I lift my eyebrows and restrain my smile. “Go ahead.”
He gives me an innocent look. “What?”
“Check on Tilly. I know you want to.”
“Sorry. This is supposed to be romantic.”
“It’s fine. If you don’t do it, I will.”
He grins and unlocks his phone. But before he can do anything, he sees photos. He holds the phone up to show me pics of Tilly being cuddled by Mabel, sitting on the floor withpillows, playing with a soft lamb stuffy I don’t recognize, and then holding a beer bottle. Ford makes a strangled noise. “I hope that’s Benny’s idea of a joke.”
I laugh. “I’m sure it is. She seems to be okay.”
“Yeah.” He sends a quick text message anyway and they confirm all is fine.
We talk our way through dinner, sharing tastes, drinking the delicious wine. We talk about travel and movies and TV shows, finding some things in common.
“What’s something you’re really bad at but you enjoy doing anyway?” I ask him, picking up my glass of wine.
“Hmmm. I’d say… bowling.”
I laugh. “I can’t believe you’re not good at bowling.”
“I suck at it. I’m not that great at axe throwing, either.”
“Axe throwing! Ack!”
“We did it once last year, a bunch of us. Mabel almost got taken out by a wild throw.”
I make a face. “I don’t think I’d be good at that either.”
“It’s kind of satisfying. Mabel was imagining throwing the axe at her ex-boyfriend.”
“Ah.” I purse my lips. “I could definitely do that.”
“Trevor doesn’t deserve you.”
“Thank you.” He’s being so sweet tonight, with all these romantic gestures and compliments. Although the sex in the bathroom was not sweet—it was dirty and hot and so, so good… “I agree.”
“I’m glad you know that. So what’s somethingyousuck at but like doing anyway?”
“Cooking,” I say immediately.
“You help me cook all the time.”
“Help is the key word there. I just follow your orders.”
“Hey. Are you implying I’m bossy?”
I lean forward. “You do like to be in control.”
“Can’t argue with that.” He meets my eyes and sparks crackle between us.
“Perfectionism and control issues,” I say lightly.
He contemplates me for a long moment, then picks up his glass of wine and takes a sip. “Yep,” he agrees. “But I’m working on it.”
I tilt my head, smiling slightly. “Yeah?”
