Page 38 of Second Round

Jackie

“That was a great dinner,”I told Leo as we headed back to his place. We’d gone to a French bistro where he’d impressed me even more—if that were possible—by chatting with the waiter in perfect French. It was like we were in Paris or Montréal. Tonight was my do-over, and I was trying really to be cool. But the more you think about not being nervous, the more nervous you get. Why was sex such a big deal for me? Was it because I hadn’t had any for so long? Or was it because I wanted sex with Leo to be great? Maybe Sharon was right and I was romanticizing himtoomuch.

He’s just another guy. It was hard to convince myself of that when I looked over at him. In profile, the sharp planes of his face emphasized his masculine good looks. He had this dynamic quality about him, and I couldn’t stop glancingathim.

“Yeah, I enjoy a solid meal. I find there’s too much raw fish inVancouver.”

“We have to keep up our reputation as the granola and yoga capital of Canada,”Isaid.

“You guys all like to stop and smell with yournoses.”

I laughedloudly.

“What’s soamusing?”

“Wasn’t that a joke? I mean, it’s supposed to be ‘stop and smell theroses.’”

He shook his head. “Merde. I get caught between languages sometimes. Then when I go home, my family complains how much my Frenchsucks.”

“Do you dream in French?” I wondered. Apparently, that was how to tell what your naturallanguagewas.

“I don’t dream,”hesaid.

“That’s impossible! Everyonedreams.”

He shrugged. “If I dream, I don’t remember mydreams.”

Nobody could be as in control of his life as Leo appeared. He didn’t even have unconscious thoughts? But I couldn’t help but envy his complete confidence. “It must be so nice tobeyou.”

“Howso?”

“I don’t know, you’re so sure of yourself. You know what you’re doing and you don’t worry about what anyonethinks.”

“Set your own goals and don’t worry about the rest. You have to maintain your focus.” He sounded like a totalcoach.

“Easy for you to say. But women are different. We think about communities and people’s feelingsconstantly.”

Leo pulled into his parking spot. He turned off the car and reached for me. He lifted my chin and pressed his mouth against mine in a brief, warm kiss. “Vive la difference,Jacqueline.”

One kiss and I was already melting into a puddle of lusting goo. I’d be lucky to be able to stand up when I got out of the car. On the plus side, I’d be able look up the leg of his dress pants once I was lying on thepavement.

I managed to make it to the living room of Leo’s apartment. Here we were, in the exact same situation as a few days ago... except I was now confident and calm. As if.I am woman. Hear me not totally wimp outthistime.

Leo wasn’t acting flirty or seductive. He was maintaining a polite distance in keeping with his whole promise of respecting my timing. But damn it, I wanted to plunge headfirst in something physical—before I lost my nerve completely and we ended up on PlanetPlatonic.

“So, you had a tough day at work?” I asked. He had to push back our dinner by half an hour. Also, what a lame thing to say. I sounded more like his wife of fifty-plusyears.

Leo nodded. Talking about work came easily to him, because his mind seemed to be half there anyway. He was a multi-tasker who was able to check his phone and make notes while being completely charming andseductive.

“Yeah, there’s one player. He’s been struggling for the past few weeks. He keeps coming to talk to me, but on the ice, he can’t move forward. We’re trying to figure out what hisissuesare.”

“Oh, what do you think theproblemis?”

“He’s got some kind of performanceanxiety.”

I snorted. “Justlikeme.”

Leo slid his arm down the couch behind me. “I’ve been thinking about your problem too—what to do about yournervousness.”

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