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She reaches into her purse, pulling out her phone and bringing up her calendar. It’s covered in blocked-out areas.
“Thank you for being a wonderful date,” I say, injecting warmth into my voice as I smile.
She raises her eyes from her phone, the deep green of hers glittering as they meet mine. “I wasn’tyourdate.”
“But you could be next time,” I counter with a playful grin.
One of her brows arches. “Good night.” She reaches for the door handle and shuts the door as I hold my hands up in the air so they don’t get stuck in it.
I signal the driver to wait and tap on her window. Her lips curl up slightly as she lowers the glass.
“How’s Thursday for you?”
“In five years’ time? Sure, I might be free.” Her eyes drop over my shirt, and I inhale, puffing my chest out as her gaze lingers on the way I fill out the fabric. I knew all the extra bench presses would pay off.
“You’re busy. I get it. I work a lot too. Next week then?” I rest my forearms on the window opening and lean a little closer to her. She doesn’t flinch at my intrusion, but the pulse in her neck flutters beneath her skin.
“I live in Bath. The only reason I came to London today and got talked into tonight by Kelly was because I had to catch a client before they boarded a flight at Heathrow.”
“Then I’ll come to Bath.” I shrug. “You can show me those famous spas, and I’ll take you to dinner afterward.” My smile widens at the thought. Sophie in a bikini on a date? It’s perfect.
She sighs. “Look. It’s nothing personal. But I’m not looking for a relationship.”
“Perfect. Because I’m only asking you out on another date.”
She opens her mouth to respond.
“A first date,” I correct.
She closes her mouth and looks at me.
“Then we can talk about how many kids we’ll have after.” I wink at her.
“Right.” She rolls her eyes, then smiles genuinely.
Her phone chimes again, but she ignores it.
“Next week then? In Bath. It’s a date. A first date.” I hold onto the door frame and step back from the cab.
“No, it isn’t,” she replies.
“What are your favorite flowers?” I ask before she can roll the window back up.
“Irises. Why?”
“Irises,” I repeat. “I’ll bring you some so that you can look at them the day after and remember what an amazing night you had, and how glad you are that you agreed to go on a date with me.”
“I’m not going on a date with you.”
“We’ll see.”
She looks at her lap, shaking her head. “Good night, Mr. Harper.”
I tap twice on the roof of the cab. The window winds up, and I wave as the car drives away because I know she’ll be watching through the back windshield. She has to be.
“Good night Ms. Havers.” I grin as I pull my phone from my pocket and bring up my calendar for next week. I typeDate with Sophieinto Thursday, and above it, I add,Buy irises.
Not looking for a relationship? That’s what she says now. But I’m the head of staff for a global construction and design company. I persuade people into new designs all the time, until they believe it was their idea all along.
