Page 13 of Conquered

“Well, can I steal you for a few minutes,” he persisted when she didn’t make a response.

“Yes, of course. I’d love too.”

Miranda gave a loaded smile when Noelle said she was stepping out with Hunter.

She soon realized that walking beside him was tricky. Her limbs acquired a life of their own and it was like having more than one pair of feet. It was a challenge to appear like she did this every day, walking the streets of New York with such a gorgeous-looking man, that even a dog on a leash gave them a second glance.

She was sixteen again and out on her first date.

Mr. Brain was left behind in the café leaving Mrs. Heart to pilot her body. She wasn’t doing a very good job. Noelle stumbled over a jutting piece of pavement.

“Whoa.” Hunter exclaimed pulling her back and holding her hand tightly in his.

Noelle felt the tingling sensation travel all the way to her elbow. Fortunately, she managed the rest of the trip without mishap. The food truck was there as he said and he stood in line with the rest of the early lunchtime crowd.

It was hard not to notice the side glances that women threw his way. But Hunter seemed oblivious. They went in search of a bench and found one under the shade of an elm tree.

Noelle noticed he really liked hotdogs, as he chomped on his sandwich heartily. She bit into hers and relished the delicious wieners. She’d had them before but never realized they tasted so good.

Maybe it’s the company.

“Anything new happened since I last saw you?” he asked making conversation.

“Yeah. We now have a new president and a space probe landed in Mars,” she replied succinctly, then laughed, “Silly, I just saw you yesterday.”

“Was that just yesterday we met? Felt like years to me. I couldn’t wait for morning to come. I said to myself, Hunter, you need to see that girl again.”

Now he was just flirting with her. Noelle responded with a teasing smile.

“I’m glad you came. I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Why not?” He asked curiously.

“Because-because… I didn’t think you’d be interested to see me again. I mean…”Noelle stammered.

“What do you mean? Tell me.” Hunter persisted.

“We have nothing in common.” She replied simply.

“We both like hotdogs. That’s a start.”

Noelle laughed.

“I’d really like to get to know you more, Noelle.”

“Yeah. I think I’d like that too.”

“Good.”

“Good,” she echoed.

“Would you like to go out on a serious date with me then?”

“By serious, you mean not a hotdog kind of date?” She asked.

Hunter looked momentarily uncomfortable, and then to lay things out in the open.

“I need a date to the Governor’s Ball. It’s something that I have to do to advance my political career. You being there with me would make things easier to bear. I find those affairs rather tedious. Would you like to go with me?”