The Single Dad's Second Chance by Brenda Harlen Page A

conversation.
    “One turkey, one roast beef,” Andrew confirmed, then pressed a quick kiss to Rachel’s lips. “I’ll be back in ten.”
    It was closer to fifteen minutes before he returned with a take-out bag from The Corner Deli in hand. In addition to the sandwiches, he’d ordered potato wedges and coleslaw and cold drinks. He’d even had the foresight to ask for paper plates and cutlery, and he set everything out on one of the smaller worktables while Rachel and Holly washed up.
    “Thank you,” Holly said sincerely. “I was so hungry I was ready to start gnawing on discarded stems.”
    “A different spin on the traditional plant-based diet,” Andrew mused.
    Holly chuckled, and Rachel was smiling as she unwrapped her sandwich, pleased to witness the easy banter between Andrew and her friend. He sat down beside Rachel and scooped some potato wedges onto his plate to go with his turkey sandwich.
    There were the usual interruptions while they ate—phones to be answered and walk-in customers to be served—and in between they chatted a little about Phoebe’s birthday party the day before and the sideboard Andrew was working on and the new guy Holly had met when she picked her brother up at the airport Saturday afternoon.
    “I enjoyed that,” Rachel said, folding her napkin. “Although I’m sure it wasn’t what you had in mind when you invited me to lunch today.”
    “It wasn’t,” Andrew agreed. “But at least I got to see you—even if it was through a veil of flowers.”
    Holly finished her lunch then picked up her empty plate and cup to dump them in the garbage. “I’m going to stretch my legs,” she told them, and headed toward the front of the store.
    “I think she was trying to give us some privacy.”
    “Very considerate of her,” Andrew said, taking Rachel’s hand to tug her off her stool and into his arms.
    “I’ve got cuttings and leaves all over me,” she protested.
    “I don’t care,” he said, and lowered his mouth to hers.
    It wasn’t as passionate as the kisses they’d shared Saturday night—which was probably a good thing, considering the time and place—but there was still enough heat that she all but melted against him.
    “You’re really good at that,” she murmured, when he eased his mouth from hers.
    His lips curved. “You inspire me.”
    “I have to get back to work,” she said, with obvious reluctance.
    “Me, too,” he told her. “But there was something I wanted to tell you—”
    “Another two orders just came in,” Holly said, returning to the workroom and heading directly to the refrigerated storage to gather the necessary flowers.
    Rachel kept her focus on Andrew, her curiosity piqued more by the seriousness of his expression than the words. “What is it?”
    But he shook his head. “It can wait.”
    “You’re sure.”
    “Positive.” He touched his lips to hers again. “I’ll call you.”
    “Tonight?” she asked hopefully.
    “Tonight.”
    * * *
    “Obviously things went well on Saturday,” Holly commented when Andrew had gone.
    “It was close, but the Wolfpack emerged victorious,” Rachel said.
    Her friend rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t asking about the game.”
    “You know I’m not the type to kiss and tell.”
    “Yes, you are—at least to your best friend.”
    Rachel laughed, because it was true. “You probably have more to tell than I do.”
    Holly smiled. “That depends on whether or not you can top five orgasms.”
    Rachel’s jaw dropped. “You met this guy on Saturday and you slept with him already?”
    “Actually, there was no sleeping involved.”
    “None?”
    “I got a few hours after I sent him home.”
    “You had sex with him and then kicked him out of your apartment?”
    “I like my space,” Holly said, just a little defensively.
    “You like sex without intimacy.”
    “Thanks for that dime-store analysis.”
    She sighed. “You’re never going to find the right guy when you keep looking in all the wrong