Free Crossed Wires by Fran Shaff Page B

really
scatter brained today. I thought Cynthia said your name was Bill or
Bruce or Brad, something with a ‘B.’”
    Her comment hit him like a sledgehammer to
the gut. He had to put an end to this charade. “Melanie, there is
something I need to tell you.”
    “Yes, Hank?”
    It would be a lot easier to tell her the
truth if she wasn’t the most perfect woman he’d ever met. She
wasn’t only beautiful she was full of life, so free and happy. And
she liked to scuba dive. “It isn’t easy to say, Melanie.”
    She bit her lip as an awful look of
apprehension settled on her lovely features. “You don’t like me.”
She held her hands up in front of her and took a step back. “It’s
all right, Hank. Believe me I’ve been on a few blind dates I would
rather forget. It’s no fun going out with someone who is just not
your type. I’m glad you feel uninhibited enough to speak up at the
beginning of our date. I certainly wouldn’t want to put you through
the agony of trying to look like you’re having a good time, when
all you really want to do is get the date over with.”
    Hank would have been less surprised if he’d
seen her sprout wings and fly away than he was hearing her jumping
to such an unbelievable conclusion. “Melanie, you couldn’t be more
wrong. If I had a choice of being anywhere else or of being with
anyone else in the whole world, I would choose to be with you right
here right now.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “Absolutely! I love scuba diving, and, as for
you…Melanie, you are truly lovely. It will be my pleasure to spend
the afternoon with you.”
    Her face lit with another man-melting smile
when her doubt went away. “I am so glad to hear that, Hank, because
I think you…”
    “Yes?”
    She shook her head and linked arms with him
again. “Never mind. I will not jump to anymore conclusions, not
even good ones.”
    “Whatever you say, Melanie.” It seemed being
forthright was no longer an option. If he told her the truth, it
would only put the awful, hurtful look back into her eyes. He
didn’t want to see sadness or disappointment in her again. He would
figure a way to straighten things out later, after he’d spent the
afternoon with her. They could deal with the consequences of his
secret after their date.
    “You’re an electrician?” she asked when she
saw his van.
    “You say that like it’s a crime.” He couldn’t
help but notice the tone she’d used.
    “Forgive me.” She smiled at him as he guided
her down the stairs. “I thought Cynthia said you were a
plumber.”
    “No, ma’am, I’m an electrician. Always have
been.”
    She sighed lightly. “I suppose the anxiety of
facing another blind date has left me a bit confused. Cynthia is
always setting me up. I tried dozens of times to get her to stop,
but she won’t.” She shrugged and tossed her curls with her fingers.
“I’ve finally given up and started agreeing to most of her setups.”
She focused on him and bit the corner of her mouth. “I guess this
time, I owe Cynthia a big thank you,” she said, giving him a coy
smile.
    Tell her the truth! his angelic
conscience ordered.
    Let her think what she wants and enjoy the
afternoon, his devilish rival told him.
    She took his hand as she continued to grin at
him. “I don’t see a state park sticker on your van. We should
probably take my car. We won’t have to pay an admission price then.
I have a season pass to the park.”
    Hank agreed. He enjoyed the touch of her palm
against his as he took Melanie to her car. He helped her into the
driver’s side and walked around to the passenger side When he sat
down he decided he had to come clean with her. Lying wasn’t
fair.
    “I feel I must tell you something, Melanie,
something you have a right to know,” he said, watching her start
the car.
    She briefly glanced at him before she focused
on maneuvering the car out of the driveway. “Oh? What is so
important?”
    He didn’t want to hurt her feelings,