“Yes, but I still don’t remember what it was.” He waved her on and went back inside, no less worried about her well-being than he’d been before she’d filled him in. She’d gotten herself into a no-win situation with the best of intentions. Neil was afraid she would cave in to all the pressures bearing on her and end up going through with marrying Xavier rather than cancel the wedding and disappoint her family.
Damn it, he wouldn’t stand by and let her do something that desperate. If nothing else, he would agree to participate in her far-fetched scheme to fake a marriage.
Why not? He wasn’t dating anyone, didn’t foresee wanting to date anyone, ever. Cara was wrong. It wouldn’t be asking too much of him. Not too much at all.
The talk with Neil hadn’t erased Cara’s dilemma, but, as always, she felt better after confiding in him, more positive that things would be okay. Somehow. Some way.
It surprised—and intrigued—her that he hadn’t been more emphatic in his refusal when she’d asked, You wouldn’t really consider a fake romance?
Cara couldn’t help wondering whether she could actually persuade Neil to agree to a temporary marriage. Whether or not he would go that far to help her out, she would never know because she wouldn’t ask that big a favor of him.
And yet…
The idea was crazy. Not to mention the dishonesty involved in speaking marriage vows with the intention of not staying married. But wouldn’t the good outweigh the bad? Wouldn’t God understand? How could it be wrong to grant Nonna’s wish to attend Cara’s wedding before she died?
However, Cara wouldn’t have to wrestle with the morality of a temporary marriage. She wouldn’t bring the subject up again with Neil, and he was her only candidate for a temporary husband.
Cara couldn’t imagine entering into such an arrangement and living for a period of time with any other man she knew. Not even Roy. Odd how easily she could imagine moving into Neil’s house and becoming his housemate.
The imaginary scenario occupied her mind while she drove to and from the post office. On her return to the store, she gave herself a stern lecture. It’s not going to happen, Cara, so let’s get back on track and focus on reality. Okay?
“Okay,” she said aloud glumly.
True to her word, she put aside the whole train of thought, though unwillingly.
“Cara, if you’re not in a big hurry, could you stick around a few minutes?” Neil asked.
“Sure.”
It was quitting time, and the store employees were leaving. Cara did a few tasks and straightened her desk, not finding Neil’s request unusual. She assumed he wanted to discuss some store-related matter.
As soon as everyone had gone, he came back into the office. “Are you seeing Xavier tonight?” he inquired.
“No, he has a poker game.”
Her answer seemed to give him pause. “Then why don’t I take you out to dinner?”
Cara’s immediate reaction was pleasure. “I’d like that.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up about seven o’clock.”
“Where are we going? Just so I’ll know how to dress.”
He named a popular restaurant that served steak and seafood.
On the way to her apartment Cara wondered what had prompted Neil to issue the invitation. Did she look so down in the dumps that he’d felt sorry for her? Whatever the reason, she was glad. It would be a treat to get together with Neil away from the store. Cara meant to keep the conversation on subjects other than her problems.
As she changed clothes and freshened her makeup, Cara found herself remembering how as a preteen girl she’d daydreamed about getting old enough to date Neil. She’d been so envious of his girlfriends. Cara was seventeen and going steady with her current heartthrob when Neil became engaged to be married, but she still suffered jealous pangs when she met Lisa, Neil’s fiancée and later his wife.
If tonight were really a date, it would be the realization of a lot of wishful thinking at more youthful stages of Cara’s life. But tonight wasn’t really a date. Cara and Neil were long-time friends, employee and employer. He wasn’t—and never would be—interested in her as a woman. The grown-up Cara accepted that fact of life and was happy with their relationship.
But what if Neil were interested in her? Cara brushed aside the question, since such speculation was pointless.
Neil arrived a couple of minutes early. Cara was ready and keeping a watch out for him. He’d changed clothes, too, she noticed as she climbed into the passenger seat of his pickup. Instead of his khaki pants and red knit shirt with his first name and Griffin Auto Parts embroidered on the pocket, he was wearing navy slacks and a crisp striped shirt. He looked clean-cut and handsome, his sandy hair neatly combed and his tanned skin emphasizing the blue of his eyes.
It occurred to Cara as she clipped her seatbelt, that Neil’s looks appealed to her a whole lot more than Roy’s ever had. The honest insight made her feel guilty. Talking herself into marrying Roy just because he was available and willing hadn’t been fair to him.
“Mom said to tell you hello,” Neil said. “She called right after I got home from the store.”
“How is her golf game coming along?”
“Not too good. But she’s having fun playing with a group of retirees who’re also beginners.”
“Is your dad managing to keep himself occupied?”
“Yes, he’s discovered the Internet and is looking up old army buddies.”
“How neat.”
They chatted about his parents on the short drive to the restaurant. Cara’s interest was genuine; she was very fond of Dean and Judith Griffin and had missed them since they’d moved off to Florida.
“Maybe I should have gotten a reservation,” Neil said, parking his pickup in one of the few available spots. “I didn’t think it would be this crowded on a weeknight.”
Inside they were able to get a table. Not surprisingly, Cara recognized a number of friends and acquaintances, as did Neil. They responded to greetings, following behind the hostess.
“I thought that was Agnes Tanner’s car outside,” Cara commented when they were seated. “Wouldn’t you know she would pick this same restaurant tonight?”
“So what?” he replied.
“She just happens to be the biggest gossip in Hammond. You know that.”
Neil grinned. “Should we give her something juicy to gossip about?”
Cara hadn’t seen that streak of playfulness in Neil during the three years since he’d returned to his home town a widower. “Let’s,” she replied, smiling impishly.
He leaned across the table, picked up one of Cara’s hands and brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. Cara felt a jolt of electricity at the contact of his lips against her skin. Warm pleasure gushed through her, all the way to her toes. Wow, she almost said before she caught herself.
“Was she watching?” he asked, returning her hand to the table.
Cara had forgotten all about Agnes Tanner. She glanced in the woman’s direction. “Gawking is more the word.”
Apparently Neil hadn’t experienced anything similar in reaction to his playacting. He opened his menu and began perusing it. Cara followed his example. Neither of them made any further mention of Agnes or paid her any further attention.
They ordered their meals. The waitress soon brought their salads and a basket of hot rolls. Cara ate with relish, enjoying the food and Neil’s company. The conversation