Page 17 of Holidate Fail
He had to say something before he spilled his guts out to her. “So how did you meet Heath?” Yeah, that was good. Talk about her date.
She glanced at the other man, his forehead practically touching Lacole’s. Of course they had to get close to hear each other over the noise in the café. “The Holidates dating app, actually. I didn’t want to do the Tri-Shine Stills and Dash alone, so I found someone to do it with.”
“Heh, Lacole and I matched on that dating app, too,” Kelly said. “I wish I had known you were on there, too. I would have been your date.”
Her eyes widened but stayed intent on his. He could look at her like this, the sole subject of her attention, for hours. Heat colored her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze.
Aw, damn. Her hand was right there, resting on her jeans, so he reached out and gave her fingers a small caress.
She stared at their connected hands. “Is this that touching you were talking about earlier?” she asked.
He drew his back with a laugh. “Maybe?”
She studied him with her frank gaze, and now he was the one who didn’t look away. Finally, she broke the eye contact with a huff of a smile and a small shake of her head.
Heat filled his body, and he longed to unwrap her braids and hold her to him, thoroughly exploring her mouth with his. Would it be crass to get her phone and put in his number in front of Lacole? In front of Heath?
Yeah, probably.
Did he care?
No way was he going to text Wayne and ask him for her number. Hanging out every few weeks or chatting and going online to play video games was a far cry from dating his sister.
Besides. Would she want the stress of being with someone hanging on to a business by his cuticles?
Kristy hadn’t. And though he was loathe to admit it, their divorce had shaken his confidence.
“I thought the scavenger hunt would have more challenges, like fighting with lightsabers or turning in circles and then trying to run in a straight line.” Dahlia scooted her chair closer to get out of the way of the server, who had brought over their drinks and food. “I saw posts of that from past hunts.”
“Maybe they’re later.” Kelly handed her a straw.
“It’s getting kinda late for later.” She gave a half shrug and a shy smile that made heat stew low in his belly. “I like puzzles, though. I can do puzzles.”
“I remember that.” He grinned at her. “I also remember you helping me and Wayne with our homework.”
“Yeah, well.” A flush crept up her neck as she looked him in the eyes. “I’ve learned a lot since calculus.”
Was that…was she flirting with him?
“Hey, we got a row!” Lacole said. Kelly gave her a high five.
“On to the next,” Heath added.
Dahlia lifted her hand but Heath didn’t notice. He turned back to Lacole and the paper between them.
Dahlia scratched her chin instead, then took a bite of her chicken. “I mean, I knew there’d be physical challenges.”
He must have imagined the flirting.
“But I’d rather use my brain than be dizzy,” she continued. “Not that I’m always using my brain. I do when figuring out puzzles, obviously, but not when, say, I’m walking across the street. I mean, I use enough of my brain to not get plowed down by a convertible, but, you know, that’s it.”
“So if it was a Zamboni and not a car, you’d be in trouble.”
“In the street?”
It took her a moment to realize he was teasing, but the result was worth it. Her smile came naturally and her shoulders relaxed.
What made her act the outgoing flirty type and then retreat into this hesitant, shy person? The Dahlia he’d known had been quiet and reserved. It had taken some time, but this new one was more open and outgoing. He liked them both. But mostly, he’d like her to be comfortable enough around him to be who she truly was.
