Heart to Heart

He had waited nearly nine years for this moment, this opportunity to see Deanna without the shadow of his brother hanging over their heads.

And in just over two hours, he was going to make the most of it.

Chapter 3

Though Deanna had been more than appropriately dressed for dinner—wearing boot-cut jeans, a white blouse and a black velvet blazer—she went back to Uncle Dave’s place and changed. Her outfit now was decidedly more upscale. She was used to dressing up and going out to fancy dinners in L.A., and she relished the opportunity to put something on now that was a little fancy.

Though, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t help wondering if she had gone a little overboard.

She was wearing a black sheath dress and low-heeled black sling-backs encrusted with colorful jewels. Her hair was short, so she didn’t have to worry about fussing over that. She slicked it back, added some mousse so it would stay in place and concentrated on the features that she liked to accentuate. She added mascara to her lashes, eyeliner and a burgundy shade of lipstick.

Uncle Dave’s wide eyes and low whistle when she came downstairs made it clear she had dressed to impress. “You going to some fancy award show?” he asked her.

Deanna chuckled as she went over to him where he sat on his recliner, then gave him a kiss on the forehead. “No. I ran into an old friend. He’s taking me out for dinner.”

“Hmm…another romance brewing?”

“He’s an old friend,” Deanna stressed. “You remember the guy Natalie and I were fighting over all those years ago?”

Uncle Dave frowned. “Tell me you’re not going out with Marvin!”

“No. Definitely not. His brother, Eric, is the principal at Kwame’s school. I saw him today. And we’re going out now to catch up on old times.”

“Hmm.” Uncle Dave gave her a curious look. “Dressed like that?”

“I’ve got a suitcase full of nice clothes I haven’t had a chance to wear,” Deanna told him. Then she started for the door. “See you in a couple of hours.”

A short while later, when Deanna got out of her car and walked toward Eric where he stood waiting outside of the restaurant, the first thing she noticed was the way his eyes widened as he took in her appearance.

“You changed,” he said, his voice laden with approval.

“I figured I may as well get dressed up for the occasion. It’s not every day you run into an old friend and get the opportunity to get reacquainted.”

Deanna wasn’t sure if Eric even heard her reply, because his eyes drank in her appearance from head to toe, as though he was transfixed. “Wow. Seriously, wow. You are ravishing.”

For some reason, Deanna felt a tingling sensation in her belly. “Thank you.”

Eric made a sweeping hand gesture, indicating his outfit and frowning slightly. “I didn’t get to change.”

“You look great,” she told him. And he did. His black slacks, beige shirt and black blazer looked good on him. He had taken off the tie he’d been wearing at school earlier, which now made his professional look more GQ sexy.

“All the same, I wish I’d been able to vamp it up a notch to truly complement you.”

“Now you’re making me wish I hadn’t changed,” Deanna said.

“Nonsense,” Eric told her. “I’m glad you went to the effort to get dressed up for me.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

His eyebrows wriggled as he offered her his elbow, and Deanna cocked her head as she slipped her arm through his.

What were they doing? Flirting?

The question fled her mind as Eric opened the door and led them into A Taste of Soul. They were immediately greeted with a bright smile from a pretty young woman behind the hostess stand.

“Table for two?” the woman asked.

“Yes,” Eric and Deanna said at the same time.

The woman picked up two menus and then began to lead them into the restaurant. Eric commented, “I wonder if we’ll see Michael Jones.”

“The owner, Michael Jones?” the hostess asked, looking over her shoulder at them. “He’s not here.”

“He’s headed out of town for an away game,” Deanna explained. “My sister went with him.”

The hostess stopped at a four-top table near the window and set the menus down on it. Then she placed her hands on her hips as she looked at Deanna. “Your sister’s— Of course, you’re Deanna Hart.”

“That’s me.”

“I’m Sandra.” She extended her hand, and Deanna shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Sandra. This is Eric, a friend of mine.”

“I’ve never seen Michael so smitten,” Sandra commented. “He’s really into your sister.”

“That’s good to hear, because she’s really into him.”

“Vivian will be your server tonight,” Sandra told them. “She’ll be out shortly.”

“Sounds like it’s going really well between your sister and Michael Jones,” Eric commented once Sandra walked away. He pulled Deanna’s chair out for her.

“It is,” Deanna said, sitting. “It’s almost like they were destined to meet.” Eric helped push her chair back under the table, and Deanna grinned up at him. “Why, thank you. You are certainly a gentleman.”

Eric sat opposite her. And even though Deanna had lifted the menu and was perusing it, she could sense his eyes on her.

“What?” she asked, looking at him and finding that, yes, he was staring. She touched her hair self-consciously.

“Just thinking about how odd it is that we’re both here, about to have dinner. Given that I thought I’d never see or talk to you again.”

“I know. When I woke up this morning, I never dreamed I’d be here with you this evening.” Deanna paused. “Sometimes life offers you nice surprises.”

“You remember all those talks we used to have?” Eric asked.

“Are you kidding?” Now Deanna made a slight groaning sound. “But most of them, I would rather forget.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Deanna repeated, bulging her eyes. “The way I cried over Marvin like a fool? What you must have thought of me.”