Page 13 of Merry with a Captain

Robyn nearly choked on her wine, positive his question was a double entendre. Now she didn't really know what to say. She’dtrapped herself. Taking a big breath, she decided to play along and see where it led.

"What if I double dare you?" She heard her voice come out unexpectedly sultry.

"I'm intrigued. A double dare could be very interesting." He reached across the table and took her hand, holding it gently.

“Yes, it could." Robyn shifted on her seat, a bit tongue tied by the direction their conversation was taking and the heat building inside her. Images of the last time they were together flashed through her mind.

Should she invite him up to her room after they eat? Was it too soon? They were just going to take it one step at a time and here she was already wanting to get back into bed with him. She opened her mouth to say something just as the server arrived with their plates, halting any conversation and leaving her in a state of hypersensitivity.

Hold that thought.

8

They ate in silence. It wasn't an awkward silence, it was more of a thoughtful one. Robyn barely tasted the food, only thinking about after. She wanted him to come to her room, but part of her was nervous about suggesting it. Was it too soon after reconnecting tonight?

She glanced at him to find him watching her. Her belly did a little tumble when he smiled.

Maybe not.

"Relax. I can tell you’re wound up about something." He cut a piece of steak and offered it to her. “Would you like to try?"

She shook her head. "Thank you, but I like the taste in my mouth from this chicken.” She cut a piece, dipped it in the sauce and held the fork across the table, offering it to him. "Want a taste? I dare you."

Fletch chuckled. "I would love a taste."

Their eyes never leaving each other, Fletch leaned over and cupped her hand in his. His touch electrified her. How easily his simple gesture lit her up. She pulled her lower lip between her teeth and watched him take the morsel off the fork between his lips.

Oh, how she remembered what those lips did to her, and she wanted it again.

He sat back and raised his eyebrows, nodding. "That is tasty. "

Robyn drew in a shaky breath. “Yes, it is.” She put her fork down and reached for her wine glass, desperately needing a drink to cool her down.

With their meal finished and the table cleared away, Robyn still hadn’t decided if she should ask him up to her room. At least that was what she thought when on impulse she blurted, "Would you like to come up?"

His gaze met hers, and his smile more than melted her. "I'd like that." Fletch signaled for the server and paid the check. He rose and held his hand out. Robyn took it, liking the way his fingers curled around hers.

"Thank you for the dinner. It was a really nice and a totally unexpected surprise bumping into you. Literally." She laughed.

"Yes, quite literally. Did you enjoy the market?" he asked and punched the arrow up button for the elevator.

"I did. I went there to get something to eat and look around a little bit. At least I was able to have a few of the pastries before they became one big pile of mush.”

"That's unfortunate, crowds can be treacherous," Fletch said, and stood aside so she could walk into the elevator.

She laughed again. “Imagine a Christmas crowd treacherous. It was a nice market but not like the ones at home." She pushed her floor and glanced at Fletch.

"How are they different? The markets at your home.”

Robyn shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure how to describe it, maybe it's the atmosphere, people know everybody, and what I love about it is that it has a very European flare. The town does go all out for the Christmas season, and I don't think I've ever feltChristmassylike I do there."

Robyn's throat thickened thinking about home. She was 30 years old for crying out loud and shouldn't be pining for her parents and family. Yet she was.

"Everything okay?” Fletch asked her.

She swallowed away the lump, and nodded. "Talking about home makes me miss it so much."

The elevator stopped, and the door opened. She led the way down the hall.

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