Page 10 of The Secret Crush Book Club (Peach Blossom #3)

Vernon nodded before turning to find their waitress, and it gave Dani time to collect herself.

She still needed to figure out what to say to let him down easy and make sure it didn’t affect her and Natasha’s relationship.

She didn’t think it would, but it was always a good thing to be cautious.

This was also why she didn’t like being set up by people she knew.

If the relationship put forth went well, then that was all fine and dandy.

But if it didn’t, then that could lead to unintended consequences that she didn’t want to deal with.

The air outside the restaurant was cooler than it had been the past few days. Vernon offered his jacket, but Dani declined. She knew she would warm up with the walk, and she didn’t want to lead him into thinking she wanted more.

“So, what are you looking for in a guy?”

* * *

It was a good question. Dani could admit that, but it wasn’t one that she was prepared to answer, because she still didn’t know.

Vernon’s expression was hopeful, and for a moment she felt bad about not having a suitable response prepared.

It wasn’t like she hadn’t talked about it before, but that was more in the abstract sense.

She had never really sat down and listed out the qualities she was looking for in a person beyond the vague approximations that anyone could fit.

Clearly that meant something was wrong with her, right?

Who goes on dates without a specific idea of the type of person they’re looking for in mind?

Her, apparently.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Dani said finally. Vernon’s expression didn’t change, and she felt comfortable with continuing.

Maybe it would be cathartic to get this out to someone who wasn’t a friend or family member.

Perhaps Vernon being a total stranger and not familiar with her past to a certain extent would be a good thing.

All everyone else really knew was the Dani who had been married, gotten divorced and had been nonstop working hard to make sure she could take care of her kid.

But sometimes she thought they forgot that labor was not the be-all and end-all of her personality.

Sometimes, she wondered if she had forgotten the same thing.

“I mean,” she said, trying again to answer.

“I have a kid, so I guess I’m looking for someone who doesn’t mind already having a prepackaged family.

Maybe someone who compliments me for things other than taking out the trash or cooking a meal.

” She wasn’t trying to sound bitter, but when Dani truly thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last time she had been complimented for herself and not for something she had done for someone else.

Vernon nodded. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you look amazing tonight.”

Dani looked at him for a moment before laughing.

She could appreciate the humor, and it was nice being told she looked good, especially given her usual outfits of scrubs or sweats.

For a moment, she wished that was enough to awaken something, anything involving feelings for Vernon.

He seemed like a really nice guy, but nice just wasn’t cutting it for her. She needed something more.

“Well, thank you,” she replied, remembering her manners. “I think you look very nice tonight as well.”

“But…” Vernon prompted.

Dani huffed out a soft laugh. Vernon was a smart man who obviously knew that she wasn’t feeling it. “But I don’t know if this date—” Right when they reached the ice-cream shop, the door swung out, nearly clipping her in the shoulder.

Dani jumped back, her eyes widening when it was Zoey who walked out of the ice-cream shop. Dani’s gaze slid over her, admiring the light sheen of the curls that framed Zoey’s face as well as the yellow cardigan that always looked soft enough to make Dani’s fingers itch to touch.

“Hey, Zoey. What a surprise seeing you here.” When Zoey looked up, her eyes widened before slowly crawling down Dani’s frame.

The look had Dani warming up, and she swore a bead of sweat slid down her back between her shoulder blades.

How could a look seem so innocent and yet feel so heavy at the same damn time?

For a moment, Dani wondered if the dress was too much.

When Zoey’s gaze fixed back on her own, Dani couldn’t read the emotion in it, leaving her feeling off-kilter.

“Dani.” Zoey’s voice was soft and slightly deeper than it normally sounded. “You look…wow.”

The smile that stretched Dani’s lips had her cheeks aching. “Really?” When Zoey nodded, Dani felt the strangest urge to twirl. She barely restrained herself and forced her focus on the ice cream in Zoey’s hand. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

They were both quiet for a moment, gazes locked as the world passed them by. Dani realized she should probably say something and quickly forced her mouth to work. “That looks good. Got any recommendations for what I should try?”

Zoey’s eyes slid to the side, and Dani suddenly remembered that she wasn’t alone.

Vernon was standing beside her, and she had the strongest urge to take a step away from him before Zoey got the wrong idea.

Then again, it was exactly what it looked like.

Dani was on a date with Vernon, so why did she feel the need to hide him away?

She hadn’t felt this way at all in the restaurant, so why the hell was she feeling differently just because Zoey was here?

“Who’s your friend?” Dani turned to look at Vernon, his expression filled with curiosity as he looked back and forth between Dani and Zoey.

“This is my…friend, Vernon,” Dani said finally. It wasn’t exactly the truth, considering she had just met Vernon today and technically they were on a date, but anything else seemed strange. Vernon gave Dani a look before smiling and holding his hand out to Zoey.

“Right. I’m Vernon. It’s very nice to meet you.”

Zoey quickly switched hands, shifting the ice cream before shaking Vernon’s hand and nodding. “I’m Zoey. I’m one of the librarians here in town. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“Probably not. I don’t live in Peach Blossom. I’m from the next town over but I have a few friends from here.”

Zoey nodded, but Dani didn’t know what to say. The whole situation had Dani swallowing hard with the need to say something to break the strange silence they had fallen into. Before she could come up with the right words to say, Zoey raised the ice cream in her hand before gesturing at the street.

“I should probably head out. I have a few more pages to get read before book club this week.” She glanced over at Dani from beneath dark lashes. “Will I see you there again this week?”

Dani smiled widely. Book club was hands down one of the few things she now looked forward to.

“Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

” Zoey smiled, and Dani’s breath hitched.

It was amazing how much a smile could make you feel.

For a moment, she wondered what that smile would’ve looked like by candlelight at the restaurant she had just left.

What would Zoey have thought of the food?

These were questions that Dani now wanted answers to, though she hadn’t been thinking them before.

What the hell was she supposed to do with that information?

Dani stayed quiet, waving when Zoey glanced over her shoulder.

When she turned the corner, disappearing from sight, Dani’s smile fell.

Vernon coughed, reminding Dani that he was still there. “So, that explains a lot about tonight.”

Dani frowned. “What do you mean?”

Vernon looked at her for a moment before continuing.

“It was nice getting to know you, but I’m pretty sure that there won’t be a second date.

That’s not a bad thing, just an observation,” he added before Dani could say something in response.

“I just want you to think about something for a moment, and this is not me trying to pry into your business.”

Dani crossed her arms but nodded for him to continue.

“You seemed a lot more excited to see Zoey just now than you have been on our entire date.”

“Well, first dates are always a little awkward, aren’t they?”

He nodded. “They can be. Are you and Zoey good friends?”

“No.” Dani thought for a moment, not liking the way that one-word sentence sounded. “At least not right now. I am hoping we will be eventually.” Dani couldn’t help but smile at the thought of getting closer to Zoey in the weeks and months to come.

“You have a really pretty smile, especially when you’re thinking about things that you like,” Vernon said softly.

When Dani looked up, his own smile looked defeated.

“And I’m pretty sure I know who you were thinking about just now.

Why don’t we grab some ice cream, and chat just as friends. No pressure.”

Dani wasn’t sure how to feel, but the more she thought on his words the more she felt something shift inside her mind. There was a possibility growing that she had never truly considered before.