Page 92 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
“His neighbor?” I raise my eyebrows. “Isn’t his neighbor married? And, like, fifty?”
“New tenant moved in this week,” Jordan says with a mischievous grin. “Her name is Darcy.”
Houston glances up and we all flinch, but then he goes right back to his phone. Now he’s frowning, though, and he settles back into his seat right as Tamlin returns.
I gasp when Fischer shifts his hand from my leg to my back, tracing the curve of my spine from my shoulder blades down to my tailbone. I definitely turn red because Kit and Skyler both give me a knowing look.
“Would you stop?” I whisper to Fischer as he trails his fingers up again until they tangle into my curls.
“I’m quickly learning I do not have a lot of patience,” he whispers back.
Yeah, I know the feeling.
“And now for our lightning round!” the trivia host says into his microphone. “Sports!”
Fischer’s thumb and forefinger dig into the muscle in my neck, and I can’t hold back a groan of pleasure. At least the game is almost over and we can get back to what we started before dinner. At this point, I don’t even care if we win, so I’m going to let Skyler and Kit handle this round. All they have to do is hold the line and keep us in the lead.
Tamlin answers the first question before the host even finishes it, which is impressive. Houston answers the second question. Kit manages to get one answer in there, but it’s clear Houston and Tamlin are now in a showdown, and I’m pretty sure none of the other teams are even trying.
Which makes it easy for me to fully turn my focus to Fischer as he twists to put his right hand on my knee while he continues his neck rub. For a guy who doesn’t like to be touched, he has really figured out this whole touching thing.
“Would you rather,” he says, drawing out each word as he leans in close.
“Yes,” I reply.
He smiles and then licks his lips. I stare at those lips in anticipation. “You didn’t let me finish the question.”
“I stand by my answer.”
“Then here’s a different question. When I take you home, can I kiss you goodnight?”
My breath catches. “I’m pretty sure we’ve already established my stance on that matter.” But then I understand his meaning, and I put my hand over his at my neck to still his movements. “Goodnight?” I repeat. Which means this date is almost to a close.
He nods. “Much as I would like to kiss you until dawn, I’m going to try to be a gentleman and not keep you up late.”
“I sort of imagined tonight going differently.” I cringe when he lifts an eyebrow. “Not like…not like that.” I can’t believe I just implied something so intimate in the middle of a game of trivia.
Speaking of… I glance up right as the host announces the last question of the night. I have no idea where our team stands, but Houston looks like he’s had the worst night of his life. He’s not necessarily angry, but he definitely looks confused as he stares at Tamlin. He can deny it all he wants, but he’s intrigued by that reporter. He might even admire her.
Kit answers the final question, and the Triviateers are declared the winner. Despite the intimate conversation I was just having with Fischer, I cheer alongside Kit—I like to win, okay? And when Fischer gives me a smile, I reward him with a kiss to his cheek.
“You can kiss me goodnight,” I tell him. “And it had better be agoodkiss.”
He laughs at that one. “What if it’s not?”
I’m about to tell him that he’ll be dead to me if it isn’t, but then I catch the vulnerability in his eyes. For a brief moment, I inexplicably forgot how much this man struggled just to hold my hand. I don’t even know if he’s ever kissed someone before tonight. He’s been making all the moves, just like he said, but I have to remember that there’s a good chance a lot of this is new to him.
Shifting my smile to something gentler, I press my palm to his cheek. I love how he closes his eyes and seems to really take in my touch. “Fischer Bradley, I don’t think you and I are capable of sharing a bad kiss. Even if we are, it won’t make me like you any less.”
He exhales, giving me a look that says I could not have said anything more perfect, and then he swoops in, stopping right before his mouth reaches mine. “I am at my limit,” he says against my lips. “Please tell me we can leave.”
“We can absolutely leave.” But then I catch sight of Houston as he follows Tamlin to the door, and I groan, dropping my head onto Fischer’s chest. “We can leave right after I talk to my brother.”
Fischer growls, the sound rumbling through me.
“I know,” I tell him, “but I have to make sure he knows the plan for his appearance at the Greenwood on Saturday. It’ll be quick, I promise!”
“Promises, promises,” he grumbles and then tugs me out of my seat so we can join the throng of people on their way out now that trivia is over.
