Page 10 of In Deep

“Nope, but thank you for helping with my confidence.”

I shake my head, repressing a smile. “Bullshit. You know, I could have been helping someone who actually needs my help and earned some money.”

“I’m going to pay you,” he tells me.

I peer at my watch. Fifteen minutes have passed. “You owe me five pounds.”

“I’ll pay you for the entire hour.”

I shake my head. I’m not a charity case.

He reaches into the pocket of his jeans and pulls out his wallet. Then, flicking it open, he finds a fiver and hands it to me. I try not to notice the big wad of notes in there. More money than I’ve ever held in my purse for sure.

I hold the note up to the light. “Just checking if it’s real.”

He laughs. “If it’s not, I’m screwed.”

“It is.”

He leans forward and rests his elbows on his knees.

“So, seeing as you have the next forty-five minutes available, how about I take you on that date?”

“A forty-five minute date?”

“One drink? Or if you’re a fast eater, I can buy you dinner.”

I don’t answer him. Instead, I collect up my things. He watches me silently.

I want to go for a drink with him. Despite his cocky attitude, I like him. He’s warm and funny, and, yes, hot. Really hot. And he’s going to be a doctor.

What harm could one drink do? Sophia’s right. I am allowed to have fun.

When I’ve zipped up my bag, I glance over at him. “Forty minutes,” I tell him. “And just a drink.” I don’t want him thinking he’s won me over just yet.

I expect him to smirk in satisfaction but he nods and jumps to his feet, holding out his hand like he’d done on the staircase. I take it this time and he tugs me gently to my feet. The tips of his fingers and the pads on his palm are calloused. From the rowing, I guess.

Keeping a grip on my hand, he walks us out of the library and onto the street.

An early spring breeze rustles past us and the sky shines brightly with an almost-full moon. Earlier it rained, and small puddles litter the pavement, reflecting the silver light. Zane’s hand is warm wrapped around mine and I’m stupidly glad he hasn’t released it.

I should probably pull my hand away. I’m only encouraging him.

And this isn’t going to go anywhere.

It’s only one drink.

Chapter 5

To my surprise, Zane doesn’t lead me into a noisy sports bar, but a quiet cafe decked out with an endless number of plants, their leaves trailing from pots on the walls and down towards the floor. Meditation music with soft bells and low notes plays out as well as the quiet hum of conversation from the few other customers in here.

He leads me to a booth near the back, sitting himself down on the bench opposite me.

“I thought we were going for a drink,” I say. This doesn’t look like the kind of place you can order a glass of wine.

“I had training today and I’ve got training first thing tomorrow. I’ve got to be careful what I have.” He swivels the menu card around to me. “Know what you want?”

I run my eye down a long list of fruit and vegetable smoothies and my nose scrunches up.