at her watch and jumped up. “I really have to go now. I’m late and Mary will be wondering where I am,” she said and pushed against his side so she could exit the booth.
She was relieved when he slid out, allowing her to leave, but she should have known that it wouldn’t be that easy. As soon as they were standing, Derrick pulled her into his arms and kissed her, uncaring that the rest of the patrons stopped and stared, some with their mouths hanging open as they witnessed a public display of affection by their one and only Duke and the new girl on the block.
After several heart stopping moments, he lifted his head and stepped back. With a wink and a nod, he walked out of the café ahead of her, sliding his hands into the pockets of his khaki slacks and whistling while he walked down the street in the opposite direction.
Zarah watched him, her eyes glaring at him but he never turned around so he didn’t realize that she was shooting arrows at his back.
Two days after that incident, she was busy closing up the shop after a crazy Saturday. They’d sold a great deal of merchandise, but the store was a mess! She and Mary were folding and straightening when a knock sounded on the locked door.
Zarah didn’t even bother to look up as she was bent down low picking up several belts that had fallen behind a display case. She stood up a moment later to see who had just walked in, belts in hand and a worried look on her face because Derrick was walking into the store, chatting with Mary about the sweet woman’s cat.
“What are you doing here on a Saturday night?” Mary teased as she hefted a pile of sweaters onto the table. “Shouldn’t you be in London at some fabulous gala so that we can read all about it in the society section tomorrow morning?”
He laughed and shook his head, his eyes zeroing in on Zarah. “I came to take your helper out for dinner and a movie, if she has the time.” He looked back down at Mary before he said, “but it looks like you two have a lot of work to do cleaning up around here. Maybe I should come around another time?”
Mary waved that aside. “Goodness, we can clean this stuff up any old time. You two go on and have a nice night.”
Zarah was already shaking her head but Mary was having none of that. “Don’t even go there, my dear,” she interrupted before Zarah could utter a word. “You’ve already told me that you’re facing a dull salad up in your apartment because Suzanne is out on a date tonight anyway. Might as well go out and have a nice dinner instead of that healthy stuff you’re always eating.”
Derrick looked back to Zarah who was obviously trying to frantically figure out a way to escape from his plans for her tonight. He didn’t say a word, just watched with amusement as she sifted through one excuse after another in her mind, discarding each because she knew they wouldn’t work.
“Fine,” she replied, grudgingly accepting his elbow.
“I love it when a woman is excited to be with me,” he commented and winked at Mary.
“Don’t let her fool you,” Mary called out. “She’s been jumpier than a kitten in a mouse factory. And I suspect it’s because she’s been waiting for you to show up again.”
Derrick laughed and pulled Zarah out of the shop. When they were outside, he simply bent low and kissed her open mouth, eliminating the possibility of hearing her contradict Mary’s assertion. He liked thinking that this little woman was just as eager as he was.
“What movie are we going to see?” she asked when she realized they were now walking down the street. His kisses tended to make her mind go blank. She even glanced backwards to see how far they’d walked while she’d still been in that kissing moment. Thankfully it wasn’t too far and she sighed with relief.
“I thought we could have dinner at my place, then perhaps I could entice you to join me in my viewing room for some romantic comedy while you watch the screen and I devour your delicious body. Does that sound appealing?”
Zarah had trouble breathing after that suggestion, because it sounded more appealing than she wanted to admit, even to herself. “How about that new action movie down at the cinema?” she