Page 58 of Fierce-Matt

He wanted to argue but threw in the towel. “Fine. It’s something we’ll both enjoy. Then I can make this for you another night. Or I can do lobster and steak. Grilled lobster tails are one of my favorite things to eat.”

“Why am I not surprised you’ve got a fancy palate?”

“I like what I like,” he said, looking at the smile on her face. He tapped her nose. “And I like what I’m looking at a lot.”

“Me too,” she whispered.

What a place to have this conversation.

There was no way he could ask more.

Well, he could, but he wouldn’t.

The instructor got in front of them and it was for the best to get this date started.

There was so much going through his mind that he wanted to say.

To do.

To let her know how he felt

He could do none of that while they were here.

An hour later, they’d laughed harder than he’d done in his life while they followed directions and both had stellar dishes.

“You’re a hustler,” he said. “You can cook.”

She was almost always one step ahead of what was going to be the next instruction.

“I might have looked up a few videos on how to cook this myself. That’s not the same as doing it in person with someone.”

“I bet you’ve watched videos on how to cook something before,” he said, slicing into his perfectly seared scallop. Only one. The other three didn’t come out as well. It was harder than he thought.

“I have,” she said. “I enjoy cooking but don’t do it often. Or not as much as I’d like because cooking for one person isn’t fun.”

“You can cook for me,” he said. “I’m in the same boat.”

“You did a lot better than I thought you would. You said I’m a hustler, but it was mutual.”

He laughed. “Women like a guy that can cook.”

“I’m positive women like a lot of things about you,” she said, closing one eye at him.

“The same could be said about you. Why do you think I’ve had this crush for so long?”

Her jaw dropped. “What?”

Again, not the right place, but everyone was enjoying the fruits of their labor and not paying attention to them.

“Come on, Anya. You can’t be this naïve. I know you’re not.”

Her head went back and forth. “I didn’t know it back then. You’ve said it now. Your actions now show it too.”

“I want you to see those actions. I’m telling you that is why I did it back then. I thought you were cute. I wanted you to pay attention to me. I guess saying attention and crush are two different things though.”

“Oh, I paid attention. I wanted it back.”

“Until it got to be too much,” he said, nodding his head. “And we won’t go back there, right?”