Page 30 of Legal

“Bunk. The correct name is Canis Lupis.”

I shook my head.Close enough. Geez.I picked up a card, waiting for the sand to run out. He’d never get this. I started the timer and read, “The medical term for red blood cell is derived from a Latin word.”

“Bunk. It’s Greek.”

Humph. I handed him two chips and took another sip of beer. Of course, what was I thinking? If this was a game about useless facts, he’d remember way more than me. He’d only been out of school for… Nope, not going there.

“You mentioned you work a lot. What is it that you do?”

“Another warm-up question?” Chase smiled and raised the bottle to his lips. I was entranced for several seconds too long before looking away. “Nothing as exciting as you.” I froze, but he didn’t seem to notice my Freudian slip. “I’m a recruiter for financial advisors. I started the business two years ago and have been working my butt off since. But I guess that’s the secret to my success.” I reached over and tapped the back of the card he held in his hand. “Now for the real question, please.”

“The oldest written language is Sumerian.”

I had this one. “Bunk. It’s Sanskrit.”

“Fact, it’s Sumerian.”

“What? Let me see that.” I snatched the card. Damn. I’d never been the least bit competitive with these games, but I just wanted to kick his ass. I picked up the next card in line and groaned.Come on, why couldn’t I get easy ones like this?“Why’d you decide to teach music?” I asked, delaying the sure win.

“To follow my passion.”

I tucked my legs up underneath me. “And music’s your passion or teaching?”

“Music. Although, teaching others to love it as I do ranks right up there.”

A pleasant chill snaked through me. I liked talking to him; he resonated with me. That was the problem. I tried reaching for a new card, but his hand covered mine and I jolted, causing some of my beer to splosh out.

“Just what do you think you’re doing?” he said.

“This question is unfair. I need to get a different one.”

“Doesn’t work that way.”

I pulled my hand away before he burned a hole in it, wondering why it’d even taken me that long. Torrents of conflicting emotions ran through me, and as much as it pained me to admit it, I just wanted him to take charge like he did the other night. I was so attracted to him it hurt, and I wanted to be put out of my misery.

I took a deep breath and scooted back a bit. Pretty soon, I’d be swallowed into the cushions. There wasn’t much farther I could go. “Fine. A heptatonic is a musical scale with five notes per octave.”

“Fact.”

I scrunched my face, and he started laughing. “Stop cheating. You know very well the answer’s seven.”

“I don’t think that qualifies as cheating. Come on, let me have another one and give me a chance to catch up.”

“You’re already ahead.”

“Then we should be exploring ways for you to get more points.”

Dammit, Chase. I couldn’t tell if he was suggestive on purpose, but the entire room was pinging with electricity. Little sparks crackled over my skin, and I almost feared his touch again. I drained the rest of my bottle. “Then you should read me another question.”

If he was waiting for me to make some kind of move, I just couldn’t do it. That’d be consenting to my inappropriate attraction, and I preferred to live in denial. As long as I didn’t pursue him, I’d be okay. ‘Keep the delusion casual’ should be my mantra.

“The Lira is the official currency of Italy.”

Ha! About time.“Bunk. It was before the euro. Of course I know that because….”Because that’s where Daniel is right now.

Chase cocked his head, but when I didn’t finish my sentence, he put the card down and handed me two chips. “You know, you never did answer me that night when I asked what moved you more deeply, lyrics or music?”

“It depends. I can be equally affected by either.” I thought about it, glad for the distraction. “Words connect me with the song, but the sound can change the whole meaning, despite the lyrics. A haunting tone can give upbeat words a different message and vice versa.”

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