Love is Monumental (Walk in the Park #2)

Chapter One

I t was going to be a perfect night. The apartment was spotless, the aroma of pot roast filled the air and both cats were behaving. Vickie Harris peeked into the oven and couldn’t help but smile. The crust on the homemade apple pie was browning evenly. Just like Gram’s. She glanced at her watch. Nearly time. She grabbed a pair of her good plates from the cabinet and set them out on the counter.

She scanned the dining room to make sure everything was in place. Her gaze landed on the lone candle in the center of her cherrywood dining table. It had never been lit. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Vickie could hear her mother’s voice. “My interior decorator says that having new candles in the house is tacky. Makes you look like a bad hostess. The wick should always be burned as soon as you set them out.” Although she hated to heed her mother’s advice, she still struck a match and lit the candle. As a born-and-bred Southern belle, even the appearance of tacky was to be avoided like the plague.

The buzzing of the doorbell sent the cats scurrying to the bedroom. Even on a good day they weren’t the most hospitable of animals. Vickie pulled her vintage apron over her head and hung it on the hook next to the oven.

She peeked through the peephole and opened the door. “Come in.”

Dawn Andrews stepped through the door. Her tousled dark blond waves with their buttery highlights made her look like she’d just stepped out of a salon. “Thank you so much for doing this,” she exclaimed, her blue eyes wide. She flung her designer bag onto the couch and walked through the living room to the kitchen.

Vickie closed the door and followed after Dawn. “You know how much I like to cook. It isn’t a problem at all.” She smiled. “Isn’t he going to think it’s weird that you’re having him come to someone else’s apartment for dinner though?”

Dawn smiled, her straight white teeth gleaming. “I guess that’s a chance I’ll have to take. I’m redoing my guest bedroom, and my winter clothes are everywhere.” She paused as she lifted the lid to the slow cooker and inhaled. “Yum,” she said, beaming. “Besides, if he were to experience my cooking skills on a first date, the relationship would end before it began.”

Vickie giggled. “It can’t be that bad.”

Dawn rolled her eyes. “There is a reason the hostess at the Chinese place around the corner knows me by name,” she paused. “And the pizza delivery guy is practically on my Christmas card list.” She grinned. Dawn had moved into the apartment building a week after Vickie and despite their differences, they had become fast friends. Back when they were both newcomers to the city, a love of expensive clothes and old movies had cemented their friendship.

“So, who’s this new guy anyway?” Vickie asked, leaning against the counter.

Dawn grimaced. “I hate to admit it, but this one is a set up.”

Vickie’s eyes widened. “You? A set up? Surely not.” Dawn was one of the most vivacious people Vickie had ever met. She had men of all ages clamoring for her attention. During the five years they’d known each other, Vickie had lost count of the interesting dates she’d gotten to hear about. There was the doctor who’d flown her in a private plane to see U2 somewhere out west. The lawyer who arranged jewelry on loan for a red-carpet event at the Kennedy Center. The artist who’d painted her portrait and included it in his show at a local gallery. And Vickie had lived vicariously, relishing the stories.

“I know. Not really my style. But I’ve been so busy with work lately. One of my clients found out I was single and insisted she pass my e-mail address along to her nephew.” She shrugged. “Normally I would’ve just said ‘no thanks’ but this lady is a real spitfire. I helped her plan a charity gala and she took charge like a general.” Dawn laughed. “I figured it would be easier to agree to at least let the guy have my number than to fight her.”

“So? What’s his story?” Vickie asked.

Dawn dusted an invisible speck from her red silk sleeveless sweater. “He’s a detective. And he’s a little younger than me.”

Vickie raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. Dawn was one of those ageless women. Although she was in her late 30’s, she could easily pass for a decade younger. “The detective part sounds good. How young?”

A slow smile spread across Dawn’s face. “Don’t look like that. I’m not robbing the cradle or anything. He’s thirty-three.”

“Thirty-three is a good age. Old enough to be a grown up about things, but still young enough to be adventurous.”

