Page 9 of Stoker's Serenity

“You have my number, you could always call me, too.”

He smiled and raised an eyebrow, and I laughed.

“I’m really bad at this flirting part and the rules of engagement are absolutely mystifying to me,” I confessed.

“Oh, yeah? How’s that?” he asked, laughing.

“Like, if I called you tomorrow it would make me look desperate, right? But if I wait until the day after tomorrow, is that enough time or do I still look overeager? Then if I wait two days, is that too long? I don’t want to give you the impression I’m not interested…”

He laughed and said, “You’re overthinking this.”

“I’m good at that. Like, really good at that. People are just so confusing!”

“Nah, people just like to make things way more complicated than they need to be,” he said and I pursed my lips and nodded slowly.

“I’m good at that, too,” I murmured.

“Nah,” he shook his head, “I don’t think so.”

“How do you know? You’ve barely met me.”

He grinned. “I have a good feeling about things.”

I turned to fix our coffees, the maker finally through, and also so he wouldn’t see me blush. I couldn’t believe this was happening! Tomeof all people…

I stirred the creamer up from the bottom in each black cup with their delicate red and white glazed blossoms and brought them over to the table. He took the one I offered him, and an electric thrill traveled from where his fingertips brushed mine.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

“Welcome.”

We talked a bit more. He brought up Tyler and laughed when I made a face.

“I love her to death, but it’s a good thing Linny goes through men like dirty socks. Tyler is a passing fancy, and I guarantee he’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

“Good, that’s good. Maybe it will knock some sense into him.”

“Doubtful,” I said, after swallowing a sip from my cup.

“Truth. Most guys like that never figure it the fuck out.”

“No,” I agreed. “They don’t.”

He sighed, and it was the kind of sigh that said all good things must come to an end, and it was the end of my night. I was a mix of disappointed and grateful. He roved over me with his gaze and asked softly, one more time, “You sure you’re alright?”

I nodded slowly.

“I’m sure, thanks to you.”

He nodded.

“Okay, I’ll call you sometime this week.”

I smirked. “No pressure.”

He laughed.

“Never,” he said and I caught the double meaning behind the word and it made me relax just that much more around him.

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