5. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sam

T he handyman waves me over, and I know it's time to go talk to him. This is business, okay? I don't have to be apprehensive about the conversation I'm about to have. Yet there is the other conversation. Dare I ask him for dating lessons? I don't know. It's kind of out there, and he might think I'm a weirdo.

I decide to bring him a complimentary pastry to ease things between us. I go to his table and set it in front of him. He looks surprised at it but doesn't say anything.

"So, Ben, listen. I was wondering if you could help me with something."

"Sure thing." He says immediately.

"I'll pay you, of course. It's just. I ordered some booths for the back there, and this area of the shop, and I need someone to install them."

"Oh, that's definitely something I can help with, Sam."

For a minute, I am speechless. His blue eyes remind me of calm ocean waters, and my thoughts scramble just a tiny bit.

"Um, there are some other small repairs that I need done. Except, all of this has to be done by the 23rd when the Mixer takes place. Is it too late for this to happen? I can pay a rush fee if you need me to."

"No, you don't need to do that. I'm not that busy these next two weeks. I can fit you in. Let me get my measuring tape from my truck, and then you can show me the booths if they are already here."

"Oh, thank you so much. They're in the back. I'll wait for you."

He gets up and goes outside to his truck. I can't help myself, so I check him out. He's tall and built like a lumberjack. I wonder what it would be like to be held in his powerful arms. Wow, I need a boyfriend soon. I can't be ogling all of my customers. I'll run them out. I'm deep in my thoughts when I feel a shadow over me.

"Let's do this." He says.

We go to the back room, which is stuffed with the boxes the booths came in on. They have to be assembled and installed. For a while, I thought I could do it—I am handy, after all — but when the booths arrived, I realized I needed someone to help me.

I reach for the instruction pamphlet and hand it to him.

"I'm embarrassed to say I thought I could do this on my own."

I think he's going to mock me, but he just waits for me to speak. When I don't say anything, he fills the gap.

"You're a capable woman. I wouldn't be surprised if you managed it on your own. But you don't have to. You've got me."

I blush at the compliment but let him check the packages.

"I see seven?"

"Yes, three for the back wall and four for the side wall."

"Okay, let me measure the walls. What were the other repairs you needed?"

"Oh, I've got a list. Let me go to my office and get it for you."

I leave him to it and go into my tiny office. I'm a stickler for organization, so the list is waiting on my desk next to other to-do lists. Yes, I've got a thing about lists, okay? I make sure everything I want fixed is listed and go back to the main room of my shop. Ben is sitting there making some notes in a notebook. I nod to Amy to make sure she knows I'm busy and go sit across from him. I wait until he stops writing and hand him my list.

"Here it is. It's in order of urgency. Most important first."

"Are you always this efficient?"

That makes me blush like a tomato.

"I try to be."

"That's great, Sam. So let me ask you this. Are you willing to close the shop for the two weeks while I do the work?"

Oh, crap. I didn't think of that.

"Um, no. I thought maybe you could do them at night. Is it not possible?"

"Well, if I do it during the day, I'll have it done in a week. But if you need to be open to the public and I have to work at night, it would definitely take the two whole weeks before the Mixer."

"If there is an extra fee, I'll pay it."

I see him hesitate as if there's something on his mind, but then it looks like he makes a decision.

"I was here when he manipulated you into doing this Mixer."

"I remember." I look down at my hands.

"I don't think it's fair that he put all that on you. Are you okay?"

"Thanks for asking.” I peek up. “I'm trying to get my head around it all."

I'm so embarrassed right now. I knew he had heard the whole conversation. Does he think I'm a simpleton for letting the Mayor convince me to do this event? I don't know how to respond. Maybe this is my in, though.

"About that. I need help with a more personal issue, and maybe you're the perfect person to assist."

He leans forward, and all his attention is centered on me. It's a little unnerving, but I feel flattered.

"What can I do for you, Sam?"

"This is so embarrassing."

My hand is on the table, and I'm fidgeting with the napkin dispenser. He takes it in his and squeezes it gently. The warmth of his touch is a shock to my senses, and goosebumps pop up all over my body.

"You can tell me anything," he says.

"Okay, just try not to judge too much."

"I'm listening."

"When I find a man attractive, I have a hard time talking to him. If they flirt with me, it's even worse, and I can't get myself to respond accordingly."

He seems frozen in place, so I hurry to add more context to my request.

"I was wondering if – in your spare time, of course – you'd be willing to give me dating lessons?"

He frowns as if what I'm telling him doesn't make sense.

"You've never dated before?"

"I have,” I say, “but I always feel so overwhelmed every time I do. I figure some practice with a handsome gentleman like yourself could help me."

"Well, you seem to be doing alright. You just flirted with me a tiny bit."

Blood flows to my cheeks, and they feel puffy and full.

"Uh. You're easy to talk to. Do you think we can try?"

"Yes to both. I can start work tonight after you close. Eight o'clock good for you?"

"Um, I'm closing earlier since it's winter and it's so cold, so around six will be fine."

"That's even better. It gives me more time to work." He looks unsure for a moment. "So you're not dating anyone right now?"

