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"It’s not anything big," he said as he pulled a
business card out of his front shirt pocket and handed it to her. "I don't
even know if she'll want it."
    Susan looked at the business card, "You want to give
her your business card.” She said in a tone that made him wonder what she was
thinking.
    "Yes, for her boyfriend."
    She gave him a confused look, "You know her
boyfriend?"
    "No."
    Susan laid the business card on the table and took a deep
breath. "You want to give Cindy’s boyfriend one of your business cards,
but you don't know him.” She tilted her head in a way that made him want to hug
her. "Can I ask why?"
    "I overheard her talking to one of the other
waitresses about him needing a job and that he's in construction." He
shrugged his shoulders, "I thought maybe I could help."
    Susan nodded her head, "You always were gung-ho about
helping other people."
    "Is that a bad thing?"
    "No, I guess not. Just a little tiring."
    "For me or you?"
    "Me."
    He searched her face, "Why?"
    She waived her hand dismissively, "I don't know. Is
that why you stopped by here today?"
    He smiled, "In a hurry to get rid of me?"
    "No, of course not."
    He watched her over the rim of his cup as he took a drink
of his previously forgotten coffee.
    "What?"
    "I can't tell you how good it is to see you again. You
are more beautiful than the last time I saw you."
    "Which would have been yesterday," she said
dryly.
    He chuckled, "Touché. What I mean is that you get more
beautiful every time I see you."
    "Oh, well, thank you."
    "Would you like to go out for dinner with me Friday
night?"
    Susan puffed a breath out as if she had been holding it
then shook her head, "I don't think so, Craig.”
    "Why not?"
    "I just don't think it would be a good idea."
    "Because...?"
    "Because there are still things we just don't agree
on," she said as she held up his business card which was emblazoned with
the Christian fish symbol.
    He tried to hide his disappointment at her continued lack
of interest in anything Christian. "Fair enough. But we could still go out
as old acquaintances."
    She shook her head.
    "I'm not asking for a lifetime commitment, Susie. Just
dinner with a friend." 
    He saw her stiffen, "I didn't think you were asking me
for a lifetime commitment, Craig."
    "Susie, I'm sorry, I know you didn't think that,” he
said mentally kicking himself. This was not going the way he had imagined it
going.  "I just want to take you out for a casual friendly dinner at
Phil's BBQ."
    Her eyes lit up. "I haven't been there in ages."
    "Best BBQ ribs in town," he said as he could see
her wavering.
    "I know. How did you remember BBQ ribs are one of my
favorites?"
    "I remember everything about you."
    Susan's eyebrows shot up in surprise and then a flush crept
into her face. "I don't know Craig."
    "Will you at least think about it?"
     "Well, okay, I'll think about it. But I'm not making
any promises."
    Craig smiled at her, "One dinner at Phil's - it's worth
thinking about."
     
    Susan looked at her reflection in the mirror and grimaced.
Craig was as persistent now as he had been way back when. He had stopped by her
restaurant again yesterday to ask if she had decided to go out to dinner with
him or not. She had been all prepared to call him to let him know that her
answer was no. Then he had shown up and she just couldn't say no to him. She
knew she should, but she couldn’t make her mouth say that simple word.
    She went back to her closet to see what else she had to
wear. She didn't know why she was so nervous about this dinner. "It’s not
like I'm trying to impress him for Pete's sake!" She told herself for the
hundredth time.
    She decided that the printed blouse with tan capris and
sandals would do for Phil's BBQ. She quickly changed and freshened her make-up.
She went to pick up her purse as the doorbell rang.
    She opened the front door and in vain willed her erratic
pulse to calm down. He was too good-looking for his own good and the cologne he
was wearing just