What the hell? I’m sweet? That’s precious, but I’m not going for sweet. I’m going for sexy, irresistible, hot. Apparently, that doesn’t come across with a Snickers bar…I’m thinking the rubber band bow was a miscalculation. Dammit. I spent a full five minutes on that.
Fuck it. I’m doing this. I’ve been thinking about doing this for months now. Deep breath, here I go…
“Elaine?” Sweet Jesus. My voice just cracked. Way to go, Walker. Charm that woman by sounding like a thirteen-year-old boy. I clear my throat and try again. “Elaine.”
She looks up at me, her brown eyes wide, a question in her smile. “Yea?”
Another deep breath. Holy hell, I should have thought this through. Maybe gotten tips from Nick. Nick is suave.
Nick is smooth.
I’m sweet, apparently.
Fuck sweet.
“Elaine, do you want to get a drink?” There. That was decent, mostly painless, and my voice stayed nice and low. I’m calling that a win.
“A drink? Oh, no, I’m good. I have water.” She holds up a half-full, hot pink Camelbak.
Ok, so definitely not a win…
Fuck.
“No, a real drink. An adult beverage. You, me, a bar? After work tonight or another night if that’s better?”
“Are you even old enough to drink?” Her joke falls a little flat as I level her with what I can only pray is a smoldering look.
“Are you asking me out on a date, Wonderboy?” Her brows are wrinkled in confusion, and it’s clear that she’s asking a legitimate question, rather than playing coy.
“My name’s Simon, and yes, I’m asking you out.”
I’m holding my breath, waiting for the axe to fall on this completely awkward and probably ill-fated conversation when Elaine leans forward and places the back of her hand on my forehead, like she’s checking my temperature. I’m not gonna lie. It’s weird, but if she’s got some doctor/patient fantasy, I’m game. She removes her hand, frowning, and then grabs my chin and peers into my eyes. Ok, this is really weird now, but damn, her hands are soft. She speaks, and it takes me a second to follow.
“Simon. Simon? Are you high?”
Wait. What?
She grips my chin tighter and repeats, “Simon, are you high?”
She’s fucking serious. I realize this as she pushes up my sleeves to inspect my forearms. I can only assume she’s checking for track marks? Still, she can look if she likes. She seemed to enjoy the view earlier today. She inspects both arms thoroughly, and I take a moment to breathe in the sweet smell of her hair. She leans closer still, and I wonder if maybe she’s going to kiss me, but no such luck. She starts sniffing. Christ Almighty. She’s smelling me.
“No, I’m not high, Elaine.” I peel her away just enough so that we’re face to face. “I’m perfectly lucid and absolutely sober. And I’m asking you out.”
“Why?” She seems unsure and more than a little suspicious and that breaks my heart. I’m clearly not suave or smooth, but I am totally honest. “Because you’re beautiful.”
And for the first time since I’ve met her, Elaine Madigan is speechless. I seize my opportunity. “C’mon, Elaine. It’ll be fun.”
“Simon, it’s sweet of you to ask, but I’m probably old enough to be your mother.”
I raise my brows at her hyperbole. “Not even remotely.”
“Still, there’s a bit of an age gap, don’t you think?” She’s biting her lip now, and I’m starting to wonder what it would feel like if she bit mine.
“Doesn’t matter. We have fun together. Besides, my birthday was last week and—”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Yep. I hit the big 2-5. And in my family, we celebrate birthdays all month long. Today’s the thirtieth, so you only have a little more than twenty-four hours to wish me a happy birthday properly.”
