Page 72 of The Suitcase Swap

Mike used the knife to slide the hunk of Brie onto a slice of apple. ‘Well, first, I was going to invite you in and hope you didn’t notice that I was so nervous I was basically covered in sweat. I’d planned on distracting you away from this very obvious fact by showing you my post-dinner cheese plate.’

‘Good plan,’ Sophie said, setting down her sandwich on the napkin so she could sip her wine. ‘That would have worked. I’m often hypnotized by cheese.’

‘Who isn’t?’ Mike asked, tossing a grape towards his mouth, only for it to hit the side of his face and land unceremoniously on the duvet.

Sophie picked up the grape and held it out to him.

‘That’s probably the least hygienic grape ever. Do you know where this bedspread has been? Because I do.’ He leaned forward and snatched the grape with his teeth.

‘Then why did you eat it?’

‘I’m a filthy man.’ He grabbed another bit of cheese.

‘Okay then, filthy man. What else?’

‘While the chicken was resting, a little dancing. I made a playlist. A little salsa in the kitchen. Then dinner, where I would regale you with charming anecdotes about my life.’

‘Like what?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t have any. I’d planned on either making some up or deflecting and asking you questions aboutyourlife.’

‘Hm, yes, good plan.’ She finished off her sandwich.

‘Then, if things were going really well, I was going to ask if you wanted to watch a movie and work my courage up to holding your hand. My first bold move to seduction.’

She almost choked on her sandwich. ‘First bold move, huh? What would you call that thing we did on the couch in my flat?’

‘Hot, that’s what I’d call it.’ He finally abandoned the cheese in favour of his sandwich.

They ate quietly for several moments, enjoying each other’s company, before a question occurred to Sophie. ‘Were you really nervous?’

‘Terrified,’ Mike said. ‘I wanted this to go well.’ He canted his head, gazing up at her. ‘Did it?’

‘Spectacularly well,’ Sophie said. ‘A couple of times.’

He laughed before remembering something she’d said earlier. ‘Hey, what did you mean when you said, “It was one ofthosekinds of dinners”?’

‘Something my friend Edie said when I mentioned your invite. She asked if it was a proper dinner or the kind where we’d have sex against the hallway wall.’

Mike blinked, his half-eaten sandwich only part way to his mouth. ‘Is Edie psychic?’

‘No,’ Sophie said. ‘A little terrifying at times, and you don’t want to cross her, but not psychic.’

‘Because that wasn’t my plan at all.’ He took a sip of wine, setting the glass back on the bedside table when he was finished. ‘It was that dress’s fault. As well as your underthings. And the sight of you in them.’ He fell back onto the bed, slinging his arm over his eyes with a groan. ‘I was basically all over you as soon as you walked in the door, pawing you like an animal.’

Sophie bit into one of the apple slices, the flavour pleasantly tart and sweet. ‘Did you hear me complaining? Your plans were lovely, but this way I still had a nice dinnerandI got to paw you in your hallway.’ She smiled at him as she took another bite. ‘I blame the shirt you were wearing, as well as the jeans low on your hips. And the sight of you in them. Top date marks all around.’

He leaned across their makeshift picnic and kissed her. ‘How lucky I am that you’ve dropped the bar so very low.’

She kissed him this time, and he tasted apples and wine on her lips.

He pulled back just far enough that he could talk. ‘Are you still hungry?’

‘No,’ Sophie said. ‘Why?’

‘Because I think it’s time for dessert.’

‘What else did you get for dessert? I’ve already seen your cheese plate.’

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