Page 5 of Blind Date With a Cop
Her eyes latch onto mine—sharp, suspicious, beautiful. “I have a feeling if I don’t tell you, you’re going to order every pizza on the menu.”
“Aw, honey,” I say, tugging the handle and swinging the door open. “You know me so well already. See? We’re perfect for each other.”
She rolls those green eyes. “Pepperoni, please.”
Inside, the garlic-scented air smells like heaven. I scan the dining area looking for a booth instead of a table. I spy an empty one in the back.
“Gus,” I call to the mountain behind the counter, “large pepperoni, basket of wings. And—babe, what would you like to drink?”
She winces at my nickname for her, but she doesn’t correct me. I’ll take that as a win.
“Diet anything works.”
“A diet and a regular Coke.”
“You got it!” Gus booms, scratching his beard with a flour-dusted knuckle.
We slide into a booth.
“Have you ever been here?” I ask.
“No.” Her gaze drifts to the art on the wall. “It’s nice. I really like the canvas paintings. They’re beautiful. If I’m not mistaken, they’re Italian landscapes and street scenes.”
“You’re spot on. Gus goes to Italy every year,” I tell her. “He buys one painting as a souvenir and adds it to the wall. He makes the best pizza in Arizona. You’re going to love it.”
“We’ll see,” she sighs. “This is all very weird, you know.”
“You’re right.” I nod once. “Let’s take the weirdness out of it. Don’t move.”
I stand, walk outside into the night for a beat, then come right back in and head straight to our table. She tips her head to the side, utterly confused.
“Hi,” I offer my hand. “I’m Blake.”
She tries not to smile and loses. “Hi, I’m Cassie.” Her soft hand slides into mine.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I force myself to let her hand go. “Are you eating alone?”
“I was…” she blushes.
“May I join you?”
“Sure,” she shrugs, but her eyes are brighter now.
I sit back down just as Gus arrives with our wings and drinks.
“Gus, this is my girlfriend, Cassie,” I give her a wink. “Cassie, this is Gus. The best pizza chef in the country.”
“Pleased to meet you, Cassie. Any friend of Blake’s is a friend of mine. Let me know if you two need anything else.”
“Thank you,” Cassie peels the paper from her straw.
As soon as Gus is out of earshot, she jams her straw into her drink and gives me an icy glare that should scare me, but it doesn’t. It gives me a glimpse of the wildcat she keeps hidden inside, and I like that—a whole helluva lot. “I am not your girlfriend,” she growls.
I lean in, my elbows on the table, completely unbothered. “I could’ve called you my fiancée, but I figured that would be too much for you right now. I’m trying to ease you into this whole thing.”
Her jaw drops. “Are you mad?”
“I’m crazy,” I drop my elbows, leaning in closer, “over you.”
