I’m rewarded by another smile. “I didn’t have you down as a guy who used the word ‘symbiotic’ either.”
I chuckle. “We’re not all knuckle draggers in the military.”
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Fifteen minutes in that bar back there and I beg to differ.”
“Spend fifteen minutes with me, and I’ll convince you otherwise.”
Her eyes smolder as our gaze locks. Heat courses through my veins, and my gaze darts to her ruby red lips. I imagine Rosespread out before me, kissing her so hard I wipe the lipstick right off her mouth.
“Do you want to share a Hawaiian?”
I’m brought back to the moment and the smell of fresh pizza dough and baked cheese. She wanted to go straight to the hotel, and I’m the chump who insisted on stopping here first.Not chump. Gentleman,I remind myself as I slide out of my chair, hoping she doesn’t notice the tenting in my pants.
“I’ll go order.”
A few minutes later, I’m back at the table with two cans of soda. As I slide into my seat, Rose leans forward.
“You want to play a game?”
I eye her mock-warily. “Does it involve electrical tape and lemons?”
“What? No.” She presses her lips together, trying not to laugh.
“Phew.” I pretend to be relieved. “Then I’m in.”
She wiggles forward in her seat. “Aside from both agreeing pineapple belongs on pizza, let’s see if we agree on the other big issues.”
“And by big issues you mean…?” I get the feeling she’s not talking about foreign policy, which suits me just fine.
“I’m going to ask a question, and we have to answer at the same time.”
She’s smiling now, and the haunted look is gone from her eyes. I’m not the only one who’s enjoying the light relief.
“Cats or dogs?” she asks.
“Dogs,” we say at the same time.
“Spring or fall?”
“Fall.” We both raise our eyebrows as we answer together.
“Mountains or beach?”
“Mountains.”
She laughs, and I chuckle with her. “We might be the perfect match.”
“Baseball or football?”
I say baseball at the same moment she says football.
She wrinkles up her nose. “Not quite the perfect match.” She takes a sip of her drink, but her eyes remain on mine, smiling.
“I’ve got one,” I say. “Doughnuts or cupcakes?”
She cackles, and a bit of drink comes out of her nose, making her laugh harder. “Sorry, but you don’t look like the kind of guy who eats cupcakes.”
I put a hand over my heart, mock offended. “I’m not too manly to enjoy a little chocolate frosting.”
