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Sing her disappointment, she stood, caast, in case you'd forgotten" Her surname was easy to mispronounce
"Hello, Rachel" His sht still be in high school She had to restrain herself not to ask if he was over eighteen Oh, no, what had she gotten herself into now?
"I can seat you i two menus "If you'll follow me"
Rachel was convinced every eye in the roo How could she have missed that at the auction? It aritas had impaired her vision Well, thirty wasn't that old, but at the moment she felt like she could be his mother
They were shown to a table by the ith a lovely view Early-evening sunlight played on the sparkling water and the lighthouse in the distance looked downright romantic Rachel studied the menu and tried hard to think of a conversation-starter Working with the public she'd never found that a problem Now she felt distracted, as if she'd beco there with her date Her young date The guy she'd had to buy at an auction
Finally she couldn't bear not knowing Lowering the azed across the table at Nate "I' Just how old are you?"
Nate gave her a charrin "Twenty-five"
Instantly she felt worlds better Five years--that wasn't so bad
"How old are you?" he asked in return
"Thirty I've never been married, no kids and I'm a nail tech--which used to be called a manicurist--and hair stylist"
"Never been married either No kids" He added hesitantly, "In fairness, I should tell you I' someone else"
Okay, so she'd blown three hundred bucks on another woman's boyfriend, but that didn'tStill, she wondered why he'd agreed to be part of the auction if he was seriously involved with someone
"What about you?"
Rachel shook her head She hadn't gone to the Dog and Bachelor Auction because she had a burning desire to donate to charity Well, she did have a soft spot in her heart for ani force that had led her to the auction
"I didn't mean to mislead you"
"You didn't" He was certainly straightforward enough Almost the first words out of his mouth had been to inform her that there was someone in his life They talked briefly about this woman, as froht's special, grilled Pacific salmon, which was as delicious as she'd expected it to be Although she was technically supposed to pick up the bill, Nate insisted on paying He escorted her back to her car and then surprised her by asking, "Would you like to walk along the waterfront?"
She agreed, and they strolled side by side toward the marina He walked with his hands clasped behind his back
"What's going on over there?" he asked, nodding toward the WaterfrontPark
"I don't know Want to check it out?"
He shrugged "Sure"
It didn't take Rachel long to realize it was a wedding party Froe their vows The sun had begun to set, sinking in the glorious blue sky, casting shreds of sunlight across the surface of the water
For reasons she didn't understand, tears filled Rachel's eyes If Nate saw, she'd be mortified She barely knew this ain Really, there was no reason for the He was involved She was older This was it, the beginning and the end of their relationship
"Rachel?"
He turned her to face him, hands on her shoulders His frown told her he was both confused and concerned "What's wrong?"
"I always cry at weddings," she said apologetically, ht of her tears They fell unrestrained down her face And yet she wasn't actually a woman prone to tears Not until thather head, she wiped them from her cheeks, furious with herself "Sorry"
Without a word, Nate took her in his ar sounds All he did was hold her It'd been so long since a entleness, such kindness, that she wasn't sure how to respond
Looking up at hi at her Then they were kissing Rachel had no idea who kissed who quickly became evident: What Nate lacked in years he made up for in experience The man kne to kiss His oose bu down her ar he'd ever known; he savored her, relished her
When he lifted his ht collapse in a puddle at his feet Caught in the sheer wonder of their kiss, she kept her eyes closed
Thankfully he didn't apologize or make excuses, nor did he seem inclined to explain
When she felt her co, Rachel opened her eyes "That was very nice"