A Few Secrets

Let's continue reading Romance by Design.

Chapter Six

During the next couple hours Goldie and Ryan ate their meal at the Kaffee Klatch, ending with schnitz und knepp (apples and dumplings) for dessert, which Ryan raved over. Other customers came and went but still they stayed, eating and laughing and drinking coffee.

Goldie had so much fun.

But now, it was time to get serious. Step Two: trying to establish a relationship.

She had never gotten this far with any of the other men. Going through Step One was bad enough with them! Fortunately Ryan was different, in a wonderful way.

During a rare lull in the conversation, she decided to take a tentative step toward Step Two. “So Ryan, tell me about your family. Do you have any brothers and sisters?”

“Nope.” He sipped his coffee, as if that was all he had to say on the subject.

She pushed on. “Are your parents still living?”

He just nodded.

“What does your dad do for a living? Or is he retired?”

He hesitated, then took another sip of coffee.

Goldie frowned. Why wasn’t he talking? “Well, my dad works as an investor on Wall Street. He makes quite a bit of money with that, but he hopes to retire in about four years. And my mother—uh, my mom, well, let’s not talk about her.” She gave a little laugh.

Maybe she should respect Ryan’s silence about his parents. Her own experience with her mother wasn’t one she wanted to share.

He set down his coffee cup. “I’ve been wondering about your name. Did your parents name you Goldie? Is that your real name?”

“No.” What a guy—deftly changing the subject when it got too uncomfortable. “When I was only a year old, my uncle started calling me that because I had a halo of golden curls.” She shrugged. “The name stuck.”

“So now, everyone you know calls you Goldie?”

“Everyone except my mom. She calls me by my real name.”

“Which is…?” Cocking an eyebrow, he leaned toward her.

“Oh, no you don’t!” She laughed. “That’s one secret I mean to keep.”

With a lazy smile, Ryan sat back. “I’ll have to meet your mother. I’ll say, ‘Oh, you’re Goldie’s mom, or rather…’ ” He snapped his fingers. “What’s her name?”

She laughed again. “That’s not going to happen!” But would it? If Ryan was the one she was destined to marry…

Frieda came by their table. “Yous know it’s closing time. Ten o’clock.”

Startled, they both stood.

“I didn’t realize it was so late.” Ryan pulled his wallet from his back pocket before smiling at Frieda. “That food was great. I’ll have to come by and meet your chef sometime. Cooking is my hobby, and I’d love to discuss food preparation with him.”

“Yeah, come any time.” Frieda smiled up at him. “And don’t worry about paying tonight. It’s on the house.”

Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Really? Wow, thanks!”

“Of course.” Frieda turned to Goldie, and her voice dropped to a whisper. “A good man you got there. A keeper.”

Goldie smiled. “I know.” Mike finally threw a decent guy her way.

If only he would stick!