found his home with no problem. When she pulled up slowly into the drive, she was in awe of the beautiful, immaculately designed landscaping. The home was a lovely, stone and brick two story with old world design, sitting on a hill.
    She approached the front door to knock, but suddenly shuddered with nerves. Her brain was telling her this was dangerous territory, but her heart wouldn’t let her run. She knew that any involvement with an officer was a huge risk. She turned to walk back to her car when the front door opened.
    “Are you running away, Makenzie?”
    Shocked and unprepared, she turned back to him, stammering for her words. “N, n, no, I left my phone in the car. I thought I would grab it and my charger before I came in.” She knew her nervous behavior was obvious. But looking down, she realized she was busted.
    “Makenzie, you’re holding your phone in your hand. Now, be honest. Were you just going to leave and stand me up?” By this time, he had walked out onto the front porch with her, holding a hot pad in his hand.
    “Busted. Yep, I was ’bout to chicken out, Ryler. I’m not very good with the dating thing. Out of my comfort zone. I’m sorry, I’m a schmuck, I can’t do this. I should go.” She turned back towards her car only to have Ryler follow her. When he grabbed her arm, it startled her and she jerked back.
    “Don’t ever grab me again.”
    Her reaction left her unsurprised, but it completely shocked him. Where on earth did that come from, he wondered?
    Taking a couple of steps backwards and raising his hands up, he spoke. “Whoa, I apologize. I didn’t mean to startle you and I certainly wasn’t trying to force you to stay. I’m really sorry, Makenzie, for whatever happened to you that would make you so jumpy. Please know, you’re welcome here with no expectations. I just thought two new friends who didn’t have other plans could enjoy a nice dinner. I like to cook, I just don’t like to eat alone. Maybe we can try this again sometime. I’ll see you.” Instinctively, his reaction was to touch her or pat her arm, but he put his hand back down without making contact, and walked back into his house alone.
    Makenzie stood there on the sidewalk stunned. She felt awful for her behavior.
    After a moment, she walked back to the door and knocked. When he opened the door, he greeted her with a soft smile.
    “Ryler, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rude.”
    “You weren’t rude, Mak. I had no right to grab you.”
    “Please forgive me. It’s the New Yorker attitude in me. You have to be tough to live in New York by yourself. If it’s okay with you, can we start over? I’ll stay for dinner, but only if you let me help cook. I promise not to slip poison in your food or destroy your kitchen.”
    “You got it.” He stepped aside and let her enter. He took note of her mercurial mood. He wasn’t certain what was behind it, but he had picked up on a dark cloud of some kind.
    Instantly regretting her conduct, Makenzie knew she