Page 14 of Charming Crosschecks

“Oh yeah,” he said huskily and then cleared his throat as her bright eyes widened in surprise. “You look nice. You always look nice when you come to work.”

They both paused nervously like neither was sure what to say anymore yet they were still holding hands. She was staring at him like he was something new, a fascinating discovery, or a… a freak? And before that thought could take hold, she spoke. Her voice was faint, nervous, and trembling.

“I’m so happy that we’re going for coffee,” she hesitated. “This will be okay with Coach Mike? The team?”

“I think so, but we can keep it a secret for now if you want…”

That was probably a good idea,he realized. The guys would give him nine kinds of grief for dating the woman they’d affectionately dubbed ‘Beetlejuice’ because she kept popping up out of nowhere and giving subtle instructions on how better to focus the weight machines to get the biggest impact. He would have never imagined putting a rolled-up towel between his elbow and his ribs, but it was working, and he was up to fifteen pounds on that particular move.

“Maybe for just a little while?”

“Yeah.”

“So, um, should we meet in the parking garage? Or at the coffee shop down the street?”

“Parking garage,” he hesitated. “Stay after about ten minutes or so, and I’ll knock on your door on my way out. You can meet me out there, and I’ll drive.”

“Because it’s a date…” she smiled nervously, almost like she needed to reaffirm the idea of them building on this sudden truce between them.

“It’s a date.”

They still stood there, holding hands, and he hesitated.

“I should probably get back to the guys – and my cookie.”

“You probably should,” she nodded, her voice soft as she released his hand. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she glanced down shyly. “Enjoy your cookie.”

“Oh, I will,” he grinned, the mischief in his tone unmistakable. “Probably a little too much.”

“Is there such a thing?”

“I’ll probably enjoy that cookie – as much as I enjoy the thought of us going out this evening…” His words trailed off, and he saw the shift in her expression, the way her guarded exterior softened into something warm and hopeful. The sight made his pulse quicken, his chest tight with something he didn’t dare name yet. She was doing all sorts of things to his brain, his confidence, and his ego—tying him in knots he didn’t even mind untangling. “Maybe if things go well, I could get you to go out with me again?”

“Guess we’ll have to see…” she teased, her smile tinged with just enough coyness to keep him on edge.

And he grinned.

Heaven help him, Molly was flirting with him! He felt like a nervous teenager asking someone to prom for the first time. His palms were sweaty, his stomach an unrelenting mess of butterflies, yet beneath it all was a flicker of pure exhilaration. If this didn’t blow up in his face—if by some miracle tonight went well—he could see it now: more dates, more laughter, and maybe, just maybe, a kiss that would knock the wind out of him.

Wow.

“I should go,” he stammered, his voice cracking slightly as he hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “This is me, going. I’m gonna go finish practice and… um, see ya.”

He managed to make it out the door, barely holding himself together, before pausing just outside. Wide-eyed and grinning like an idiot, Gerry sucked in a deep breath to calm the racing drumbeat in his chest.

He had a date with Molly.

Anactualdate.

And the way she’d looked at him just now—like she was excited about it—was enough to send his confidence soaring. If only he’d been brave enough to stop, turn back, and…

Before he could finish the thought, her excited outburst echoed behind him, muffled but unmistakable.

“YES! He freakin’ asked me out!”

Gerry grinned so hard his cheeks ached. He didn’t need to turn around to know Molly was probably dancing around her office. He was already floating.

CHAPTER 6

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