Her Younger Man (A Country Music Romance): a Renny and Rachel Romance by Nancy MacLaren Page A

attraction was about making sense. There was almost a chemical charge when we were both in a room and I had never felt that before, not in all my love affairs and marriages. Not in one-night stands or live in loves. This was a once in a lifetime bond. But was that true for Renny too? Maybe I was just a lonely, pathetic woman way past her prime trying to cling to some vestige of youth. Maybe this was my last fling.
    My head hurt, so I sat back down to my lunch, what was left of it. When in doubt, eat cake.

 
    CHAPTER  THIRTEEN
     
    I couldn’t decide whether to tell Renny about my conversation with Reade. In the end the decision was taken out of my hands since Renny swept back into our room, dove into the shower and told me to dress for a night on the town without missing a beat. Luckily dressing for a night on the town with Renny meant my best jeans and sweater. I hadn’t thought to bring a dress. After all he had said to bring nothing but men always say that, so I was glad I hadn’t listened to him.
    We first took a cab to a Café Orleans in the center of town. It was a bit ritzy and I felt horribly underdressed. Renny seemed to know everyone there and we were given a great table with great service. The socialist in me thought it wasn’t fair that we got better service just because Ren is a celebrity. The hungry woman in me thought it was a great system. But I was wrong about why we had gotten such quick seating. It turned out Renny had gone to high school with the chef, Jerome, who came out and greeted us. He grabbed our menus from us and told us we didn’t need them because he had already created Ren’s favorite meal for us.
    He didn’t seem at all surprised to meet me. Maybe it was the dim lighting, it seemed to make everyone look like they were in a glamour shot.  Maybe the age difference wouldn’t bother me so much if we stayed in dimly lit areas. Now that’s a life to look forward to, living like some vampire who has to avoid sunlight. This whole relationship was feeling more and more ludicrous by the minute. I had tried to dismiss Reade's visit from my mind but I hadn’t succeeded. Surely he had just said what everyone who saw us together thought, “what is he doing with her?”
    Turns out Renny has good taste in meals and because the rack of lamb was absolutely delicious, the wine superb, I didn’t even mind the pile of fried crawfish in front of me. We hadn’t gone out very much in this stage in our relationship (is going to the hardware store considered a date?) I didn’t realize what great fun Renny is around other people. I am naturally reticent around new people, a habit any good journalist acquires, but Renny and his friend (who came and sat with us and dug into our huge meal, enjoying his own food immensely) were so entertaining I found myself laughing and having a blast! I forgot about my age, my worries and nosy Reade and Garrett. What right did they have weighing in on our relationship? If Reade wanted truth-telling I should tell him that I think his baby looks like a turnip. How you like the truth now, Mr. Reade? Not so fun being on the other side of it, huh?
    It wasn’t until we were leaving the restaurant, stuffed to the gills that my bubble of confidence burst. As we were standing outside waiting for a cab several young women drove up, gave the valet their keys and started in the door. One of them let out a small squeal before coming our way.
    “You’re one of the Taylor Brothers, right? I saw you last year.” She called to her friends to stop and come over. “Angela, Christine, this is one of the Taylor Brothers. Renny, right? I thought so. Can we get a selfie with you?”
    She talked so fast neither of us had a chance to respond. She whipped out her phone as she and her two friends crowded around Ren and started snapping pictures in various poses. I was pushed back which was fine by me. I watched the four of them take the pictures, the girls all jostling for a closer position