Page 19 of Outside The Wire

“And what trap is that?” she asked as she blatantly looked anywhere but at me.

“The one where I charm you into going out on a date with me.”

“Do you really need to set a trap for that?” she asked, finally looking up at me. Her eyes twinkled as she smiled. Blue. Ocean blue. They were so fucking gorgeous. I found myself just staring at them, memorizing the curve of her lips as she smiled and the way her hair fell across her cheek as she ducked her head.

“Honestly, I’m hoping you’ll take pity on me and won’t make me beg.”

“No begging necessary,” she smiled. “You already have my number.”

I did, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t have mine. I pulled out a pen and scrap piece of paper and wrote my number down, then slid it across the table to her.

She raised an eyebrow at me. “You know, you could just text me your number.”

“I’m old-fashioned like that.”

She picked it up, studying it for a moment. “You’re awfully trusting, giving a girl your number. How do you know I’m not a psycho who will call you five times between now and Friday?”

“You might do that. In fact, I’m kinda hoping you will.”

“You do not,” she laughed.

“Maybe I do. Maybe I like eager women.”

“I still think I’ll wait for your call.” She gathered her hat and gloves, and something inside me deflated. She was leaving. The night was ending. I’d go home and this would be over. I snatched my hat off the chair and tugged it on as she put hers on, her little pom pom wiggling on top of her head.

I gathered up all our garbage while she got her coat on. It was a shame to end things so quickly, but this wasn’t a date. We were just eating dinner after running into each other. As much as Iwanted to spend time with her, she probably had other plans for the night.

When I turned around, she was all buttoned up and ready to head out into the cold. “Can I walk you to your truck?”

“Sure.”

As we stepped outside, I took her arm. The last thing I wanted was for her to fall on her ass like she had in the parking lot. “Where are you parked?”

“Just over there,” she said, pointing to the end of the lot. It wasn’t very well lit down there, and it was too damn far from the door. Instincts kicked in immediately and the need to yell at her for being an idiot almost took over. But I tamped it down.

“Do me a favor.”

“Sure,” she smiled.

“Next time you park at night, get as close as you can to the building and under a street lamp.”

She turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “Concerned about my safety?”

“Old habits die hard,” I muttered.

“I’ll try to remember that,” she answered, not giving me any attitude.

The urge to kiss her grew stronger as we stood outside her vehicle, but I stepped back, shoving my hands in my pockets to keep them warm.

Yeah, that was the reason.

“Be careful driving home.”

“I will.”

I waited until she got in her truck and then watched as she backed out. She grinned as she drove off, and I stood there for a good two minutes staring at the fucking road.

Two things were crystal clear to me.

---