Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69877 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Daphne’s eyebrow lifts at Archer. “You said yes?”
He shrugs.
“Huh,” Daphne says. “Okay, Archer, so as a huge fan, I have to ask: What are you working on now? Because that London series you did just…” She mimes a swoon. “If I’d had a few extra gazillion dollars to spend, that Bond Street piece would be on my wall right now.” Daphne turns to me. “You’ve seen his work, right?”
“On a computer screen. Not in person. But I know that he paints… big… bright… paintings?”
And charcoal drawings at night. Just for him.
The art lover in Daphne appears horrified, and she looks quickly back to Archer. “Forgive her. She knows not what she says.”
“Doesn’t bother me,” Archer says, refilling his now-empty wineglass and looking very much at home as he studies me. “So, you finally get the balls to ask out the guy?”
“I did.”
Archer’s eyes glint in amusement, though not in an unkind way. “Good for you, Randy.”
“Randy,” Daphne repeats. “Yikes.”
“You’ll get used to it. Miraculously, I have,” I say, checking my watch. “I’ve got less than five minutes till Christian picks me up. Any and all advice is welcome.”
“Be yourself,” Daphne says automatically. “But except maybe, you know, ease him into the science talk.” She makes a gentle wave motion with her hand. “Remember, some people think the big bang theory is just a TV show.”
“Not anyone who’s my potential soul mate,” I say. “But point taken.”
I look at Archer. “What about you? What do you have? Tips? Pointers? Advice?”
He lifts a shoulder. “Well, for starters, don’t go throwing around the words soul mate on a first date.”
“See, now I disagree,” Daphne says, pointing her finger at Archer. “Didn’t you hear about their charts?”
She makes a dramatic chef’s kiss motion.
He rolls his eyes, but when he looks back at me, it’s searching, though what he’s looking for, I can’t say.
The doorbell—which is extra loud, thanks to Lillian’s failing hearing—interrupts her, and Daphne excitedly claps her hands. “Ooooh, he’s here. Okay, I have to come meet him, because that’s a best friend’s prerogative. But you, stay,” she says in firm command to an amused Archer. “No man wants to pick up a woman for a first date and discover a sexy, brooding artist making himself at home in her kitchen.”
“Sexy and brooding?” I question, wrinkling my nose in confusion. “Archer?”
He gives me a cocky wink as Daphne pries the glass of wine from my hand and ushers me firmly toward the front door. “Trust me, darling,” she whispers. “I’m right on that one. But let’s just deal with one man at a time…”
LIBRA SEASON
Today you’ll find your attention wandering in unexpected directions. The curiosity is natural, but be mindful of where your focus lands, as it will guide your next actions.
My date with Christian ended at a respectable time with a respectable peck on the cheek at the front door, but the emotional magnitude of yesterday apparently has taken its toll, because I sleep through my usual alarm and instead am awoken to my phone buzzing up a storm on my nightstand.
Sleepily, I grope for the device, unsurprised to see that the litany of text messages is from Daphne.
Okay, don’t even think about replying to this if you’re not alone in bed. If he’s there with you give him coffee, but not breakfast. Too much. If he’s not there…
How was it? I want details down to the food orders, and any accidentally-on-purpose physical contact.
Also, he is cuuuuuuuute. Really cute. Like, Ryan Gosling cute.
Also, still a LITTLE mad you didn’t tell me you knew THE Archer. And that he was hot. And also, what is going on with you two?
I groan, tossing the phone aside, and fold my arms over my face.
Way too many questions before coffee.
For a moment I let myself lie here, listening to the birds outside my window as I let my mind wander to last night’s dinner date and…
I realize I’m smiling.
The butterflies that had been a permanent fixture in my stomach all day yesterday had vanished about the time he’d opened the passenger-side door for me. Though I’d been careful to steer clear of both science and astrology talk, there hadn’t been even a whisper of awkward silence, just a pleasant flow of easy topics right up until he’d walked me up my front steps.
As for the kiss on the cheek?
A little unclear as to how I feel about that. Disappointed? Relieved?
Still, I’m pretty sure it had been more of a respectful move slow gesture than it had been about dismissal, because a second date is already on the books.
My phone buzzes again. A little more awake now, I pick it up. Another Daphne text.
He’s more charming than I’d expect, given the circumstances.
I reply to that one.
I TOLD you he was charming.
Daphne: You did not. You didn’t even tell me you knew him!