Page 12 of Chasing Amanda

He touched her hand. “It’s my pleasure. Besides, didn’t you quit your job this morning?”

“How did you…?” She blinked. “Right. I’m sorry. I’m really… I don’t know.”

“You need to eat.”

She unwrapped her sandwich and took a tiny bite.

Despite the muffin, he was starving. He guessed she was, too, though her hands were shaking so much that she couldn’t open her bag of chips.

“Here, let me.” She handed it to him, and he opened it for her.

Her lips turned up in the tiniest smile.

Wow.

That smile was…wow.

He took another bite of his sandwich and tried to ignore that rush of…whatever it was. Something dangerous, anyway.

“Thank you.”

He swallowed the bite and wiped his mouth. “Sure.”

“Not for the chips.” She brushed a strand of blond hair behind her ear. “I mean, yes, for the chips and the sandwich. But for last night, for…all of it. Thank you.”

Not sure what to say, he hoped a nod would suffice.

“Do you always run around rescuing damsels in distress?”

“It’s a tough job.” Mark shrugged, feeling his cheeks warming.

“Where’s your cape?”

“Uh…”

“You know, your cape. Aren’t superheroes supposed to wear capes?”

Yup, he was definitely blushing. So manly. “It kept getting caught in the car door.”

She giggled, and the sound made his pulse quicken to machine-gun pace.

“Probably hard to keep clean too.”

“Yeah.” He cleared his throat, playing along. “Dragging on the ground all the time.”

She smiled, then took another bite of her sandwich.

He watched people walking by outside. Was her hooded friend nearby? He ate the last of his sub and finished his drink.

“You want that?” she said, pointing at her turkey grinder. She’d eaten about a quarter of it.

“You don’t mind?”

“Help yourself.”

He pulled it closer and took a bite. After he swallowed, he pulled in a deep breath and prepared to ruin her day. “You’re going to have to figure out what to do.”

Any amusement she might’ve felt faded from her expression. “What is there to do?”