I look at his list, add a few items of my own, and slide the pad back to him. “You’re on, Wonderboy.”
head up, and says, “Okay.”
WE’VE BEEN AT THISscavenger hunt for a good half hour, and we’re tied at 5. We’ve got a list of outlandish costumes and the goal is to spot as many, in real time, as we can. People watching is fun, but let’s face it: I’ve mostly been watching Elaine—the way she smiles softly, the way she toys with the ends of her hair or the bracelets on her wrist. I thought I was crushing before, but spending time with her one-on-one, (and no, the occasional carpool does not count) has me completely enchanted.
She scans the bar again, but the look on her face tells me she’s come up empty. I take a quick glance around and smile.
“What?”
“Sexy nun for the win.”
“No freaking way.”
“Yes freaking way. Sexy nun right at your back. Wait.okay, look now.” I watch her turn to spot a co-ed in little more than a crop-top and a habit. Seriously, her skirt’s the size of a business envelope, which could be an issue in the eyes of the Lord. “Holy crap, that girl will catch pneumonia.”
“Maybe the sexy doctors at the bar should lend a hand?”
She laughs, and my heart expands. “Well, sure. It’s the medically responsible thing to do.”
I shake my head at the visual. “Sounds like a bad porno.”
“Is there such a thing as a good porno?” The sincerity in her voice makes me choke on my beer.
“Oh, God! I’m sorry! Are you okay? Here, put your arms up. Maybe you need the sexy doctors?”
I cough loudly and draw a few stares. I smile in reassurance. “I’m good,” I promise, as I clear my throat a final time. “I don’t need the sexy doctors. Thoroughly enjoying my evening with a sexy copy-editor, though.”
Elaine blushes at my compliment as I flag down the scarecrow. Hell, even I’m impressed with the level of smooth I’ve been able to maintain. Being with Elaine is so easy that all—well, okay, a solid 50%—of my awkwardness seems to have dissipated.
The scarecrow returns and nods when I ask for a refill. She turns to Elaine, “Another for you, too?”
“Yes, thanks, but I’ll switch to a Shirley Temple Black.” Scarecrow nods again and disappears into the crowd.
“Did you seriously just order a Shirley Temple? That’s awesome. I don’t think I’ve had one of those since I was ten.”
She opens her mouth, and I’d bet my Wookie collection she’s about to knock on my age.
Emboldened by the fact that I’m making her laugh and this date is going well, despite my inability to wear matching shoes, I reach across the table and press my finger to her lips. “Don’t say it.”
She widens her eyes with innocence, but I’m not fooled. Gifted program, remember? “Don’t. Whatever crack you were going to say about my age or yours, don’t.”
Scarecrow returns with our drinks, and I accept mine, even if it means pulling my hand away from Elaine’s lips.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.” She can’t keep a straight face as she lifts her drink.
“Bullshit. You were two seconds away from saying something like, ‘When you were ten? What was that? Three years ago?’” I’m sure I impress her with my exaggerated falsetto.
“Yes, well.” She looks appropriately and adorably sheepish. “I was merely going to clarify that a Shirley Temple Black is an improvement on the old standard because it contains a shot of vodka. And the Black comes in because that was her married name.”
“Who knew? And it’s good, this grown up version?”
“It’s delicious.” She sips her drink through her straw, and my cock, which has been half hard since this date began, presses painfully against my fly. Christ. If she starts talking about porn again, I’ll go out of my damn mind.
She reaches across the table this time and puts her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. Her thumb rubs over my pulse point; it’s barely a touch, but it’s enough to drive me crazy.
Her hand moves down to my forearm, and her fingers caress the skin there. It feels good, sure, but when I look up at her and see the flush on her cheeks and I know she’s getting turned on by my forearms, I nearly lose it.
She pulls away quickly, and I’m about to protest or cry like a baby, but she’s toying with the little plastic sword, and I’m a little mesmerized as she peels a cherry off the length of the sword, rolls it on the tips of her fingers, and then points it in my direction. “Want my cherry?”
Sweet. Jesus.
