Page 38 of Vas

An attendant walked up to them, picked up the bill, and handed Vas three darts. “Hit a star in any part of the white area, and you get the medium prize. Hit the black circle, you win the big prize.”

Anna looked up. A bounty of stuffed toys hung above the gaming area—giant pink or blue teddy bears and smaller rainbow unicorns.

The attendant took a step to the side and Vas raised the dart to about ear level, took aim, and threw. It went sailing across the divide and, holy shit, it landed smack dab in the center of the star, but more impressively, in the center of the black circle. If Anna hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed it.

“Lucky winner!” the attendant called out.

Anna looked up at Vas, her mouth hanging open.

“Which one do you want?” he asked, a tiny bit of deserved cockiness twisting his lips.

“Uh…”

When all she could manage was to stand there and gape, he turned to the attendant. “She’ll take a pink bear.”

“When’s your next day off?” Vas asked as they reached her front door.

Arms ladened with a giant bear that was almost the same size as she was, Anna struggled to reach into her back pocket for her keys. “Oh, um, Sunday. But I work the morning shift on Saturday so I’m free that night.” She hoped that didn’t sound too eager.

“I can’t wait that long to see you again.”

Relief filled her. He was just as desperate to see her as she was him.

“Text me your schedule. We’ll work something out.”

She gazed up at him. “Okay.”

He pulled the keys from her fingers and unlocked the door, pushing it open.

She hesitated to walk through, waiting…

He leaned in, brushing his lips across her cheek before standing back up. “Get inside and lock up.”

She’d had too good of a time that night to be disappointed by a second near kiss. So instead, she thanked Vas for a wonderful night, did as she was told—went in and locked the door—and walked on cloud nine to her room where she set her bear down in a place of honor next to her dresser so she would always see it while watching TV. Then she changed into her PJs, climbed into bed, and, though still on a high to the point she never thought she’d sleep again, closed her eyes and promptly passed out.

Chapter 14

As promised in his text, Vas showed up a half hour before closing time the next night. A little thrill went down her spine and she couldn’t keep the smile off her face as she approached his table.

“Apple pie?” Anna asked, setting a cup of coffee down in front of him.

He reached for the cream and added some to his coffee. “I think I’ll switch things up tonight.”

Shocked, she blurted, “Really?”

Ignoring her reaction, he picked up a spoon, his fingers dwarfing the slim handle as he stirred. “What do you suggest?”

Preoccupied watching his muscles flex, she answered with a distracted, “I’m not sure.”

She stood there, riveted, as he brought the rim of the mug to his lips, blew the hot liquid, then took a small sip. “If you could choose anything on the menu to eat right now, what would it be?”

“Um…”

He repeated the pucker-blow-sip routine after which a small smirk twisted his lips.

Her eyes flew to his, and he raised a single—and in her opinion, mocking—brow that screamed he was amused he’d caught her staring. She cleared her throat and said in her most serviceable voice, “I hear the lemon meringue pie is good.”

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