Page 10 of Mister Prick

4

Vince

We satacross from one another in one of my favorite restaurants, nibbling caprese skewers drizzled with balsamic glaze. I wasn’t necessarily hungry, but I desperately needed a drink after my impromptu meeting with Marty.

“You’ve got access to a lot filled with cars designed for the Autobahn.” I took a sip of my martini and then met her gaze. “You’ve never taken one of them out and seen what it can do?”

She shook her head. “No.”

I cocked a pugnacious eyebrow. “Not once?”

“Truthfully, when I was riding with you, that was the first time I’ve been over the speed limit in one of the dealership’s cars.”

“You’re not adventurous?”

With her fork dangling loosely from the tips of her fingers, she gave me a look of reassurance. “I think I am.”

“It doesn’t sound like you are.”

Her gaze dropped to the table and lingered. After a few seconds, she looked up. “I am.”

“You are what?”

“Adventurous.”

“I’ve made a mental note.” I sipped my martini. “I don’t think I believe you, though.”

“I am. I mean, look at what just happened. I didn’t scream and run.” She lifted a mozzarella ball and shrugged. “It was no big deal.”

“You’d be the first.”

She bit into the cheese. “The first what?”

“The first adventurous woman I’ve met.”

A gentle laugh escaped her. “You’re serious?”

“About what?”

“I’m the first adventurous woman you’ve ever met?”

“If you’re adventurous, the answer’s yes.”

She looked me over quickly, and then grinned. “Are adventurous men attracted to adventurous women or do they prefer someone who’s docile?”

I had no idea what men in general desired, but I preferred an adventurous woman. I lowered my glass and prepared to respond.

“Not that you’re attracted to me,” she blurted. “That’s not what I was saying. I was just--”

“I am--”

Her eyebrows shot up and her face went flush. “Attracted to me?”

She jumped to the conclusion before I was finished speaking. “Attracted to adventurous women,” I explained.

She seemed embarrassed. She was attractive, no doubt. But, I needed a woman in my life about as much as I needed another chin. In hope of providing her self-confidence a little reassurance, I set my martini aside. “I do find you attractive, though.”

Without looking up, she toyed with what remained of her cheese. “Thanks.”