Page 54 of The Pursuit

“Nothing.” At his continued amusement, I rolled my eyes. “I was just surprised that’s all.”

“Didn’t we both agree we needed a dating locale that was completely and totally unsexy?”

“We did.”

“Can you possibly imagine anything less sexy than bowling shoes and stale beer?”

I laughed. “True.” With a teasing look, I mused, “Of course, there is the part where you fondle large balls.”

Noah snorted a laugh. “Fondle?”

“I’m sorry. Would you prefer caress?”

With a shudder, Noah replied, “Just the thought of some pervert allegedly caressing bowling balls is enough to turn me off.”

“Then this really is the perfect place.”

“Exactly.”

“So, let’s do this,” I said as I opened the car door. Noah did the same, and then we walked to the building. Always the gentleman, Noah held open the door for me. “Thanks,” I murmured as I entered the building. Immediately the smell of leather intermingling with stale beer and hot dogs filled my nose. “Is there some unwritten rule that every bowling alley smells the same?”

“I think it’s in their bylaws,” Noah replied with a grin.

We made our way across the multicolored carpet, which appeared to have been around since the 90’s. When we reached the counter, a busty blonde with an insanely tight top and sprayed on jean shorts smiled at Noah. “Hey there, stranger,” she purred.

Noah grinned. “Hey, Tabby.”

Of course, she would be named after a cat since she was practically in heat over Noah. Just once I wanted to go somewhere that he didn’t have that effect on women. I thought we were safe at a bowling alley of all places.

Without even a glance in my direction, Tabby kept her horny gaze fixated on him. “You back for good now?”

With a shake of his head, Noah replied, “Just for a few weeks.”

“Pity,” Tabby mused. “We sure do miss you around here.”

Before Noah could reply, I plopped my purse on the counter. “Nine, please and thank you.”

Without taking her gaze from Noah, she asked, “Still a thirteen, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

A shudder rippled through her as she dipped her gaze below Noah’s waist. “That’s a big…shoe.”

At her continued sexualization of Noah, red flashed before my eyes. I blame my Hispanic and Sicilian roots for what I did next. It’s the only thing that could explain my next actions. I let my hand drop from the counter to grab Noah’s crotch. The moment my fingers grazed his package Noah sucked in a sharp breath. “I can assure you he has areallybig dick to go with that shoe.”

Tabby’s eyes momentarily bulged at my response before curling her lip in disgust at me. “This is a family establishment.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be dressing like the Happy Hooker?” I countered

“Okaaaay, then,” Noah stated before removing my hand from his crotch. Jerking his chin at Tabby, he said, “We’ll take the shoes and go.”

Without another word to either of us, she made quick work of getting our shoes and shoving them onto the counter. “Thanks,” he replied before dragging me and the shoes away.

As soon as we were out of Tabby’s earshot, Noah busted out laughing. “I can’t believe you just molested me in front of her.”

“She started it,” I protested.

Giving me that cocky smirk of his, he replied, “Maybe next time you could just piss on my leg to assert your claim on me?”

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