Page 72 of Lucky Bounce: Game On: Part Two

Holly lifted her glass and tapped his. "One more."

A half hour later, she was stuffed and content.

"You weren't kidding about the food being amazing," Holly said, patting her stomach and sinking back in her chair. "I'm not normally a steak person, but whatever they've done here with the spices... it's fantastic. And the wine? Perfect."

His brown eyes sparkled with happiness as he took a bite of steak. "Right? I know good food and wine."

"I figured that out when you brought the Chinese takeout back here. Even plastered, you know how to pick good food. That was no ordinary takeout." She rubbed her chin and studied him. "I have to find a way to work your fondness of food into the article. With everything that's happened, I've barely been able to talk to you about the feature. I'm surprised Lyla hasn't started demanding my notes."

"I'm not sure anyone will care about my eating habits."

Holly raised an eyebrow. "Are you kidding? These are hockey gossip fans, Eli. They want to know everything about you."

"Uh huh. Like my favorite color?" he teased, taking a drink of wine.

"Of course. Which is...?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "I seem to gravitate toward silver and black."

Holly picked up her phone. "Okay, we're going to do a sidebar of favorite things for this feature. Let's do a quick quiz round. I'm guessing steak, potatoes, and chocolate cake for your favorite foods?"

"Accurate enough," he agreed.

"Music?"

"I like a bit of everything," he said. "Pop, country, rock."

"Movie?"

"I can't pick just one.Goodfellas, Scarface, The Godfather. Funny stuff?The Hangover, Superbad, movies like that."

She tapped the screen, recording his answers.

"Beer?"

"I like trying different craft beers, but I don't have a favorite.”

"What superpower would you like to have?"

He leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful look on his face. "Hmm. I think I'd like to read minds. To know what's really going on in someone's head."

She set down her phone. "Okay. Speed round complete."

"And now, cake."

"Cake and wine," she said dreamily, gazing at the plate of chocolate deliciousness. "I love it."

"Me, too. And you'll love this cake. I promise." He speared a tiny piece on his fork and held it out. "Taste."

The situation felt strangely intimate, him waiting for her to lean over and take a bite. Despite her hesitation, she couldn't resist the thick, rich icing and fluffy cake waiting for her on the end of the fork.

Her taste buds exploded in bliss at the creaminess of the icing, the tart raspberry filling and vanilla chocolate chips.

"Oh, my God," she murmured, closing her eyes. "That stuff is heaven. Pure and simple."

When she opened them, she found Eli studying her face, heat flaring in his light brown eyes.

Immediately, she reached for her wine glass and took a gulp. That look wasn't something she could handle right now. It made her want to peel off his clothes.

---