Free HH01 - A Humble Heart by R.L. Mathewson Page A

bundle of nerves. He was afraid he was already half in love with her. Amy
    teased him nonstop when Dana wasn’t around. And when she was, Amy made little innuendos that Dana seemed to either
    ignore or was completely oblivious of them.
    “Edward, I have to ask on behalf of the women out there. How’s your love life been affected by the addition of this
    book?” he asked Edward, but he was staring at Dana in a way Edward didn’t like.
    “I’ve taken myself off the market for now. I’m focusing on work and my family.” Edward glared at the man who saw
    staring at Dana with great interest. Dana didn’t seem to notice. She was staring at her watch when she wasn’t gently pulling the
    edge of her dress over her knee for the thousandth time, not that Edward was staring, but of course he was. He couldn’t help
    himself.
    “I have everything I need. You guys have been great,” Mike said, smiling. He stood up and shook their hands. Edward
    went to gesture towards the door, but was completely taken back when Mike put his tape recorder away and moved to sit next
    to Dana.
    “Dana, I have to be honest with you. I don’t usually do pieces like this. I took this assignment hoping to talk to you. I’ve
    wanted to ask you out since the luncheon we both attended two months back, but I couldn’t manage to work up the nerve. I was
    wondering if you would have dinner with me tonight.” Mike asked in a gentle voice, trying not to come off as intimidating or
    desperate.
    Dana’s eyes shot up to Edward’s. She looked nervous and….she was gauging his response? He was sure of it. He shook
    his head slightly, telling her not to accept. He would have screamed it, but that seemed too obvious to him. Dana bit her lip
    nervously. She seemed unsure what to do or what to say. He had no claim on her so he couldn’t say anything. The only thing he
    could do was wait for her answer.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to put you on the spot,” Mike said apologetically.
    She turned to look at him. “No, it just took me by surprise that’s all.” She smiled.
    “So, would you?” Mike prompted.
    Edward opened his mouth to say something when she looked back at him quickly. Damn, she really didn’t know what to
    do. He never saw her act like this before. He personally saw at least ten guys ask her out a day and she always politely
    declined and he'd heard from Amy that she was asked out several more times when he wasn’t around.
    Dana sat nervously between Edward and Mike. She hadn't expected Mike’s invitation and she was really uncomfortable
    mostly because Edward was standing there waiting a little too eagerly for her answer. He seemed to be more anxious about it
    then Mike was. When he shook his head she had to stop herself from asking Edward what was going on between the two of
    them in front of Mike. She could only think of one vague answer that would satisfy the situation and not hurt Mike’s feelings.
    “Off the record?” she asked.
    Mike thought she was teasing and chuckled. “Of course.”
    “I’m seeing someone and I was hoping to keep it private. I'm sorry. I really appreciate the invitation that was really sweet,
    Mike,” Dana said.
    Mike’s smile faded while Edward’s heart broke. “He's a lucky guy.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Couldn’t hurt a guy to
    ask.”
    Edward saw him to the door. Dana walked past them towards the bedroom. He sat down on the couch and tried to wrap
    his brain around it. She was seeing someone else. He hadn’t heard about this before. He was positive that Amy would have
    told him if she was. There was one person who would know and she would tell him.
    Edward pulled out his phone and called Dana's home phone. “Hello?” Deana answered.
    “Deana, it’s Edward. I have a question for you. Who is Dana seeing?”
    “Oh, let me check my calendar. I don’t think she has any appointments today,” she mused.
    He held back his aggravation. “No, who is she dating?”
    That earned a hard