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Furniture Shopping
Two months had passed. Trish and Randy were trying to have a baby, which our eager friend had announced over breakfast one morning at Mom's on Park Avenue. So far, however, they weren't having any luck conceiving.
Trish dragged me to a new furniture store on East Twelfth Street. It was still in its grand opening week, and she was hoping to snag some good finds for the guestroom.
"Have you ever been in here before?" I asked as we approached the store.
"No, but I've peered into the window every time I've passed by on my way to work. Everything looks so exquisite!" my friend squealed. She grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward the entrance.
Fifteen minutes later, Trish was oohing and ahhing over a dresser with an antique look to it. I, on the other hand, was merely lingering near a chair, waiting. I wasn't exactly browsing, but apparently, not everyone could tell.
A Jack Russell terrier suddenly ran directly up to me from seemingly out of nowhere. I laughed as he jumped up onto my legs.
"Hey there, buddy." I sank to a crouch and pet the dog.
"Jack! Leave the pretty lady alone!"
I looked up at the sound of the voice to see a handsome young man, about my age, give or take a year or two. He had multi-colored hair, bright green eyes and an easy, relaxed manner about him.
"Sorry about that," he said. That was when I detected the distinctly Southern accent.
"Oh, it's no problem," I said with a smile. "I love dogs." I straightened up to face him. He was cute and had a very rock n' roll look, what with his hair as well as some tattoos and piercings. Of course, Edge had a similar look, too, with his long hair. And right then and there, I forced myself not to think about him. He was my ex, and there was a reason for that.
"That's good to know," the man said with a smile. "So, are you interested in this chair?"
Laughing softly, I said, "Why? Are you going to get a commission if I buy it?"
"I guess you can say that," he said with a chuckle. "The name's Jeff... Jeff Hardy. I made that chair."
"Oh, you did?" My mouth became a little 'O' as I examined his workmanship. It truly was beautiful.
"Look at this wood," Jeff said, taking my hand into one of his. He ran it over the beautifully crafted back of the chair. "I carved that from an old sled, if you can believe that."
"Really?" Fascinated, I fixed my gaze on his warm green eyes. I felt as though I were already taken with this talented, handsome man.
Jeff nodded.
"So, what do you say? You interested?"
I nodded, grinning.
"Very interested," I said, oddly feeling as though I were Lisa Marie. I knew he meant the chair. "But unfortunately, I'm not here to shop. I actually came with my friend." I glanced past him and spotted Trish across the floor. She was staring my way, a definite look of interest on her face.
Jeff glanced over his shoulder in the direction of my gaze. As he caught sight of Trish, she waved. He waved back before turning once again to me.
"Looks like I'd better help your friend as soon as I'm done with you." He studied me, cocking his head as he grew thoughtful. "The chair is yours," he went on. "Consider it a gift."
"What? No," I protested, putting out my hands and shaking my head simultaneously, "I couldn't!"
"It's really not a problem, Miss-"
"Amy... Amy Dumas."
"Amy," he said. His gaze on me was deep and penetrating. "Okay, so you refuse to accept the chair without paying for it." Again, Jeff grew thoughtful. "How about dinner tomorrow night?"
I arched an eyebrow at the question. Jeff Hardy sure was a smooth one. I smiled as I answered him.
"Sure. That sounds like a pretty fair trade." I reached into my purse for a business card and handed it to him.
He glanced at it before eyeing me again.
"Great... I'll get right on shipping that to you." He grinned. "I'd better go help your friend - she seems pretty interested in that dresser."
I couldn't help but grin myself as he slowly turned away. From beyond him, I saw Trish smiling hugely at me.
*
The moment we left the store, Trish practically pounced on me.
"Oh, my God, Amy! How wonderful that he asked you out! And he's so cute, too!" she gushed.
Despite myself, I blushed. I nodded.
"He is, isn't he?" I rhetorically asked. "And he's so nice, too!"
Trish grabbed my forearm, excitement in her large brown eyes.
"Who would've thought you would go in there with me to look for furniture and walk out having just met your future husband!"
"Whoa... Trish, I'm only going on a date with him," I reminded her. "We just met!"
The blonde's eyes sparkled.
"True. But you never know what the future holds!" she quipped.
I smiled at that.
"Now that's something I can agree with!"
I felt so very good, and it was the first time in about three months that I could really mean that. I hadn't run into Edge and Barbie again, and I hadn't thought too much about my ex-boyfriend, either. Of course, I would get the occasional wondering, but it had grown steadily more fleeting. And now, I'd met a new, very nice guy and would be going out with him. Things were terrific.
Of course, I had no idea what was just around the corner and in store for my life.