Page 42 of Mitch

CHAPTER 16

Penn

“I knowthis probably sound cliché, but... I had a really good time tonight,” I said as I helped Mitchell finish packing up his equipment in his truck.

I didn’t miss the smirk on his lips, or the way my cock responded.

I wassoout of my league.

“I had a good time too, Cream Puff. In fact, that’s probably the most fun I’ve had at work in a long time.”

The smile that formed on my face was irrefutable.

“Really?” I managed to squeak out,my cheeks heating.

Mitchell nodded. “You know,” he started as he tossed his tripod in the trunk of his black Jeep Cherokee. “We could do this again. Outside of work, I mean.”

His tone was even, careful. Almost as if he was afraid he’d say the wrong thing.

My eyebrows furrowed as I realized what he was asking.

“You mean, like a... date?” I said cautiously.

Mitchell nodded. “Well, unless you just want it to be a friendly hangout. It can be whatever you want it to be.”

His voice was solid, unwavering.

And I think that was the moment I realized I was in over my head.

Because the idea of going on adatewith Mitchell sounded like a really good idea.

So I sucked in a deep breath, and said, “Yes.” I nodded, tasting the word on my tongue. “Yes, I think I’d like that. To go on a... date. With you.”

If my cheeks were pink before, I could tell by the heat ransacking my body, they were probably tomato red now. I had never felt so on the spot inmy life, waiting for someone to respond. Anxiety and panic flooded me. But the grin that spread on Mitchell’s face soothed all of that.

“How does after work tomorrow sound?”

CHAPTER 17

Penn

The whole dayI felt like I was on pins and needles. For starters, with Mitchell nearly ten feet away most of the day, it was hard to ignore our impending...

Date.

I’d agreed to go on a date with a guy, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Not because I’d never hung out one on one with another man before, but because I didn’t know what the protocol was. I knew I wasn’t like most guys in general when it came to the women I’d dated, but then again, Mitchell didn’tseem like most guys either.

There was something about him, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“You’re going to run a hole in the ground, Penn,” Archie said, cornering me in the stock room. “What is up with you today?”

I avoided his gaze, if only because I needed to focus on taking stock, but Archie was not phased.

“Nothing,” I lied.

“Bullshit. Did something happen yesterday? You’ve been acting weird ever since the drive home.”

I sighed in exasperation once more, figuring resistance was moot.

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