Dawn laughed. “I suppose. His texts have been quite funny. And he’s called me a couple of times this week. Most guys don’t call and only text. He seems very sure of himself. But not too sure. You know?”

Vickie nodded that she did, in fact, know. Although she wasn’t totally sure she did. “Are you nervous?”

An incredulous expression flashed across Dawn’s flawless face. She shook her head. “Not at all. Why?”

“If it were me, having a guy over for dinner and meeting in person for the first time. . .” Vickie trailed off. “I’d be a wreck.”

“Normally I wouldn’t have invited him for dinner. I would’ve just suggested coffee or something. But we’ve been having this conversation about hating those normal set up kind of dates. Coffee, drinks, dessert. You know. The normal stuff.” Dawn glanced at her watch. “Then he mentioned a home-cooked meal and it sounded so nice.”

The sound of the kitchen timer filled the room. Vickie grabbed a potholder and pulled the piping hot apple pie from the oven. She set it carefully on the stove. Gram would be proud.

“Wow. You went all out. You really didn’t have to do that.” Dawn said. “And don’t worry. I’m giving you full credit.” She grinned. “I’ve finally learned not to date under false pretenses.” She shrugged. “This is who I am. I like take-out and consider popcorn a food group. He’ll either like me or not.”

Vickie gave a small grin. “My guess is he will. They all do,” she said thoughtfully.

Dawn regarded Vickie seriously. “Don’t start that again. You are gorgeous. I wish you’d get out there and have a little fun. I think you should take that coworker of yours up on his offer to set you up with his cousin.

Vickie felt the blush creeping over her face. She concentrated on straightening the kitchen towels, racking her brain for a way out of the conversation.

Dawn leaned forward, peering at Vickie’s red face. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I’m meeting him for coffee tonight.” She refused to meet Dawn’s gaze.

Dawn let out a squeal. “Yay! I’m so excited. So have you talked to him? Texted? Tell me everything.”

“I’m no good over the phone. So that was out of the question. I guess I could’ve done the text back and forth thing, but it seems to me like a very impersonal way to get to know someone.”

“You and your rules. So what? You’re meeting him blindly?”

Vickie shrugged. “You make it sound crazy. Yes. But Chris promises me his cousin is a great guy. He’s thirty-one. Never been married.” She sighed. “I’m sure he’s nice.”

“It’s been a while since you’ve gone out with anyone.” Dawn said.

“I know. I hate this kind of thing. I wish I could just marry some guy I’ve known forever and skip the awkwardness of dating.”

Dawn laughed. “You’ve been skipping the awkwardness of dating by refusing to do it. It’s about time you got back out there. Don’t be nervous though. It’ll be fine.”

Vickie wasn’t so sure. But last week she’d looked at the calendar and been sad to realize it had been six months since she’d so much as had coffee with a man. The fact that she had an upcoming birthday had prompted her into action. “I’m sure you’re right.” She motioned around the kitchen. “I think you’re all set here. Have a good time.”

“We won’t stay long. It’s a nice evening. I’m thinking maybe we’ll go for a walk after dinner. I’ll lock up when we leave.”

“Thanks.” Vickie smoothed the blue wrap dress she was wearing. “Does this look okay? It isn’t too dressy, is it?”

“You look fantastic. Very Jackie-O.”

Vickie managed a smile. “Don’t let Jake and Lloyd bother you. Shut them up in the bedroom if they decided to come out of hiding to terrorize you or anything.” The cats could be a handful at times, but Vickie couldn’t imagine life without them.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get along fine.” Dawn walked her to the door. “Thanks again for cooking and for letting me use your place. I owe you big time. And I’ll swing by tomorrow for a report on your coffee date.”

“It’s really just a meeting. Not a date.”

Dawn shook her head. “Call it whatever you have to call it, as long as you show up.”

Vickie closed the door behind her, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. She hoped courage would kick in somewhere between the apartment and the coffee shop. Because she needed it.