Page 48 of Dating Goals
She laughs, and it’s my new favorite sound. “Guilty.”
“How did I not see through you?” I marvel.
“Maybe you were too busy looking at my legs.”
“That…” I feel heat climbing up my neck. “That’s actually fair.”
We stand there for a moment, smiling at each other like idiots, and I feel something settling in my chest. Something warm and solid and terrifying.
“So,” I say, rocking back on my heels. “About that dinner I apparently owe you either way…”
Her smile falters slightly, a hint of vulnerability breaking through. “I believe I was tricked into that offer under false pretenses.”
“Dinner, Anika.” I step closer. Close enough to catch the scent of her shampoo mingling with the arena smells still clinging to her coat. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“Are you asking me on a date, McGregor?”
“Yes.” No hesitation.
She looks at me with those beautiful pale blue eyes, and I find myself stepping closer still. Aching to touch her. Counting the faint freckles playing against her nose.
“For practice, you mean,” she says.
Ouch. My confidence just took a serious hit.
“Right. For practice. We can go to my place,” I suggest, trying to keep my voice casual, even though I’m feeling zero chill right now. “I make a pretty decent pasta. We could do candles, wine…” I trail off with a hopeful smile.
Anika gives me a flat stare. “Nice try, Casanova.”
I laugh, holding up my hands in surrender. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
After a moment, she looks thoughtful. “You know, I’ve been thinking about all our…sessions so far.”
“Yeah?” I shift my weight, suddenly anxious about where this is going.
“All these practice dates have been so casual. Hiking, pizza, movies. It’s been fun, but…” She tugs at her jersey. “I’ve basically been in my comfort zone the entire time. Jeans, sweaters, boots.”
I tilt my head, studying her. “Is that a bad thing?”
“No,” she says quickly. “But…”
“But what?”
Anika hesitates, then meets my eyes. “I’d really like to dress up. Go somewhere nice.”
Something warm blooms in my chest. “Yeah?”
“It doesn’t have to be expensive or particularly fancy,” she adds hastily.
The image of Anika in a sexy dress flashes through my mind, and my mouth goes a little dry. “Money’s not an issue, Anika.”
She shakes her head firmly. “That’s not what I mean. It’s just…if Thomas wants to take me somewhere I need to dress nice, I need to know how to handle myself. What if I use the wrong fork or something?” Her voice gets smaller. “What if I completely mess up the date?”
My chest tightens at the mention of Thomas, but I push past it.
“I will definitely plan something like that for you,” I say, my voice softer than I intended. I reach out and tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her cheek. “Something where you can get dressed up and feel comfortable with the whole experience.”
Anything she wants, I’ll do it. Anywhere she wants to go.