I smile at him and shake my head.

"But you have someone in mind."

Oh crap, I hope he hasn't figured it out. My eyes go really big with surprise, and I want to hide under the table. Instead, I put my hands over my face to hide from him. I feel his hand land on my wrist and tug gently.

"This will only work if you give it your all, Sam. Or do you prefer Samantha?"

"God, no. The Mayor and my father are the only two people that call me that. Sam is good. It's who I am."

"Do you have a few minutes right now, Sam?"

"Yes, Amy can handle the shop. Are we going to do our first lesson? Oh wow, I'm sorry. You have to do a quote for the work first, right?" I babble.

"Yeah, I'll give you that when I come back tonight. I just wanted to talk a bit more with you."

"Oh, sure."

"You're a very beautiful woman, Sam."

Eyebrows high, I want to hide again, but he's faster and catches my hand.

"No hiding. Lesson one: learn how to take a compliment."

"But I'm… my weight… and I'm so short."

"The correct answer is 'Thank you, Ben'."

He's got me there. I might have some self-esteem issues. I'm curvy and short, and I might be a tad opinionated when I'm talking to anyone who's not good-looking.

"Thank you, Ben."

"You might not feel beautiful when someone gives you that specific compliment, but I want you to take it and make it yours. Heck, I might get some of my brothers to come and flirt with you."

"Uh, I don't know about that."

"Don't worry, only the single ones will do it. Danny is happily married."

"How many brothers do you have?"

"Three. Danny, Michael, and Justin. I'm the oldest. And we are equal partners in Hoffer Handyman Services."

I find I like looking into Ben's eyes. They match whatever he's saying. I've never met someone so transparent. I think I made the right choice in asking for his help.

Ben

Sam Bower, owner of Over the Roast, just asked me to give her dating lessons. I've always thought that she was very well put together. I would never have imagined that she would have trouble dating. I ask her about it and she tells me a few things, but not enough for me to unravel her secrets. Is she asking this for the mayor?

I saw how she looked up dreamily at him when he tricked her into hosting that event. But does she want more with him? I find myself between a rock and a hard place because I want to help her for my own nefarious reasons. I've had a crush on Sam for the longest time, and I admire her as a hardworking entrepreneur.

She opened her shop five years ago, and it was a success almost immediately. I've been a loyal customer ever since. Being around her is a pleasure, and getting to know her secrets is too tempting for me to let the opportunity pass.

"Tell me more about yourself."

For some reason, my voice comes out a bit huskier than normal and I'm excited to see her eyes sparkle from my tone. I realize I'm still holding her hand from before, so I let go and sit back expectantly.

"My work is my life," she says.

"Now, come on. Let loose a little. You only eat, work, and sleep? That can't be right. Though I have to acknowledge that you've been very successful ever since you opened your shop."

She seems uncomfortable with that compliment as well, but I don't say anything to retract it. I'm only telling the truth. I've watched her carefully for the past five years. I'm in awe of her, and she's doing this alone. I've got my three brothers helping with the running of our business, and sometimes I think we need more people to support us.

"Well, I do have my best friend, Brandy. She moved away last year to live with the love of her life in Florida."

"Good to know. You've got to remember, beautiful, that dating is about opening up a bit of yourself and sharing it with others."

"Okay, so I should ask you some questions, too?"

"Yeah, we do a back and forth. If the man you're talking to only talks about himself, you have my permission to leave the date immediately."

"Oh, I couldn't do that!" Her eyes flare.

"Why not?"

"It's not polite."

"Are you always polite?"

"Um, yeah!"

"You're thinking like a businesswoman," I say.

"Yes, there are boundaries I have to keep so that people know I am a professional."

"I understand that, but when you're on a date, you have to put more of yourself out there."

"Oh god, I'm never going to get a date, am I?"

I smile at her and try to show a positive facade. She's so proper that it's driving me nuts. I don't want to discourage her, though, and that's what seems to be happening.

"Let's try something. If I was a customer and you were interested in me, what would you do to catch my attention? So I'd know you're interested."

"I'd probably send Amy to serve you instead of doing it myself."

"I've never thought of you as shy. You're so nice to everyone."

"If it's someone I'm attracted to, I wouldn't serve them myself. I'd die of embarrassment." She blushes.

"Are you attracted to me?"

The question catches her off guard, and I kick myself for being so open with her. She needs me to be patient with her, and I'm doing the absolute opposite. I've put the question out there, so I don't back down and give her a moment to respond. Nothing. She lowers her eyes, and I think her brain is about to explode.

"Too much?"

"A little bit, yes."

"Can I assume that you at least feel comfortable with me? I mean, you wouldn't have dared ask me for help otherwise."

"You've always been very kind to me, so yes, I feel I can trust you," she says quietly.

"Okay. How about tonight we go on a mini date? On my break from work. We'll practice more then."

"Thank you.” She fans herself with her hand. “I've got to go put my head inside the refrigerator now."

She gets up and moves faster than I've ever seen her towards the back of the coffee shop. Now, I'm left with thoughts of her and how I will use these dating lessons to make her mine.