Page 3 of Quarterback Sneak

The lightness in his eyes dimmed and a flash of indecision crossed his brow before he glanced away.

Her question clearly unsettled him, an odd reaction unless he was hiding something. Stop it, Ivy. You just met the man. Give him a chance before you place him in the same category as Kevin.

“I would have remembered meeting you,” he said, then groaned. “That was cheesy, wasn’t it?”

“Little bit.” She pointed to his jacket. Tomato seeds dotted the black cotton along with large wet spots from where the juice soaked in. “I'll grab some club soda, and try to blot out the stain.”

“It’s only an old hoodie, it’ll wash.” He dried his hands and slipped off the ruined coat to reveal a blue Seattle Rock & Roll Marathon T-shirt. The cotton molded to his chest, exposing his cut physique.

“Did you run the marathon this year?”

“Sadly no, I was out of town. Are you a runner?” he asked.

She nodded. Along with kickboxing, the daily exercise afforded her the stamina to be on her feet for a sixty-hour week. “I am, and I have a middle-school track and field ribbon to prove it.”

He chuckled, the sound easy, warm and completely unnerving. “I’m impressed.”

Another server rushed out of the wait station, nodded to her, and zipped past into the growing throng. As much as Ivy desired to stay put, the lunch crowd called for her attention. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, she couldn’t just let him leave. “If you won’t let me clean your coat, then let me buy you lunch.”

He quirked those awesome lips and leaned toward her with a wicked grin. “Are you asking me out?”

Oh crap, I asked him out! She waved casually toward the dining room. “I simply meant I would comp your table. I’m the owner.”

“You are Vicenzo?”

“It’s a long story, but yes. My friends call me Ivy.”

“Sam.” He held out his hand. His palm brushed along hers, solid and sensual. Instead of the perfunctory handshake she expected, he turned her hand over in his much more sizable one. “Wow, your skin is unbelievably soft.”

The heated spark in his eyes intensified, and Ivy melted under his direct gaze. “It’s from prepping fish, the oils. It’s our special today. Fish. Salmon, actually. You should try it for lunch. If you like fish, that is.”

“Amongst other things.” He held her gaze and gave her a warm smile. “Will you join me? My lunch appointment canceled. I was leaving when your tomato attacked.”

A silly grin parted her lips. He was a charmer, this one.

Beth shouted for more soup on the line, reminding Ivy of her duties in the kitchen. For the first time since forever, she wanted to ditch work. Before her stood a smoking hot guy, one definitely into her. Should she accept? Another shout brought her to her senses. Ivy sighed. “I can’t. Unfortunately, I’m scheduled for a double shift today.”

“You have to eat at some point. How about if I come back when you’re done? We can have a late dinner.”

“Will nine be okay?” Exhilaration at the prospect of seeing him again bubbled up inside of her. “I’ll make my specialty for you.”

“Sounds like a date,” he said before he gathered up his stained hoodie. He slipped through the pass-through, turning once to wave to her before he exited.

Ivy stood where he left her, every bit of her concentration glued to his departing figure. He might look nice from the front, but he was equally fine from the back. Wide—really wide—shoulders, narrow waist, and an incredibly toned ass. He moved with grace and confidence through the lunchtime crowd. Fanning her flaming face, she let her eyes follow him until he disappeared from sight.

Half an hour ago she’d been resisting Beth’s attempts to get her a date. And now she had one.

Maybe Beth was right about the dating thing.

Except for the part about the frog. If she kissed this guy, would he turn into her prince, or morph into another toad?

Chapter Two

For the second time that day, Sam found himself at Vicenzo’s. Unlike his earlier visit, his racing pulse was from eagerness rather than trepidation. He was psyched to see Ivy again. He tried to open the door.

Locked.

He cupped his hands against the glass and peered inside the foyer.

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