A Shocking Request

“So,” Grant said, opening his menu.

“So,” Jenna repeated. Then she peered at him from behind the menu like a kid pretending to be an adult. He was looking at her, too. She laughed. “This feels weird,” she said.

He got a strange look on his face. “Bad weird? I didn’t mean for you to feel uncomfortable. We could have gone somewhere else.”

She laughed. Grant was nervous! She was amused, and oddly touched at the same time. And more than a little curious. Definitely curious. He had never been nervous around her before. What on earth was going on inside that organized head of his? What was he up to? Why had he asked her out to dinner? Jenna wanted to just ask him, but knew better. Grant, like most men, was not good at expressing his feelings. She knew him well enough to know she’d just have to be patient.

Jenna smiled and went back to looking at the menu. “So were the girls upset about you leaving?”

“Nah,” he pshawed. “They were going to have my chicken potpie for dinner and then watch as much TV as they can squeeze in before they spot my headlights coming up the driveway.”

“Mmm, I love your potpie, too. And Goosebumps is on the Nickelodeon channel tonight. I don’t blame them for being tickled.”

The waitress came to the table, introduced herself and poured water into their glasses. “Would you care for a cocktail?”

Jenna glanced over the menu at Grant questioningly.

“Go ahead. You can have anything you want,” he said.

She made a face. “Of course I can have anything I want. I’m over twenty-one and I have the wrinkles to prove it. My question is, what are you having?”

“I don’t know.” He lifted one broad shoulder.

“Well, do you want a beer? Wine? Iced tea, what?”

He met her gaze hesitantly and lifted a dark brow. “Maybe wine?”

“Wine it is.” She looked to the waitress who waited patiently. “We’ll have the house Chardonnay.”

“Bottle or glass?” the young woman asked.

“Just a glass.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “First date,” she said jokingly. “I wouldn’t want to lose my inhibitions and make a fool of myself, would I?”

The waitress laughed and walked away to get their wine.

Jenna glanced across the table to see Grant staring at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t embarrass you, did I? I was just kidding.” She couldn’t read his thoughts for the life of her. “About the date I mean.”

“It’s all right,” he said softly.

The look on his face told her it was.

“I like your wisecracks,” he went on, surprising her by actually offering his thoughts without her having to pry them out of him.

“How long have I been hearing you make those jokes?” He set aside his menu to look at her. Really look at her.

His total attention made Jenna feel strange to the tips of her toes. Warm. Comfy. Had Grant always been this attractive?