wondered if his timing was off. “Maybe a little.”
“Maybe you’d better tell me about your objectives so I can decide if I approve.” Lark pretended to straighten his bowtie.
He decided to throw caution to the wind and just say it out loud. “Well, I’d like to kiss the palm of your hand.” Did that come off nerdy or appealing?
“That’s honest.” Lark fluttered her eyelashes. “Permission granted.”
Everett reached for her hands and held them for a moment. Warm and soft. The way he imagined them. He brought one of her hands to his lips, slowly turned it over, and did just as he’d promised. When he looked back at Lark’s face, she had a contented expression. “I guess I didn’t answer your question from before. I’m not upset with you about Zeta. I won’t lose Ozark Consulting as a client just because she’s leaving.”
“I guess you don’t seem too upset.” Lark grinned.
Everett stared at her lips. “In fact, you seemed to fix my life tonight. As well as Zeta’s. How do you do that?”
Lark stepped back as if trying to regain her composure. “I’m just being me. It’s what my mother always said. ‘Just be yourself, Lark. Love people, and most of the time, they will love you back.’ ”
“And has it been true?” Everett asked.
“Not always. But enough.”
Everett watched Lark as she moved her cape aside to touch the petals of a rather delicate-looking flower that had survived the freeze. Some of the fabric on her dress billowed outside her velvet cape. The gauzy material stirred around her in a breeze, making her look more like a fantasy than anything real. He thought she must have lived a pretty sheltered life. But he didn’t want to spoil a really good moment, so he let it go.
“What will happen now?” Lark asked. “Do you know who your new contact at Ozark Consulting will be?”
“Well, I guess Bard Langley would be up next for Zeta’s job. And that would be a good thing because we’ve always gotten along well.”
“I’m glad for you.”
Yes. I’m very glad for myself, too. He had this sudden urge to buy something for Lark. A boat or a house. . .or a diamond ring. Come on, old boy. Not ready for that one yet. But he was ready for a kiss. And this time not the palm of her hand. Without wasting another minute, Everett traced a finger down her cheek. He then leaned over and brushed his lips across her face.
Lark’s eyes drifted shut as he moved his mouth over hers. His heart rate sped up as if he were sprinting. That’s never happened before. In spite of the cooling air, Everett broke out into a sweat. Am I having a heart attack? Mental note: Better make an appointment for a stressed EKG. But whatever was happening, he didn’t want to let go of Lark. He held her close as she lifted her arms around his neck. Her breathing changed tempo, and he wondered if she were experiencing the same sort of alarm bells.
Then a floating sensation washed over him as if he’d been set adrift in a small boat. Well, floating felt better than a heart attack. From somewhere in his head an old mantra came back to taunt him. Passive resistance and neutrality. I can’t believe those were my words concerning this dazzling woman in my arms. Whatever resistance he had left was asked to leave.
When the kiss ended, Lark looked dazed, almost breathless. “That was the most wonderful kiss I’ve ever had,” she said.
Everett felt pleasantly startled. He wondered if people on first dates were supposed to reveal their private thoughts. “Really?” he asked, without thinking.
“Electrifying.” Lark looked down as if she were suddenly a little embarrassed.
“You mean like touching a light socket?” He grinned.
Lark laughed. “No.”
“Yeah, well I had this fast heartbeat thing going,” Everett said. “And it certainly doesn’t seem cold out here anymore.”
“Well, I wouldn’t kill you if we kissed again, would I?”
“I guess there’s one way to find out.” He leaned in for a bit more of the sweet stuff.
When Everett released her, Lark looked at him as if she were trying to read his thoughts. Without either of them saying a word, they both sat down on a nearby bench. She looked up at the moon.
Everett followed her gaze.
“It’s so lovely. What do you see, Mr. Holden?”
“Well, I suppose there are seas, craters. . .scars.” Everett wondered what she meant. “You know, moon parts.”
“Close your eyes,” Lark said.
Everett hesitated