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“Time won’t be an issue for me unless the Good Lord disagrees. So, unless you’ve got a prior or post engagement, I’d like to pick you up if you don’t mind.”

I don’t mind a damn thing,she thought.

“Okay.” She dropped her location just to make sure he had the correct address. “Is there a dress code where we’re going?”

“Depends. Would you like to be casual or formal?”

“Casual.”

He chuckled. “Then casual it is.”

Carla smiled. “What time?”

“How’s noon?”

“Perfect.”

“I’ll be there at eleven fifty-nine, Ms. Carla.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“Buona note amore.”Have a good night, love.

“You too.”

The line remained connected as one waited for the other to drop the call. When Carla realized he was too much of a gentleman to be the first, she disconnected the line and hugged the phone.

“Lord, have mercy on me.” She shivered. “Jesus, if this man is for me, let it be known. I mean, I need the biggest sign you have. And it may have to knock me over the head.”

She thought for a minute and knew with God being literal she might want to reiterate. “I don’t mean, like, physically hit me over the head, I mean, maybe words going across a billboard, he is the man for you, type of thing.” She paused and shook her head, then popped her forehead with the phone.

“Now I’ll have this man on my mind all night,” she murmured to herself.

Knowing this truth, Carla shrugged, sauntered into her closet and dressed to impress, then headed to the club.

* * *

Club Sangria

Carla tuggedat the thigh-high bandage dress as she removed her coat at the entrance of Club Sangria.

“Thank you,” she said, handing her jacket off to an attendant at the door.

“Not a problem. Here’s your ticket. When you’re ready to leave, hand that ticket to whoever’s here, and they’ll grab your coat from the closet.”

“Yeah, this isn’t my first rodeo.”

“In that case, welcome back and Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year to you too.”

Strutting into the party, Carla made a beeline for the bar. The phone call with Jacob lifted her mood exponentially. And though she was excited about their date, she tried to keep herself cool—but what a way to start the new year, with a Rose.

Bumping into a couple dancing past her, Carla cut her eyes at the pair.

“Excuse us!” the guy called as the couple shuffled off.

“Mmhmm.”