Wheat Golden Love

Chapter 6

"You can't wear that." Sam sounds appalled I'd choose to wear a baby tee and jeans on what she insisted was a date.

"Why not? It's cute." I say while looking myself over in the mirror.

"Yeah. If you were going through a drive thru." She rolls her eyes.

"Fine. Pick out something for me to wear and I'll consider it." I'm obviously not very good at this. I was used to parties where tight jeans and cleavage were acceptable.

"This." She says with delight holding up a little black dress with a cutout in the lower back.

"That's too much. Are you sure it's even a date? I mean, what if he takes me to the little Mexican restaurant on the square? That would be embarrassing." I voice unsure of myself.

"He's not some college guy, Pearl. Trust me on this one, okay?"

With a frustrated sigh, "Fine." I yank the dress from her hands, and she smiles in victory.

Dark purple matte lipstick, deep wavy hair, and one black dress later I was ready.

"Damn girl. You're gonna have him begging!" I grin at her comment. Then we hear the door bell ring. Sam suggested I get ready at her place so she could help since she was cooking dinner for Tanner and herself.

I'm trying not to psych myself out while she opens the door. "Pearl. It's Forest," she calls out. I take a deep breath, smooth my dress out, and one last look before going to the living room.

Tanner and Forest are talking when I came into sight. He stops mid sentence and looks at me. Stuttering, "Wo-wow! You look beautiful."

Nervously, I lower my head glancing at my shoes and smile.

"You're welcome!" Sam spouts to Forest. "It was hard work,"she gives me a wink.

"Sam." I glare at her before smiling. Then looking back to Forest, "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."

That was the understatement of the year. He looked.... hot! His white button down tight in all the right places. The sleeves are rolled up on his forearms revealing his muscles. He has a pair of black slacks on and his hair is smoothed over. Grabbing my purse and walking toward him I breathe in his scent. It was that same woodsy smell I'd had in my head since the night he'd carried me to Pete's bed.

He holds out his hand, palm up, inviting me to place mine in his. I make eye contact with him before placing my hand in his. I swear, in that instant, my heart skips a beat. We'd touch before, but this was electrical, jolting almost.

He'd borrowed Pete's truck for the date. He walks me to the passenger side and opens my door helping me up in the seat.

When he shuts the driver's side door behind him, he turns to me before starting the truck, "Pearl. You are stunning." I don't take compliments well so I just smile. He then starts the truck and we're off.

We haven't spoken since we got in the truck. He'd warned me already that he wasn't able to hear very well in vehicles and couldn't read lips while driving, especially at night.

I wasn't sure where he was taking me. I'd never been to this side of town. Hell, I was a college kid. I was too broke to be on this side of town.

He slowly pulls into a parking space in front of a steakhouse named Ruth Chris. It looks elegant, and that's when I was really thankful for Sam.

He'd opened my door and helped me get my footing. As we approach the hosts stand, Forest takes the lead telling the hostess, "Reservation for Harvey."

She looks through her book, "okay. Right this way, sir."