Chapter 4

Cara tossed and turned, trying to sleep, but too keyed up from the night she had experienced.  She eventually gave up, and headed downstairs to watch some TV in hopes of calming her mind.  Her dogs followed her and they took up their regular spots on the couch.  She wondered for a moment where Jordan would stretch out if he were here, and caught herself and began to blush.  She scolded herself for thinking like that about a man she barely knew.  As she flipped mindlessly through the channels, she thought about the great evening she had and the man that had asked her there.


After some flipping, she settled on some history channel show about World War II tanks.  She snuggled into the couch leaning against Grinder and let her mind wander. 


A few hours later, she awoke to a dull pain in her neck and realized she was asleep on the couch, curled up between 2 100-pound dogs.  Shaking her head, she dragged herself up the steps toward her bedroom, the dogs following her sleepily.  As she pulled back the covers, the light on her cell phone caught her eye.  She clicked the button and saw a text message from Jordan waiting for her. 
Okay, it’s after midnight, so it’s technically tomorrow.  Just wanted to tell you that I had an amazing time tonight, and I can’t wait to see you again.  Come to the next game?


She smiled as she texted back, of course… I can’t wait.


Climbing into bed, she fell into a deep sleep, a wide smile on her face.


The following morning, Cara got dressed in sweats and clipped leashes on Biscuit and Grinder and the three headed out on a run.  Running cleared Cara’s head, so she always felt better afterward.  Letting the cool October air rush over her face, she tried to make sense of Jordan’s attraction toward her.  2 miles later, but no clearer of mind, she and the dogs returned home.  After feeding her two boys breakfast, she showered and got dressed for work.  She dreaded the day, knowing it would drag on until that night when she would have a chance to talk to Jordan.   She still wasn’t sure that this was real, and kept expecting to wake up from an amazing dream.


Work was tough, as she expected.  As an executive assistant for a high powered law firm, she needed to be focused and on top of her game everyday, but today the previous evening was all she could think about.  She was deep in thought about a project she was working on when a knock on her door startled her.  She looked up to see Petyr, an office assistant, standing in the doorway to her office, holding a beautiful bouquet of roses.  “These came for you at the front desk, I thought I would bring them here.”

“Thanks Petyr”


“So who might be the admirer?”


“Oh, just someone I met, he seems to kind of like me.”


“I agree, these flowers are beautiful” Petyr replied.


Setting them down on the desk, he walked out of her office.  Cara leaned into the bouquet and inhaled the sweet scent.  She pulled the card off and turned it over.  In steady, block handwriting, the card read, “Cara, I know red roses are cliché, but I couldn’t help myself.  I wasn’t sure what to send you, since I don’t know your favorite flower.  I hope I get to know that, and a lot more about you soon.  Can’t wait to talk to you again.  Jordan”


Cara blushed, reading the words over and over, unable to believe that she was the recipient of this affection.  Trying to focus, she set the roses on the side of her desk and returned to work.  Cara suffered through to the end of the day, and finally, when the clock struck 5, she jumped up and headed for her car.  She couldn’t wait to talk to Jordan.  As though reading her mind, her cell phone rang, and she smiled when she saw it was Jordan.  “Hi there, you’re timing is perfect.”


“Of course, just like the rest of me” Jordan joked.


“Perfect, sure you are, whatever helps you sleep at night.” She replied laughing


“Hey, well compared to you, no one is perfect”


Cara smiled, laughing.  “I don’t have a response for that one, sorry.”


“Well, since you’re speechless, may I take you to dinner tonight?” He asked.


“I think that could be arranged… I haven’t eaten yet.”


“Okay, how about Iovino’s in a half hour?  I’ll bring the wine,” Jordan offered.


Cara’s stomach rumbled, “I love the sound of that, I’ll see you then.”


“I can’t wait, gorgeous”


Cara looked down at her outfit trying to decide if she should stop at home and change.  Changing would make her late, but she wanted to look nice.  After a moment of deliberation, and realizing that she didn’t have anything else in her closet, she shrugged her shoulders and headed in the direction of the restaurant.


Exactly twenty-seven minutes later, she stepped inside the door of Iovino Café and inhaled the delicate, heavenly aroma wafting from the kitchen.  Jordan wasn’t there yet, so she stood off to the side of the hostess table waiting.  She didn’t have to wait long, moments later his black Escalade pulled into a spot out front.  As he stepped from the car, Cara felt her breath catch in her throat.  He was so amazing, so kind, genuine, and funny.  She felt as though she had known him her whole life, instead of only days.


Jordan stepped through the door and his face broke into a smile.  Cara loved that smile, it was sweet but still mischievous, and although Jordan didn’t realize it, even his eyes smiled.  Cara couldn’t help but notice the butterflies in her stomach were missing.  For the past few days, they had been constant.  It seemed too good to be true, the butterflies there to remind her that it could vanish if she blinked.  As Jordan took her hand and led her to the back of the restaurant, she realized the calm she felt meant one thing.  This was real, he was falling for her, and she for him.