“Used to what? Flirting and hitting on unsuspecting young women?” she asked, he smiled softly.
“I guess if you want to put it like that and think of yourself as unsuspecting.”
“Very funny.”
“Well, you said it. I didn’t.”
“No, you didn’t. You were going to tell me how you don’t flirt.”
“Oh, I flirt, but I’m not good at it. It never comes easy, and seems forced. However, with you, with that comment I said about finding me attractive? I never would have said anything like that. It’s you.”
She felt her belly tighten and a feeling of desire and attraction instantly build for Virgo.
“Oh, so it’s my fault you made such a bold statement?”
He blushed as he lowered his head and shook it. “Damn, girl, you make my head spin.”
She chuckled. “You are too much, Virgo, but very sweet. I appreciate you being honest. You must be the calmest of the four of you.”
“I guess the most quiet. Dale tends to muster over things, but he’s pretty verbal. He’s set in his ways, like Matt and Quaid. I consider myself more flexible.”
“I can see that. Any man who can drink Jack and coke and look so cool and collected has got to have his act together. It makes Dale appear older and hard though. Like maybe he doesn’t like to smile.”
“Pretty good description. He’s had a rough life. We both served in the war, and then settled in Delite for some time.”
“Why did you leave?”
“Lots of reasons. Mostly because Matt and Quaid called us to help them, and give us a change of scenery from Delite. You ever been there, to Delite?”
“No, I was supposed to take a trip there with some friends from college. There’s a place called Dixie Chix that’s supposed to be awesome.”
Virgo smiled, and his whole face lit up. “My friends own the place.”
She listened as he told her all about the seven women who built up the dance hall from scratch, and how they met and fell in love with their men. It was quite the story.
“They sure did go through a lot. I guess if things go bad, there are some people who give up and others who keep fighting.”
“Sounds like you know personally.”
She looked at him. “Virgo, I really don’t like to talk about—”
“Hey, no pressure from me. I get it. Maybe someday you’ll feel strong enough, empowered enough to get past the things that hurt and embrace all the things that make you happy. It’s a process, but it’s one people can’t force on you. You need to be ready.”
She held his gaze, her heart growing fonder of him by the second. “Sounds like someone with similar experience.”
He looked away from her and then back toward her face. “Experiencing war can scar a man for life, make changes in him, he just can’t seem to grab control of.”
“Maybe not as intense, but I can tell you from experience, the city streets of Detroit can scar a girl for life, too.”
They stared into one another’s eyes. He lifted his beer. “To moving forward and never looking back.”
She raised her beer and they clinked them together. “To moving forward.”
* * * *
“What is going on over there?” Anna asked Lena, as Stacy and Millie joined them.
“Oh God, those men are so big and intimidating. I don’t know, but by the way they were surrounding Sage, talking to her like that, I’d say they’re interested,” Lena whispered, as she watched Laya, Frankie, and William eat ice cream by the picnic table. The other kids were there, too. Hope stood watch at nearly seven years old, while Anna’s three three-year-old triplets sat with their fathers Wyatt, Charlie, and Ben. Wyatt seemed to be watching the scene over by the picnic table where now Bryant and Kenny walked.