“Um, yeah. Why?”

“Your accent is really thick.”

She blushed a little as she smiled, “I’m a southern belle. What can I say?”

He laughed, and of course Elli continued to blush.

“And you are a Yankee through and through?”

“Oh, yes, guilty as charged. My mother always teases me. She says one day I’ll be saying y’all instead of you guys.”

Elli let out a giggle and Shea just grinned at her. She bit her lip, looking away.

“So, um-”

“What kind of camera do you use?” he asked, looking down at the camera that was hanging around her neck.

“A Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III.”

“Cool, I just bought a Cannon Rebel. Maybe you could show me how to use it? I bought it to take pictures of things when I’m on the road. I also wanted to get some good shots of Amelia and Ryan, my nephew.”

“Oh, okay, sure.”

“Awesome. So how about tomorrow afternoon? We could meet for coffee and go to the park. The park is beautiful right now.”

What? Wait! Huh?!?

“Oh, tomorrow?”

“Yeah, are you busy?”

“No, not at all. Sundays are my off day.”

“Okay, so spend it with me.”

Elli just looked up at him. He was so blunt, so direct. Holy shit! Was Shea Adler asking her out on a date?

“I don’t know,” she said, looking around for something to pull her from this conversation. She was getting butterflies in her stomach, and it was making her nauseous.

“Come on, it’s coffee and taking pictures. You like coffee, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Okay. And you love to take pictures, right?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile.

“So do it with me.”

Elli couldn’t speak, so she just nodded, which made Shea grin bigger. “Awesome. I’ll meet you at the park at one. What kind of coffee do you like?”

“Starbucks. A tall caramel mocha.”

He gave her a wide smile and she couldn’t help herself anymore. She smiled right back at him.

“That’s my drink, too. So I’ll see you tomorrow in front of the Parthenon?”

“Sure,” she answered.

“Alright, Ms. Fisher. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He leaned over, kissing Elli’s cheek softly, causing all the air to rush out of her. He smiled at her before walking away, leaving her standing there looking like an idiot.

What the hell just happened!?

When Elli got home that night, she let Adler outside before calling Harper.

“Hey, how’d it go?”

“Good, the party was beautiful. How was the wedding?”

“Great. Did you see Shea?”

“Yeah. Did you check on the studio?”

“I did, it’s good. Did you talk to him?” Harper asked. Elli was about to burst, so she took a deep breath before practically screaming out the news.

“He asked me out for coffee and to teach him to use his camera and I said yes!”

“What?”

“I know! I can’t believe it either!”

“No! It’s not that I don’t believe it; I’m shocked that you said yes! I’m so proud of you!”

“I know! I don’t think it’s a date, but it’s going to be just me and him!”

“That’s a date, babe! Coffee, too? Oh yeah, total date!”

“He kissed my cheek!”

“OH MY GOD!”

“I know!”

“This is huge!”

“I don’t know. I’m not really his type.”

“What do you mean?”

“He dates skinny blondes.”

“Maybe he’s moved on to curvy brunettes! Now you listen to me Eleanor Fisher, do not go freaking yourself out or talking yourself down. You are beautiful! He asked you out! You can do this!”

“I can do this,” Elli repeated, but didn’t believe the words at all.

“You can. Now, what are you going to wear?”

“I don’t know. What if it’s not a date and I dress up and he comes in shorts and a tee?”

“He probably will, but still. I’m thinking you should wear the khaki shorts you have, the ones that tie, and that really bright kelly green shirt you have. You know, the one that shows off the girls.”

“I wear that to the club!”

“And? Okay, whatever, what about-”

For the rest of the night, Elli stayed on the phone with Harper, picking out something to wear for the date she still didn’t believe she had, trying to get her nerves under wraps.

It didn’t work.

Chapter 3

Shea sat on a blanket in front of the Parthenon waiting for Elli. It was a beautiful day, for which he was thankful, as the date would not work if it was raining or cloudy. A drink carrier sat beside him, holding their drinks, while his camera sat beside it. He had bought the camera a couple of months ago. He was actually going to give it away because he didn’t understand how to use it, but he was glad that he had kept it. He was excited for Elli to teach him how to use it, if she would ever arrive. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, checking the time again. She wasn’t late, he was just always early. His excitement was causing him to have butterflies; he couldn’t wait to get to know Elli, to find out what made her tick.

Last night, after the party, Grace couldn’t stop talking about Elli and it made Shea happy to know that Grace liked her so much. If his sister didn’t like a girl, then there was no sense in even trying to have a relationship with her.