Page 24 of The Plus-One Deal

“Anyway, uh…” Conrad cleared his throat. “He was a bit scared, so I showed him this keychain. If it’s okay with you, I’d like him to have it.”

Jake’s mom took the keychain and smiled. “He loves sharks. Jake, sweetheart, what do you say?”

“Thank you,” Jake muttered, into his dad’s shirt.

“He gets shy,” said his mom.

Conrad smiled. “Don’t we all?”

We left the family to settle in and started back for the terrace, only to run into Verity and Ken. They were coming off the elevator as we passed by it, leaving us no choice but to stop and say hi.

“You two are up early,” said Verity.

Ken laughed. “It’s near noon. I think we’re up late.”

Verity elbowed him, and I felt my chest tighten. They’d been married how long now, and they were still so playful, always teasing each other, finding something to smile over. I wondered how they did it, if it was as easy as it looked. Had they somehow lucked into their perfect pairing, stronger together than they were apart? Or had they worked at it, to find their balance?

“We’re just going to brunch,” said Ken. “But we should meet up after. I heard the tennis courts are open. We could play a few sets.”

I couldn’t think of a good reason not to, and the next thing I knew, we were signed up for tennis.

“This is a good thing,” said Conrad, as they walked away. “Your chance to cement this, show her you’re good people.”

Or my chance to blow my whole mission sky-high.

My phone service came back while I was changing for tennis, in a tinny cacophony of chirrups and pings. I had about a zillion to-dos from work, IM pings and texts and calendar reminders. I had emails a mile high and a nice stack of mentions, and on top of it all, a text string from Sunny.

OMG I HEARD HOLY CRAP HAVE YOU KISSED YET!?!!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?

I mean, r u ok???? but srsly, have you kissed yet??????

Then came a long string of kissy lips and hearts, and an animated rose bouquet, and a box of chocolates.

No, we have NOT kissed,I typed, and I sent it, jabbing the screen so hard my nail cracked. I tossed my phone in my bag and headed out to play tennis.

“You okay?” said Conrad, as I jogged onto the court. “You look kind of flushed, like you started without us.”

“I’m fine,” I snapped, Sunny’s text in my head —have you kissed yet?Nothave you kissed?She’d stuck thatyetin there like it was a given, like sooner or later, his lips would meet mine. All I could think of was the end of our tango, when he held me and dipped me and my body flushed hot. What I’d felt in that moment, it had been like she said, not if we’d kiss, but when it would happen. I’d thought for a second it would be right then — not thought it, but felt it, right down to my marrow. A chill had swept through me, then a hot rush, a sizzle of wanting all down my spine.

“You sure you’re okay?” He pressed his palm to my forehead. “You feel kind of warm.”

“It’s a hot day.” My protest came out harsh, and I shrugged, sheepish. “Sorry. My phone came back with a ton of work emails. I think I’m just stressed, is all.”

“Yeah, mine came back too.” Conrad grimaced, then smiled as Ken and Verity joined us. “I don’t have a coin. You guys can serve first.”

“Somebody’s confident,” said Ken, with a grin.

“They think because we’re older, they have the advantage.” Verity winked at me, and the game was on. I wasn’t ready, and the first ball zipped past me. Conrad dove for it, an instant too late.

“That’s a gimme,” he called.

“Fifteen love,” Ken called back.

They took the next point as well, and the one after that, but then we rallied. We lost our first set, but we found our rhythm. I learned how Conrad moved, how he stalked the ball, his eyes never leaving it as it tore about the court. He moved like a puma hunting a deer, all feline grace and bursts of sharp movement. I matched him, mirrored him, followed his lead. Like dancing, almost, except we weren’t touching. Except Iwantedto touch him, those taut, rippling muscles. When had his body got so strong, so supple?

“Point,” shouted Verity, and I yelled out, frustrated — not with the lost point, but with myself. I’d missed an easy ball, caught up in Conrad. Daydreaming, when I needed to be on my game.

“We’ve got this,” said Conrad, leaning close for my ear. “She slants to her left, and he’s slow on the fast balls.”

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