Ch 9

Katelyn took a deep breathe deciding to just let Randy stay then go to dinner instead of debating it. She could feel his nerves and tension as he looked from her to the door trying to figure out what to do.

"Come on its ok, you can stay," she smiled motioning for him to follow her to the back.

"Sorry about my family," he said as she grabbed the dress she had been working on.

"Your Mom and sister are very nice. I don't mind your company. I just hope you don't get bored," Katelyn picked back up finishing the hem on the dress.

"Is there anything I can do to help," he asked pulling up a chair sitting across from her.

"Feel like finding a needle in a haystack?" she asked trying not to laugh at the confused expression that crossed his face.

"Care to explain."

"The dress over there needs a button on the sleeve. During the last fitting the bride to be said it popped off I looked for it all over the dressing rooms couldn't find it," Katelyn grabbed a big jar of buttons handing it to him. "Want to find one that matches?"

"Sure Katy," he went over taking a close look at the remaining buttons while she turned up the stereo filling the room with music. Randy started his search while Katelyn worked on the first dress. He couldn't help stealing glances at her when he thought she wasn't looking. A few times she caught his admiring stare and just smiled continuing her sewing.

"Bingo," Randy exclaimed after searching for awhile.

"You have perfect timing just finished this dress," she hung the first dress back on the hook.

"Anything else I can do?" Randy asked as she took button from him.

"No, I just need to sew this on," she glanced at the clock. "It won't be long till the dresses are picked up."

"Then you can decide where I'm taking you for dinner and don't even try to say no or another time. I'm not dealing with the wrath of my mom or sister," Randy smiled moving his chair closer to her. "You look exhausted. Did you get a good night's sleep?"

"Not really I can never sleep well on planes and there was no time to sleep when got home just came here," she stayed focus making sure she put the button back precisely in the right spot.

"I won't keep you out too late tonight so you can catch up on sleep," Randy sat back watching her work. The door chime made Katelyn jump followed by the voice of the bride picking up the dress with the missing button calling Katelyn's name.

"Shoot that's the bride for this dress. I think I mixed up the pickup times," Katelyn felt her stomach knot.

"Relax, how long do you need?" Randy asked.

"If I can stop freaking out will take me less than 5 minutes," Katelyn tried to steady her shaky hand.

"I'll get you the time," Randy took her hand. "I want you to just concentrate on getting this done and trust me to handle your customer. Can you do that?" he held her hand tight searching her tired eyes.

"Yes Randy," she softly responded.

"Good, I'll see you out front in a bit," he slowly let her hand go giving her a wink and smile before heading to the front. Katelyn felt the knot in her stomach turn into fluttering butterflies. She softly sighed ignoring the butterflies concentrating on securing the button to the dress. It didn't take her long to finish up and make sure the dress looked perfect. She carefully carried it out front smiling when she heard Randy telling her customer how his sister had found the perfect wedding dress there too. Randy stayed close by while Katelyn let the bride do a final inspection of the dress. Her next customer showed up as she was finishing up with the first customer. Randy quickly went into the back grabbing the other dress and showed the next customer to a dressing room. It wasn't long before both customers left happily with their dresses.

"Thank you Randy so much," Katelyn said as she flipped the open sign to close and locked up the front door.

"I'm glad I could help and even happier you trusted me," he smiled. "Are you ready to go to dinner?"

"Yes definitely," she turned off the lights motioning for him to follow her to the back entrance. She grabbed her phone glancing at the screen not surprised to see there were no calls or texts from Wade. "What kind of food are you in the mood for?" she asked as they left the store.

"I'm not picky anywhere you like."

"There is a really good steakhouse close by we can go there. Did you come with your family or drive yourself here?" she asked as she unlocked her car.

"They picked me up from the hotel. Hope you don't mind giving me a lift back there after dinner."

"Well that depends on how you behave Mr. Orton, if you're good I'll drop you off," she smiled at him making warmth fill him.

