Princess yipped and bounced at Steven’s feet. “She’s a Bichon Frise,” said Lucille. “It’s a marvelous breed. They hardly shed at all.”
“That’s wonderful information. A dog like this will make the perfect present for my girlfriend. She’ll absolutely love it.” He turned to Katie. “Don’t you agree, Katie? Wouldn’t Margaret love a dog like this?”
“Sure.” Katie had to stifle a smile, when she realized Steven was essentially referring to his grandmother as his girlfriend.
Lucille’s smile faltered. “You have a girlfriend?”
Steven tilted his head toward her and spoke behind his hand. “That’s our little secret, Lucille. The general public doesn’t know.”
“Don’t worry, Steven. I can keep a secret!” Lucille beamed at him.
Steven pulled out his cell phone. “Would you mind giving me your number in case I have any questions?”
“Of course.”
Steven entered her number and lifted her hand for another kiss. “Thank you, again, Lucille. You’re a life-saver.”
Continuing on their way, Katie barely managed to keep her laughter inside until Lucille was out of earshot. “Oh my gosh! That was amazing!”
“One thing I’ve learned from my Gram… the best way to stop a determined matchmaker is distraction.”
Gary pushed his food around, his plate still half full, as opposed to Steven’s empty one. Not that the fried shrimp didn’t taste good, but watching Katie and Steven interact had poured acid into his stomach. Was he doing the right thing, pushing them together?
“This is a fun place,” said Katie. “With a name like The Surf Shack, I thought it might be kind of dumpy. But it’s nice.”
She took a long drink of iced tea, condensation from the glass dripping on her chin. Gary fought a sudden impulse to wipe the moisture from her face with his thumb, and maybe linger on her soft lips.
Stop torturing yourself, Gary.
“It’s nice to eat outdoors,” he said, happy to have secured them a table with a great view on the outside of the wraparound porch. “Steven? What did you think?”
Steven looked up from his phone. “It’s good.”
“Glad you like it.” Gary didn’t know whether to reprimand Steven for his lapse in manners or leave him be. Perhaps, if Steven was offensive enough, Katie would decide she didn’t like him after all.
“Excuse me for a minute.” Katie dabbed her lips with her napkin and stood up. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”
Gary watched as she walked away, gorgeous calf muscles flexing as she glided between the tables, an ache rising in his chest.
“Steven,” he said, jerking his friend’s attention away from his phone. “Get off your phone—don’t you know that’s rude?”
“Sorry.” He glanced up. “But there’s an emergency I need to take care of. The office has been going crazy today.”
“Some things are more important than work.”
Steven tapped a few more times on his screen and set the phone on the table, turning his full attention to Gary. “What’s so important?”
“You and Katie.” Gary jabbed his index finger in the general direction for each of them. “Have you told her yet?”
Steven blinked three or four times. “Told her what?”
“You know… how you feel about her.”
“Oh, that! I
didn’t say anything to her, but I think she knows. Sending her to the hairdresser did the trick.”
“That’s not enough.” Gary tamped down his growing frustration. Maybe he should just let Steven blow it, so he could have Katie back. No. I have to do what’s best for Katie. “Listen, Steven, you need to show it and say it with words.”