Page 22 of Off Her Game

Did he assume they’d end up at his place? In his bed? Uh-oh. She was thinking like this was a real date. “You didn’t need to reschedule. Not for me.”

“It’s done.” He rested his chin on his hands and studied her until she had to fight fidgeting.

“What?” she finally asked. “Do I have lipstick on my teeth or drool on my chin?”

He laughed. “Drool on your chin?”

“You know what I mean. You’re staring. It’s not polite.”

He laughed deep and low in a quiet way that caused her stomach to clench. “I find you different.”

Different?She jerked her hand so abruptly she knocked her fork into the plate with an ear-splitting clatter. What the hell did that mean?

He compressed his lips as if holding back a laugh. His eyes crinkled at the corners.

She pushed the fork far away from the plate to avoid a repeat incident. “I’m not sure what you mean bydifferent.”

“I meant you’re unusual. Kind of bizarre…but exciting. No, that doesn’t sound right.” He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry your last boyfriend cheated on you. That turns one off of the whole relationship thing.”

“The asshole stole my work, made a fortune off it, and cheated on me. Talking about exes isn’t good first date material. They don’t make good second date chitchat, either. Let’s not go there, especially after you called me weird.”

Noah looked like he was standing in front of an oncoming semi-truck, but was so wide-eyed frozen he couldn’t move. “I… Uh…”

She waved a dismissive hand. “Lucky for us this isn’t a real date. If it was I’d say it crashed and burned. Under normal circumstances I’d leave after being called weird.”

Dessert arrived.

“I didn’t call you weird. I’m sorry. I meant to say I think you’re an interesting person.” He gazed at the dessert and lifted a fork as if waiting for her to take the first bite.

“Sorry I overreacted, then.” She took a generous bite. “This is good.”

Many silent minutes later they stared at the decimated remains of the tiramisu.

“So… I guess I still owe you a hint on forty-one,” he said.

She couldn’t tell if this was a peace offering or something else. Still, she’d more than earned her reward. “You do.”

He gazed at her intently for a few seconds. “Let’s go.”

“What? You’re not going to tell me right now?”

“Not yet.” He smiled elusively and left a generous cash tip.

Outside, the chill of the March night had descended over the city. The honk of cars echoed in the streets during the rush of late Saturday night. Heavy bass music lingered in the air from several doors down.

Her cell phone vibrated inside her clutch. Symphis texted.Tonight. Midnight. Don’t be late.

Symphis docked her fifty bucks for being five minutes late last time.

She shivered as she shoved the phone back into the mini-purse. The cold wasn’t only from a blast of cool wind, but also at the thought of the Stadium. “I’m on for tonight. Midnight.”

They stared at each other in silent understanding of this as the start ofgame on.

He slipped his coat around her shoulders. “You look cold.”

His warm hand slid around hers and he led to the waiting car. After he scooted in next to her in the back seat he finally said, “Come play the level with me and I’ll show you its secret.”

A laugh broke free. “As far as come-up-to-my-place lines, that was probably the most original I’ve ever heard.”