"Good hmmm have to think about that," he laughed getting in the car. Katelyn couldn't stop smiling as she slid into the driver's seat.


The steakhouse wasn't crowded and they were seated quickly at a cozy table for two in a section where there were only two other couples. Katelyn felt butterflies start fluttering again when she caught Randy stealing a glance at her as they looked over the menus.

"So am I behaving so far?" Randy asked after the waiter took their orders.

"Yes being very good, keep it up you'll have a ride," she smiled looking into his eyes.

"Can I ask you a few questions about your relationship with Wade or will that get me on the naughty list?" he saw the glimmer of sadness flash in her eyes at the mention of Wade's name.

"You can ask if I don't want to answer I'll tell you and no worries of being put on the list," she softly said looking away from him.

"Fair enough," Randy took a sip of his beer thinking of how to ask her things without letting on he heard her argument with Wade. "Simple question are you two thinking of settling down?"

"Ha-ha you and even I think that is simple question but that's a dreaded complicated question for Wade," she blurted the words out without thinking. "I'm sorry shouldn't have said that," she blushed.

"Katy, relax I'm not here to judge you. I just want to get know you and what you're going through," Randy reached out caressing her rosy cheek for a moment. "I want to be your friend. You open up to me and I'll open to you, no judging one another. We are comfortable with one another lets just enjoy the comfort and the trust we are building. Sound good?"

"It does. I am enjoying getting to know you," she smiled.

"I wasn't going to tell you but I want to start this friendship right with no secrets. I heard your argument with Wade. I took time off to not only apologize for the way I acted but to make sure you were ok. I'm sorry I didn't tell you at the shop," he said hoping she wouldn't get mad.

"You were at the beach?" she asked.

"I was getting some sun heard arguing and it was you two. Are you angry?"

"No Randy, I think the whole beach heard our argument. Thank you for being honest with me. You didn't have to come here you could have called to check on me," she softly spoke feeling her cheeks turning redder.

"I wouldn't have been satisfied with a phone call. I needed to see you were ok. I noticed you try very hard to keep your sadness and hurt deep inside eventually it will explode out of you," Randy said knowing very well how bottled emotions never stayed that way.

"Those hurt confused feelings did explode," Katelyn deeply sighed, "Wade has been playing the let's settle down game for while it's been killing me inside. When he got mad at me for a silly splashing game just lost it," she shared with him making Randy beam with happiness.

"Splashing game?"

"I got upset with him expressing he wanted me to travel with him but the moving in he keeps stalling on. I tried to forget about my sadness and have fun. I splashed him hoping he would join me for a swim or at least splash back instead of fun turned into argument," she rubbed her tired eyes feeling the tears starting to build up.

"Katy, he shouldn't toy with you like that. Do you want to keep talking about it or forget about?"

"I'm tired let's just enjoy dinner and another day you can be my ear, ok?" she asked making him smile.

"I'll be your ear, shoulder, whatever you need anytime in return you can be mine. Deal?" he held out his hand to her.

"I'm looking forward to seeing more of this side of you Randy. We have a deal," she shook his hand. Randy slowly let go of her hand as their dinner arrived. The conversation flowed naturally between them as Katelyn told Randy about other restaurants and places around Tampa. On the drive back to Randy's hotel, Katelyn showed him where some of the places were she had mentioned. When they pulled up to his hotel a silence grew between them for the first time in hours.

"Thank you for dinner and bringing your sister to my shop," Katelyn broke the quiet.

"No problem anytime," Randy turned to face her. "I'm in no rush to head out of town. Would you be interested in going to breakfast or lunch tomorrow?"

"I may have to run the shop alone again," she said as Randy prepared for her to shoot him down. "Would dinner be ok if I have to work?"

"Sure, let me know in the morning," Randy leaned over kissing her cheek. "Have a good night Katy. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night Randy," Katelyn smiled as he left her car giving her another wave before entering the hotel. She felt the butterflies going strong as she thought about how much she looked forward to seeing him again tomorrow.