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“Please contact me, and we can discuss further that discount you mentioned. My name is on the card I gave you earlier.” The businesswoman emerges.
“Will do, and Tucker, your bike is waiting for you. Terry rode it over at your request.”
“Thank you.”
We wave to Andrew and walk side by side toward the Harley Electra Glide.
Most balloons have landed in the field, with a few still to come down.
Ophelia touches my arm. “Tucker… I have had an exceptional morning. Thank you.”Well, I’ll be.
“You’re welcome, Hamlet. Our first date was a good one, don’t you think?” Honestly, I can’t help myself. I know she will be sending me packing after this, so this is the way I deal with being knocked back. I’m a smartass.
Ophelia starts to roll her eyes, forgetting what we have talked about in the past. I won’t throw her over my shoulder after what she’s been through at Peace Café, but maybe I will do something equally annoying to her.
“Put me down, Tucker! People are looking at us. Why are you carrying me?”
“You rolled your eyes. You know how I feel about that.”Any excuse to have her in my arms.
“Seriously?”
“You’ve got a 365-day policy and a no-dating rule. I have a no-eye-rolling rule. You can’t be the only one with rules.”
“How do you know about my—”
“Your cousin and his wife, and—”
“Shamus,” she grumbles, finishing off the list of names. “Put me down before I get forced to go Jackie Chan on you, unmanning you in public.”
“I like it when you talk dirty, Hamlet.” I place my spitfire on her feet.
She crosses her arms. “You know my name is Ophelia.”
“Such a pretty name, too, but then it would be a date if I am using your real name. This way, I am keeping it light.”
“This can’t be classified as a date. I have stuck to my rule book all this time. You can’t be my undoing.”
“You make it sound like I possess that power. Do I, Hamlet? Could I bring you to your knees?”
“No.”
Challenge. Accepted.
“I thought I could still sway you with my cocky charm, but I see you are going to make me wait your terms out. I can do that. If that is what you truly want, but that doesn’t stop us from having breakfast somewhere.” I hold my hands up. “Just two attractive people with nice arses, sharing some brekky,” I say in my best Aussie accent, which strangely is so hard to capture compared to other accents.
“We do not sound like that.” She cringes.
We arrive at the Harley. “Hamlet, are you in or out?”
“Is this the bribery part? Breakfast or you hold my gift from Keanu ransom?
“Well, when you say it like that…” I trail off, feeling off my game because I have to resort to this level to get her to agree. “I just thought it would be nice.”
“Damn, now I feel bad. I sound like a brat. I could eat. I can direct you to the local and I will pay for breakfast since you shelled out a lot of money for the balloon ride. It is the least I can do.”
“Hmmm… “ I pretend I am thinking about her proposal, but this will not do. “If this is our last non-date for a year, how ‘bout we go for a ride.” I hand Ophelia her helmet. “It’s a beautiful December morning, and I promise to expose your taste buds to one of the best breakfasts in Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles!” she spits out.
