Page 80 of A Matter of Time

Crap.

“So where are you off to?” Kensie asked, her hand on his chin, turning his eyes to her. When he leaned away from her touch, I knew this date would probably be their last. He wasn’t a fan of being directed to do anything. She was taking liberties, and he would not have that. Of course, it would have been helpful if he gave his dates a list of rules before they started, but I also suspected that for the right person, his dos and don’ts would be forgotten.

I excused myself ten minutes later and stood up to leave.

“Where are you going?” Dane asked, rising from his chair to stand in front of me.

“Home.” I yawned, smiling up at him. “I’ve interrupted enough for one night.”

He squeezed my shoulder gently. “You haven’t done anything.”

I held his gaze.

“Come on,” he said gruffly, hand on the back of my neck, leading me from the table.

“Good night!” I called back over my shoulder.

Dane walked me out to wait for the cab.

“Do you want to come along to the theater? I can get you a ticket.”

“No, thanks,” I said as I zipped up my parka. “I don’t wanna die.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“Your date’ll kill me. She’s already royally pissed off.”

“She’s not.”

“Oh, trust me, she is.”

“As though I care.” He sighed heavily, breathing in the crisp air.

I looked up at him a minute, studying the classic profile. “Why are you out with her, then?”

He gave me a look like I was clearly out of my mind. “When I’m ready to discuss my personal life with you, I’ll let you know.” He opened the door of the cab that had been hailed by the valet, and I climbed in.

“I can’t wait!” I shouted cheerfully, smiling widely as he closed the door. I waved hard as the cab pulled away from the curb just to try and annoy him a little.

I made it back to the apartment about ten minutes before Sam, and had his stereo blasting when he walked in the door.

“Hey!” he called out to me as he came into the living room. “What are you doing?”

It was perfectly obvious that I was dancing. On his hardwood floors in my socks, I was sliding around pretty well. He stood and watched me, his smile wide. I sang along at the top of my lungs, and he motioned me to him after a few minutes. I slid across the floor to him, and he grabbed the front of my sweater and pulled me close.

“I’ll shower and we can go get something to eat, all right?”

More food. “Sure.”

He put his hands on my face. “You look better.”

“Yeah?” I asked, stepping closer to him, leaning my cheek in his hand.

“Somebody needs a little attention.”

I lifted my chin, stretching my neck toward him. His hands were instantly on my throat.

“Huh, J? You need somethin’?”