Page 44 of Challenge Accepted

“You think of everything. Is it exhausting to be so perfect?”

“I am not perfect.”

“Quick, show me a bad trait. I’m starting to believe you’re a figment of my damaged brain. Maybe I’m in a coma somewhere. Maybe I got hit in the head while I was on my awful blind date and conjured you up.”

“You do have an active and very interesting imagination.”

She swung their clasped hands between them. “My mom used to tell me that. It was either focus it on writing or jewelry. My dad made jewelry seem amazing. And writing is hard.”

He played with her fingers. “Well, I think you chose correctly.”

She wiggled her fingers with their layers of rings. “How do you know I made these?”

“Seems your style. Simple, classic, with a little twist.”

“Not sure I like that you can read me so well.”

“I told you, I’m good at reading people.”

“And yet you work with computers.”

“Ah, but they are a conduit to people.” He tugged her into the little market. “Surf and turf? Surf and turf and veggies?”

“Option two, please.”

“You like lobster tail?”

“Who doesn’t?”

He twirled her through the aisle. “My mother. But she’s allergic.”

“That sucks.” She hung on his arm and lightly swayed against him. “I love seafood.”

“Would you rather have a lobster pot?”

“Nah, I want to see if you have mad grilling skills.”

He laughed. “Only if you like your filet rare.”

“Look at that, I do.”

He made the order, paid, and gathered the white butcher paper wrapped goodies into a canvas bag the market teller offered him. The same meal would have been twice as much at home.

Insane how the cost of living was that much different with a blink of a plane ride. Hell, two blocks over it was even more extreme.

When they got to the car, he waved off the driver and opened the door for her. “Change of plans, Ted. We’re just going to head back to the villa.”

“Sounds good.”

She peered over at him. “Driver?”

“Just easier here. I don’t know where the hell I’m going.”

She shook her head. “I don’t even know how to fathom living with that kind of wealth.”

“Took my mom a long time to get used to it. She and my dad finally let me buy them a small house in a swanky retirement village. They golf.”

She laughed. “You should see the look on your face.”

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