Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
To get cute for my date, I traded my outfit for a black silk slip dress with spaghetti straps, brushed my hair, and added some tinted lip balm. I took a seat at my desk and fired up my laptop, and then I texted Ryder to let him know I was ready. Why was I nervous?
We both hopped onto a Zoom call, and when he appeared on my screen, he murmured, “Wow, you look amazing.”
“Thank you, and thanks for the gifts.”
I angled the computer so he could see the bear, and he started laughing. “Oh, shit. I wanted to send you something you could cuddle, but I didn’t realize it was going to be that big.”
“It’s very cute, and the floral arrangement is gorgeous.” I held up the flowers and smelled them before returning them to my desk.
“The sunflowers are supposed to represent me. I grow several different kinds every summer. And the irises are meant to represent you, because purple is your favorite color, and because I thought they were really beautiful and elegant.”
“They go together perfectly.”
“I think so, too.”
I picked up the gift bag and asked, “Can I open this now, or should I wait?”
“Open it now. It’s nothing big.”
It contained a gold box tied with a purple ribbon and filled with six gorgeous, artisan chocolates. “Thank you again. These are too pretty to eat, but I’ll do it anyway because they smell heavenly.”
“I know flowers and chocolate aren’t very original, but what can I say? I’m an old-fashioned type of guy.”
“Hey, they’re classics for a reason.”
We both heard a loud knock, and Ryder glanced at his phone and told me, “That’s your dinner. I’m going to go get something from the kitchen while you answer the door.”
I ran downstairs and quickly returned with bags from two different restaurants. Ryder was still gone, but one of his dogs had taken over for him. As the greyhound sniffed Ryder’s screen and the camera, I said, “Hi there, puppy. I’ve forgotten your name.”
“That’s Sally,” Ryder reminded me, as he reappeared and took a seat. “As in long, tall Sally.”
“How could I forget?” I held up the bags and asked, “Should I unpack all of this, or do one at a time?”
“Go ahead and unpack all of it. There should be a couple of cocktails in there, because I thought you might like some drinks before dinner.”
The cocktails were mojitos with fresh mint, delivered in reusable mini mason jars. There was also a green salad, a perfect sushi roll decorated with a single orchid, and a luscious-looking slice of strawberry cheesecake. My next question was, “Is that a yam tempura roll?”
“Yup.”
“How did you know that’s my favorite?”
“You mentioned it once.”
“Did I?”
“Yeah, about a month ago. I don’t remember how we got on the subject, but I said I wasn’t a big fan of sushi because I didn’t like raw fish. You explained there are all different kinds, and that your favorite—yam tempura sushi—doesn’t have any fish in it at all.”
“I can’t believe you remembered that.”
“You called it your favorite food in the whole world, so of course I did.”
“You also remembered my favorite cocktail, favorite dessert, and the type of dressing I like on my salad.”
He shrugged and said, “I pay attention.”
“You really do. Way to make me feel seen.” He smiled self-consciously, and I told him,
“Thank you for going above and beyond. I just wish I could have sent you dinner, too.”
“Not possible, since nobody delivers out here. But I put on my thinking cap and made myself stuff to mirror your meal, more or less.” He raised a bottle of beer and said, “Let’s drink a toast.”
I took off the lid and raised one of the jars. “What should we drink to?”
“To you, Hal, and all the beauty you bring into the world, through the things you make and just by living in it.” He chuckled and added, “That sounded less corny in my head.”
“It was very sweet. And to you, Ryder, the kindest, most thoughtful man I’ve ever known.”
Now that we’d both embarrassed each other, we took a drink and started chatting about our day. When it was time for the salad course, I unpacked a plastic fork and tucked into my fancy baby field greens with a light vinaigrette. Meanwhile, he enjoyed a big bowl of iceberg lettuce with carrots, croutons, and ranch dressing.
Once we finished, he picked up his empty bowl and told me, “I’ll be right back. I’ve been keeping my dinner warm in the oven.”
As soon as he left, Sally reappeared, sniffing all around and probably hoping for a stray crouton. I chuckled at the close-up of her big nose as she sniffed the camera.
When Ryder came back, I heard him before I saw him. “Scoot over, Sally, and quit rubbing your nose all over my computer. You’re smudging the screen.”