Page 29 of Wicked Beautiful (Wicked Games 1)
“Me neither. I’m not asking for any guarantees. Just a chance.”
Silence.
“How about a date?” I ask. “One date, nothing more. No thinking beyond that.”
More silence.
“You did say you still owed me one,” I remind her. “Consider it payment. If you don’t enjoy yourself, all bets are off. I promise I’m not a stalker.” I pause. “Unless you like stalkers.”
I’m gratified to hear her soft laugh.
“Not particularly.”
“It’s a deal, then?”
After a moment, she relents. “One date.”
Though inside I’m cheering, I pretend to be hurt. “Don’t sound so enthusiastic, Victoria. It’s not like you’re being led to the gallows.”
Her “hmm” doesn’t sound convinced.
I check my watch. “I can be back in New York in four hours. What time should I pick you up?”
“Wait, you’re not in New York? Where are you?”
“Vegas. Not that it matters. If I was on the moon I’d find a way to make it back for our date tonight.”
Now she laughs with a little more gusto. “Tonight? I never said anything about tonight! It’s a Monday, pal. I’ve got work to do tomorrow!”
I grin. “Tomorrow night, then.”
“No, no way. I’m booked this week. I might be open Saturday night, but I’ll have to check my schedule and get back to you—”
“Don’t say no to the man with the delicious churro in his pants, Victoria,” I growl.
Her answering laugh is so genuine and free it makes my grin grow until my face hurts.
“Fine. I’ll tell you what. There’s a cocktail party I’m supposed to go to on Friday, but this person gives the worst parties, and I suppose I can blow it off. Just this once. For the man with the delicious churro in his pants.”
The flirtatious tone is back. Along with it comes an overpowering feeling of triumph, like I’ve just scored the winning touchdown.
“Friday, then. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
She agrees, and we say our good-byes.
I stand in the empty office for another ten minutes before heading back to the conference room, a big shit-eating grin on my face.
The span between a Monday and a Friday has never been so long.
TEN
~ Victoria ~
“How do I look?”
“The same as you always look.”
“Which is how, exactly?”
