“Well, maybe,” she shrugged.
“So Tyson spends all his summer with your parents?” He tried to change the topic, seeing she didn’t want to talk about her friend’s wedding.
“Yes, more often than not, he gets to spend time with his cousins. They come here sometimes too.”
“That’s good.”
“So, are you going to be working after you return?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “But not full-time though, only with my graduate students. I have three this time around.”
Two waiters brought their food, and they stopped talking as they set their food on the table.
After the waiters left, her eyes brightened up, and she told him she was going to co-author a book.
“Really?” He leaned in with his hand on the edge of the table. “That’s interesting.”
“I and a senior colleague of mine a professor of corporate finance and investment. It is an in-depth work in finance that will be of great use for graduate students in their research work.”
“Wow,” he beamed at her, infected by her excitement. “That’s great.”
“Yeah, right,” she sipped from her wine, keeping her gaze on him. “I’m so excited. I have done extensive research on this and it’s time to put everything together.”
“Just let me know whatever you need me to do for you,” Grant said, digging into his food. “To support you.”
“Thank you,” she picked up her cutleries. “I will surely take you up on that. I’m going to need a lot of takeouts.”
“No worries,” he laid his cutleries across his plate. “I promise to bring to you not only take outs, but also home-cooked meals.”
“Oh Lord, ”I am so grateful,” she placed a hand on her chest. “My summer is about to be lit. What about you?” She asked him. “What plans do you have? Are you working or taking time off?”
“I’m taking a month off and I will work for the rest of the summer.”
“That’s good. Everyone needs a rest.”
He smiled at her and they concentrated on their food for a while, only stealing glances at each other at intervals.
After a while, Grant wiped his mouth with his napkin and set it down on the table. “I hope this professor is a woman, though.” He said with a small laugh and touched her hand briefly.
She looked directly into his eyes for a few moments, amused that he was showing some signs of jealousy.
“Yes.” She wiped her mouth with her napkin. “She’s a woman and the current dean of our faculty.”
“Oh,” he blew out some air. “That’s good to hear.”
She laughed at the look of relief on his face.
They continued to chat until they finished their food and the dessert afterward.
Inside his car later, he reached out and took her hand, whispering, “Thanks for a beautiful night.”
“Thank you,” she blushed. “I enjoyed myself too.”
“Can we do this again?” He started the car engine. “Soon…and more often?”
“Yeah,” she shrugged and laid a hand on his leg briefly.”Why not.”
“Great!” He smacked the steering wheel excitedly and backed out of the restaurant car park.
The traffic was light, and they soon got to her house. As soon as he stopped the car in her driveway, he pulled her to himself. It was so unexpected that she didn’t even know when she moaned softly. His mouth covered hers before she knew what was happening and he gave Tasha a long, soft kiss.
It was Tasha’s first kiss in seven years. Both of them clung to each other, rocking each other’s world with the movements of tongues in their mouths.
“Oh my God, Grant,” Tasha moaned into his mouth and pulled away before she passed out to breathe in the air. They were both panting, looking lustfully into each other’s eyes.
“I can see this is your first kiss in a long time,” Grant muttered, taking her hand.
“Yes,” she nodded. “My first in seven years.”
“Oh!” He whistled. “It’s the first time since my late wife died. We both have a lot in common.” He took a deep breath. “I’m sure we are going to be good together.”
She nodded.
He grinned sheepishly at her.
“I guess I should go in,” she whispered. “Because of Maggie.”
“Yes,” he agreed and rushed out of the car to open the car door for her.
They walked hand in hand to her front door. At the door, he cupped her face in his hands and breathed, “I love you so much Tasha,” he said.
She looked on with a smile.
“I understand if you can say it back now,” he said, and he kissed her passionately again. “I will wait until you are ready to say that back to me.”
She nodded and gave him a peck on the cheek.
“Can we do this again on Wednesday?” He asked eagerly.
“It’s fine,” she placed her hands on his chest. “Wednesday is okay.”
“And I’m thinking,” There was a smile and a little fondness in his eyes. “I want to cook dinner for Tyson…and you, of course, before he leaves for Sandville.”
It’s okay.” A tingle ran down her spine, looking into his eyes. “Tyson would love it.”
“Right,” he rubbed her back up and down, “let me allow you to go in now. I will call you later.”
“It’s okay,” she brought out her key and opened the door. He waited until she was inside before walking back to his car.
“Welcome Miss. Harrison,” Maggie, her next-door neighbor’s twenty-year-old daughter, sat up on the couch rubbing her eyes.
“Maggie, how are you?” Tasha dropped her purse on the side table. “I’m sorry I came back a bit late.”
“It’s nothing,” Maggie checked for the time on her wristwatch. “It’s just twenty-one minutes. I had enough time to finish up some of my summer projects.” She stood up and packed up her books into her backpack.
“Oh, that’s good,” Tasha commented. “I sent Tyson up to bed two hours ago.”
“That’s fine, thank you,” Tasha stood up. “I already sent your money. Let me walk you home.”
“Yeah,” Maggie smiled. She enjoys babysitting Tyson because his mom was always generous and the little boy was always fun to be with.
“Let me walk you home,” Tasha said. Maggie flung her backpack on her shoulder, opened the front door, and led the way outside.