Page 17 of Outside the Lines
But he hadn’t run. Hadn’t turned down our offer of lunch. Then again, his set was sitting in our store, so this could be a captive-audience thing. Shit. I hadn’t thought of that.
I stole a glance at Ian, but couldn’t read him at all. “Anywhere in particular you’d like to go?”
He pursed his lips. “I’m fine with Raven’s Flight. They’ve got great burgers.”
“You like burgers, huh?” He’d had one last night, as well.
Ian glanced over. “I do. I’m also very fond of sausage.” He said it in a totally deadpan manner, but there was an evil glint in his eyes.
Lydia snort-laughed while I reddened. But hey, he was flirting. That was a good sign. My insides tumbled.
At Raven’s Flight, they sat us in a booth in the back, away from others and it was pretty private. Good. Lydia and I sat opposite Ian. After we got our waters and menus, Ian folded his hands and placed them on the table. “So,” he said. “Open marriage?”
“Yup,” Lydia said. “For all ten years.”
Ian seemed to chew on that. “But still married.”
“We love each other,” I murmured. “Clicked exactly right. And since we were both poly before . . .” I shrugged. “We got married. Didn’t change who we were.”
Ian studied each of us in turn. “I’ve done poly, but usually it’s been guys who like dating a lot of other guys, not—” He waved between the two of us. “A married couple. That’susuallymonogamy.”
“You’d be surprised,” I said.
“Maybe I would be.” He read the menu for a moment before those deep brown eyes met mine again. “Why me?”
Lydia sat back and picked up the menu. I caught her little smile. Ian did too. Yeah, on the surface the reason why I was interested was obvious. Ian washot. “Could ask you the same question.”
He nodded and ran a finger down the lunch specials. “Well, aside from being sexier than sin, you’re notWolf’s Landing, but you’re a geek so you understand me.” He looked up. “And you’re really talented.”
I hadn’t considered that. Iwasa comics guy and a townie. But talented? “I—uh.” I reached for my water. “I do paint by numbers, Ian. I’m not . . .”
His raised eyebrows stopped my breath. “Dude. I watched you working on my set. I’mlettingyou work on my set. Trust me. You’ve the skills of a pro.”
Lydia flipped over the menu, then set it on the table. “He’s got you there, Si.”
“Is he always like this?” Ian sounded exasperated.
“Totally unaware of how awesome he is?” Lydia chuckled. “Yup. Always.”
Well, now my face was burning. “I—um.” I had nothing. Thankfully, the waitress came to take our orders. I quickly scanned the list and ended up ordering the salmon burger. Lydia got a steak salad, and damn him to hell, Ian ordered a sausage on a bun.
After the waitress left, Ian had the devil’s grin when he picked up his water. “You didn’t answer my question, you know.”
Lydia snickered and leaned back. My lovely wife. Abandoning me.
Only one option: I told the truth. “You’re stunning.” I took a breath. “And you have a job I can only dream about. That you trust me to help—”
“Si, I told you—”
“It means something to me. You’re witty, hard-working, and kind. You like comics andStargateand . . .” I shrugged. “We clicked.”
He took a sip of his water and set it down, but didn’t say anything.
“Look,” I said. “I know this is a different situation than maybe you’re used to, but . . . I’d like to see where it goes.”
“It is different.” He studied me from across the table. “I’ve never had a guy ask me out with his wife sitting next to him.”
Lydia shrugged. “At least you know he’s on the up and up.” Her smile faded to seriousness. “I have absolutely no issues with it.”
