Cassidy Lane by Maria Murnane

someone, but I couldn’t say for sure. I’ve been on a few dates, nothing serious. It’s hard to make the time. I have a pretty busy schedule, so dating hasn’t been a priority. What about you? You seeing anyone?”
    Oh.
    That answered the question.
    She felt slightly deflated but forced a slight smile. “Me? No, not really.”
    He cut another piece of flan with his spoon. “I find that hard to believe.”
    She smiled again and wondered if he was flirting with her or just making an observation—she hated that she couldn’t differentiate between the two. She feigned confidence and replied, “It’s true. I, um…I haven’t been that lucky in love.”
    “Broken a few hearts, have you?”
    “I wouldn’t say I’ve broken any hearts, maybe bruised a few. And I’ve been burned myself a few times, but let’s just leave it at that.” She cursed herself for sharing too much—again. What was it about him that made her feel she could open up like this? Where was her aura of mystery? Everyone knew men loved an aura of mystery. Even her characters knew that.
    “Have you ever been close to getting married?” he asked.
    Cassidy felt a tiny pang at the memory of Dean. “I dated this one guy for about two and a half years, and I thought it was heading that way, but apparently he saw things differently.” That was about the best way she could think of to sugarcoat the experience of having been unceremoniously dumped.
    “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Thanks.” She offered a weak smile and looked down, suddenly feeling undesirable. Thinking about Dean always made her feel that way. Ugh . She took a sip of water and wondered how this conversation had gotten so off track. An hour ago she’d been floating. And flirting.
    Now she was flailing.
    And failing.
    She wished there were a school somewhere that could teach her how to talk to men she found attractive. Maybe that was how all the happy women out there found doting boyfriends and husbands. Had they all taken some secret class?
    “When I saw you at the reunion, I was surprised to find out you weren’t married.”
    She looked up at him. “Why?”
    He laughed. “Please. You’re beautiful and smart and funny. Who wouldn’t want to marry you?”
    She caught her breath and felt her stomach do a little flip-flop . The questions started bouncing around inside her head again, as if they were inside a pinball machine.
    Are we on a date?
    Is this a date?
    She was beginning to feel as if she were engaged in two conversations at once.
    Before she could respond to his compliment, the waiter appeared.
    “Can I get you anything else?”
    Brandon shook his head. “Just the check, please, thank you.”
    Cassidy reached for her purse and stood up. “I’ll be right back. I’m just going to run to the ladies’ room.”
    As best she could, she walked calmly across the room and pushed open the door to the restroom, trying to process what Brandon had just said to her.
    You’re beautiful and smart and funny. Who wouldn’t want to marry you?
    She washed her hands and saw the confused look on her own face in the mirror.
    Is he interested in me?
    He must be interested in me to say those things, right?
    Or was he just saying them to be nice?
    She pressed a palm against her forehead.
    How can I be thirty-eight years old and still have absolutely no idea how to read men?

    “Thanks so much for dinner, Brandon. I had a really nice time.”
    “It was my pleasure. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see me.”
    Cassidy rolled her eyes. “I left my apartment for the first time at three o’clock today. My schedule is hardly busy.”
    He held the door open for her. “Did you skip your nap?”
    She laughed. “I guess I did.”
    “Well then, let me rephrase it. I appreciate your skipping your nap to see me.”
    “No problem. Apparently I’ll do anything for an old high-school friend, even one who never spoke to me.”
    He held up his palms. “Hey now, I think we