Operation Date Escape

foolish as to risk her heart again, and her life would be unbelievably perfect.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

    Cole tapped his fingers nervously on the menu in front of him, glancing at the clock on his cell phone for the fifth time. She should be there any minute.
    The thought had barely formed in his mind when the bell over the diner door jingled, drawing his gaze that direction.
    She’d come.
    He stood up from the chair he’d been seated in and extended his hand. “I appreciate your taking the time to meet with me.”
    Melinda Collins smiled , slipping her hand into his. “I’m so glad you called.”
    “I wasn’t sure where else to turn ,” he answered honestly, the frustration clear in his voice.
    “Well, I’m glad you turned my way ,” she said as he helped her into the chair across from his. “You said on the phone you wanted to talk to me about my daughter.”
    When he’d first dialed Melinda’s number, he had to admit he’d had second thoughts. But his determination to win Kelsie over overrode any of the doubts plaguing him. “She doesn’t know I called you,” he admitted as he returned to his seat. “I think you should know that up front.”
    “ Honesty,” she murmured. “A good trait in a man. Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
    “ I want to take your daughter out on a date again.”
    “Shouldn’t you be asking her instead?”
    “I would, but you and I both know how Kelsie feels about having a man in her life.”
    Her smile sagged. “I keep hoping she’ll get past that.”
    “ You and me both.”
    “ I’m glad you’re not giving up on her,” she said, looking up at him with eyes the same shade of green as Kelsie’s. “She really likes you.”
    “I like her , too. A lot. That’s why I need your help.”
    “ You want me to ask her for you?”
    “Sort of ,” he admitted. “But she can’t know it’s me who’s wanting to take her out.”
    She arched a neatly plucked brow. “You want me to lie to her?”
    “ Absolutely not,” he said without hesitation. “You can tell her a guy called Max wants to take her out. That’s what some of the guys call me.”
    She nodded in understanding. “Short for Maxwell.”
    “As far as Kelsie will know it’ll be just another blind date.”
    Melinda Collins’ smile widened. “I can do that. So what’s your plan?”
    “ The station’s annual summer picnic is coming up next weekend and I’d really like to take your daughter to it.”
    “Is this going to be a masked picnic?”
    He laughed. “No.”
    “But s he’ll know who you are the second she sees you there.”
    “The plan has its flaws. As long as you can help me get her to the picnic, I’ll take it from there.”
    She studied him for a long moment.
    Had he made a mistake asking her to help him? “If you don’t want to do this, I’ll understand.”
    “Not on your life,” she replied, waving the suggestion away with a slender, manicured hand. “ I’d do anything to see my daughter truly happy again and I think you might be the man to make that happen.”
    “I know I am,” he told her. He’d never meant anything more. “Now all I have to do is convince your daughter of that.”
    * * *
    Kelsie turned into Nanci’s drive, waving to her friend who stood waiting on the front porch.
    Nanci practically flew to the car. An amazing feat considering the height of the heels her friend was wearing. Then again, she was used to wearing ‘hooker’ pumps. The higher the heel the better.
    “A little hungry?” Kelsie asked with a grin as her friend settled into the passenger seat beside her.
    “Starving . Especially for your mom’s cooking. I’m so glad she still invites me over.”
    “Why wouldn’t she? It’s a family dinner and you’re family.”
    “Don’t go getting me all teary-eyed.” She made like she was joking, but there was no missing the emotion in her voice. It meant a lot to Nanci to be included.
    “It’s true ,” Kelsie told her. “You’re the sister I never had.”
    Nanci laughed softly. “This reminds me of that beer commercial. You know the one where everyone’s saying - I love you, man.”
    “ Well, we do. So get used to it.” She backed out onto the street and headed for her mother’s.
    “When your mo m called to invite me to dinner, she said we were going to be celebrating. You run off and get married and not tell me about it?”
    “ Only in my mother’s dreams.”
    “So what’s going on ? She was beyond her normal happy