Page 37 of Freedom's Kiss
“You know what, Boss? You’re right. My morning wasn’t exactly peaches and cream either.” The words flew off her tongue before her brain processed what she was saying. All she knew was that she couldn’t be the cause of any dimmed animation in his expression.
“But what about the business and your new menu and the profits from sales?”
Pushing down all the worry and obsessive thought that had been hounding her suddenly sounded like the best idea she’d heard in a long time. “They’ll still be there tomorrow, right?”
He chucked her chin. “That’s my girl.”
Your girl?Olivia mentally stumbled, her smile wobbling. She studied Adam, trying to figure out if he meant more by those words than their face value, but he’d returned his grip on her wrist and once again pulled her across the field to his car.
No, he hadn’t meant anything by it. He’d called hersweetheartand had hugged and touched her even more than her last boyfriend, but that was just his way. He was just a touchy-feely guy who flirted and teased because of his personality. No need for her to make a big deal out of it. Not like after such short an acquaintance he’d really make such a claim on her.
And it wasn’t as if her skin tingled whenever his fingers brushed against her arm or her insides warmed when he looked so deep into her eyes that it seemed like he could see into her very soul. It wasn’t as if the drifting feeling fled whenever he put his arms around her. She didn’t feel safe and protected within that circle. The lost girl didn’t feel found.
Except that was exactly what was happening.
She tugged back on the arm he held, feeling the need to put a little distance between them. Her life already resembled the set of a prime-time drama. Mixing in a romance with a new boss wasnotsomething she needed right now. Especially if the feelings that were sprouting like daisies in the spring were only one sided.
She cleared her throat, the silence giving her brain way too much time to wind up her anxiety. “What sort of distraction did you have in mind exactly?”
His brow lifted, and she recognized the challenge in the expression. “How in touch are you with your inner child?”
Inner child? Did he have sidewalk chalk in his car or a football to throw around? “We have tea parties together at least once a week, why?”
He chuckled as he opened the door for her. “Because it’s time for her to come out and play.”
She gave him a questioning look, but he refused to elaborate as he drove through traffic to the other side of town. When a large lot with mini-golf greens, batting cages, a go-cart track, and a large pool with bumper boats floating along the edges came into view, she laughed.
“The Family Fun Center?”
He tossed a wink at her. “A smorgasbord of diversions.”
She touched a finger to her window as the car turned and gave her a view of the main building in the center of it all, the roof made to look like the striped big top of a circus. “I haven’t been to one of these since I turned twelve.”
“Perfect. That means I’ll crush you in all events.”
The seat belt unbuckled with a click. “Is that what it means? I don’t think so.”
He smiled, but Olivia found the turn of his lips a bit too smug for her taste. Her mom and dad had stopped playing games with her a long time ago because of her competitiveness. And maybe because they’d stopped being able to win any of them since before her middle school years. If Adam wanted a diversion, she’d give him one. It just might not be as pleasant an experience for him as it would be for her.
They walked across the parking lot and into the building, Olivia’s senses attacked as soon as they crossed the threshold. Children laughing and screaming competed against the lights and sounds of the arcade games littering the stained concrete floors. The smell of popcorn and hotdogs permeated the air, as well as something stale and sweet. They walked to the back of the admissions line, and Olivia scanned the prices and bundles on the digital display hanging from the wall behind the Center’s employee.
Adam pushed his hands into his front pockets and rocked back on his heels, his ever-present grin still in place. “How about we place a little wager on the evening to make it interesting?”
She moved her gaze from the menu to his eyes. “What kind of wager?”
“Well, a bet between my brother meant the loser would be saddled with some sort of embarrassing assignment, but I could never do that to a lady such as yourself.”
“How chivalrous of you.”
“Quite.”
“But…” She leaned forward as if to convey a secret. “I don’t see any such lady about.”
He dipped his head closer to hers. “Don’t you?”
She opened her mouth, but his nearness muddled her brain and nixed any quick retort or witty repartee she might have conjured. Smiling, she shook her head.
“How can I help you folks?” The teenager behind the counter interrupted their playful banter.
