figured I’d have more fun going out with you.”
“Bubbles?” With that kind of name, I couldn’t decide whether or not I needed to be jealous.
“My golden retriever. They named her at the pound before I rescued her. In case you were wondering.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Duke v. NC is a big deal. With March Madness right around the corner, this game could turn out to be a preview of the Final Four.”
Sports talk. I had no idea how to translate that. If his big plans were to watch basketball with his dog, then that suggested…. “Does this mean you’re single?”
He nodded and then reached for his water. “Would I be here if I weren’t?”
“But you’re hot.” Oh, good job, Rachel. Impress him with your intelligence, why don’t you?
He choked on his sip, coughed into his hand, then set his glass down. “I’ll take that as a compliment, but as long as we’re comparing looks…are you sure you’re single?”
A zing went through me. Man, he was smooth. Very smooth.
“Yes, I am.” I smirked. “Single, that is. Like you.”
He laughed and I could feel the smoldering going on. “Good. Glad that’s settled.”
The waitress returned with our mystery drinks, took our orders, then left without a hint of a smile.
Noah eyed his martini glass. “Time to find out if it’s toxic.”
“Should we take turns in case one of us has to call 911?” I asked, playfully.
He leaned toward me, his face sobering. “I say we go down together.”
My skin tingled and I so wanted to get that in writing. I lifted my pink drink. “Here’s to taking chances.”
He raised his glass. “In more ways than one.”
I took a sip and the syrupy sweet liquid slid down with ease. I loved it. I loved Ellen. I loved life. Wow, who would’ve thought it?
Lowering my glass, I traced the sugary lip with my finger. “You know, I don’t do small talk well. I swore this would be my last blind date.”
“I promise, no small talk. And as to your vow, I’ll do my best to hold you to it.”
Hold me to it? I was kind of hoping he’d just hold me. I blushed at the thought and grasped for conversation. “How’s it possible you don’t have a girlfriend?” I blurted, still amazed that I was here. With Noah. The Noah. The one I’d been dreaming about for months. “Since you’re so hot, I mean.” I added that last part teasingly, poking fun at myself.
I could tell he thought I was cute.
Maybe this Love Potion stuff had been a good idea, after all. I took another fortifying sip.
He set his glass down on the table. “Well, I was in a relationship for several years before I relocated for this job opportunity. Kate’s a great person, but we didn’t see ourselves spending the rest of our lives together. Our break-up was mutual and amicable.”
Clearly, Kate was insane.
He reached for a piece of bread, buttered it, then set it on my plate. “What about you?”
“Nothing so civil.” I picked up the tiny slice of bread and took a breath. “Jeremy and I were never on the same page. It felt like two years trying to put a tuxedo on a pig.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” he said, seriously.
“It was, but I can thank my hairdresser for taking the load off me. She’d been giving him more than haircuts, behind my back, if you know what I mean.”
He winced. “Sorry to hear that.”
I leaned toward him, bit my bottom lip, and gave a little shrug. “I’m over it.”
“I’m glad.” Forget smoldering. We’d advanced to downright sizzling.
Heat blazed through me. This ranked beyond The Friend Zone. If I could speak, I would’ve asked for the check. Instead, my eyes were locked with his and there was no way I was looking away first.
The waitress set our plates down in front of us, distracting me and breaking the moment.
Noah tugged at his collar, then picked up his fork. “What were we talking about?”
“Relationships.” I beamed, loving that I seemed to affect him as much as he did
“Bubbles?” With that kind of name, I couldn’t decide whether or not I needed to be jealous.
“My golden retriever. They named her at the pound before I rescued her. In case you were wondering.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Duke v. NC is a big deal. With March Madness right around the corner, this game could turn out to be a preview of the Final Four.”
Sports talk. I had no idea how to translate that. If his big plans were to watch basketball with his dog, then that suggested…. “Does this mean you’re single?”
He nodded and then reached for his water. “Would I be here if I weren’t?”
“But you’re hot.” Oh, good job, Rachel. Impress him with your intelligence, why don’t you?
He choked on his sip, coughed into his hand, then set his glass down. “I’ll take that as a compliment, but as long as we’re comparing looks…are you sure you’re single?”
A zing went through me. Man, he was smooth. Very smooth.
“Yes, I am.” I smirked. “Single, that is. Like you.”
He laughed and I could feel the smoldering going on. “Good. Glad that’s settled.”
The waitress returned with our mystery drinks, took our orders, then left without a hint of a smile.
Noah eyed his martini glass. “Time to find out if it’s toxic.”
“Should we take turns in case one of us has to call 911?” I asked, playfully.
He leaned toward me, his face sobering. “I say we go down together.”
My skin tingled and I so wanted to get that in writing. I lifted my pink drink. “Here’s to taking chances.”
He raised his glass. “In more ways than one.”
I took a sip and the syrupy sweet liquid slid down with ease. I loved it. I loved Ellen. I loved life. Wow, who would’ve thought it?
Lowering my glass, I traced the sugary lip with my finger. “You know, I don’t do small talk well. I swore this would be my last blind date.”
“I promise, no small talk. And as to your vow, I’ll do my best to hold you to it.”
Hold me to it? I was kind of hoping he’d just hold me. I blushed at the thought and grasped for conversation. “How’s it possible you don’t have a girlfriend?” I blurted, still amazed that I was here. With Noah. The Noah. The one I’d been dreaming about for months. “Since you’re so hot, I mean.” I added that last part teasingly, poking fun at myself.
I could tell he thought I was cute.
Maybe this Love Potion stuff had been a good idea, after all. I took another fortifying sip.
He set his glass down on the table. “Well, I was in a relationship for several years before I relocated for this job opportunity. Kate’s a great person, but we didn’t see ourselves spending the rest of our lives together. Our break-up was mutual and amicable.”
Clearly, Kate was insane.
He reached for a piece of bread, buttered it, then set it on my plate. “What about you?”
“Nothing so civil.” I picked up the tiny slice of bread and took a breath. “Jeremy and I were never on the same page. It felt like two years trying to put a tuxedo on a pig.”
“Sounds like a lot of work,” he said, seriously.
“It was, but I can thank my hairdresser for taking the load off me. She’d been giving him more than haircuts, behind my back, if you know what I mean.”
He winced. “Sorry to hear that.”
I leaned toward him, bit my bottom lip, and gave a little shrug. “I’m over it.”
“I’m glad.” Forget smoldering. We’d advanced to downright sizzling.
Heat blazed through me. This ranked beyond The Friend Zone. If I could speak, I would’ve asked for the check. Instead, my eyes were locked with his and there was no way I was looking away first.
The waitress set our plates down in front of us, distracting me and breaking the moment.
Noah tugged at his collar, then picked up his fork. “What were we talking about?”
“Relationships.” I beamed, loving that I seemed to affect him as much as he did
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