More choking, “You’re trying to seduce me now?”
“Turns out Kickboxing isn’t working out.”
“Benedict,” she pulls away but I quickly grab her hand and tuck it back in my elbow.
“Only joking! Mostly. What I meant was I’m prepared for another thrilling night in. Onward with ourHarry Pottermarathon.” She’s still eyeing me. “Though, if you think you will be so bothered by them, maybe Iwilldon my sweats. Pay you back for your teensy pajamas.”
“Don my? Did you really just say that?” I ignore her so she goes on. “I am not that easy,” she says with false bravado. “Butseriously. Isn’t there some event you’re invited to tonight? Some birthday party or—”
“It’s a grand opening.”
“I knew it!”
I smile at her smile, “Yes, well, I declined. You see my wife is a hermit, so—”
“Not a hermit. I just…like routine. And I’m already out of mine, anyway, being in the city with you, so…” I take a turn narrowing my eyes at her, wondering if this is a trap. I’ve seen my brother do it before, make plans in a rare moment of extroversion, only to deeply regret it at about an hour-to. “We need to be seen, right? The Clarks doing Clark things.”
“The Clarks, eh?” I ask, liking the sound of that far too much. I wonder if she’s started the process of changing her name, but decide not to ask. I shake my head a bit. Changing her name is only a formality for keeping up appearances anyway.
“Billionaire things,” she adds. “Is it a swanky thing tonight?”
“It is, a new fusion something or other restaurantexperienceby some famous chef. Very hush-hush, top floor in a brand new building, prestigious guest list, invite-only, and the invitation actually came encoded.”
“Encoded?”
“Yes,” I redirect her from what looks like a smashed cheeseburger on the sidewalk. At least I bloody hope that’s what it is. I wonder how close my car is. “You had to find a separate envelope with a cipher. What’s that I hear, are you a wee bit impressed?”
“No.”
“M hmm.”
“Plus, I didn’t bring a cocktail dress.”
We pause at a crosswalk and I turn into her. “Wifey, are you fishing for an excuse to go shopping?” She coughs as she denies it. Adorable. “If you want to take me and my black Amexshopping you don’t have to put me on about going out, you can just say you want to go—”
“I want to take your black Amex shopping.”
“And me? Can I come?”
She puts her coffee to her mouth to hide her smile, “I guess.”
_____
“Are you sure this is dressy enough?” She fidgets next to me.
“Love, why do you keep asking if you’ll simply ignore my reply?”
“Good question. You just chose the shortest tightest thing, now I’m second guessing.”
“Third or fourth guessing, you mean.” I mutter, getting lost in the legs for days within my line of sight. Suddenly I hate how big this car is, she’s miles away over there. She huffs and I don’t argue because she’s right. I did snap when I saw this little silver dress, hugging her everywhere. But I didn’t even see her fantastic curves at first because of how her eyes exploded at me when she walked out of the dressing room. My mouth went dry and my chest went tight and I could barely breathe or think. There are no eyes in this world like Janelle’s. Not even close.
“You’re staring, boss.”
“I’m actually having a private conversation, if you don’t mind.”
“With my legs?” She smirks.
“Yes, shh.”
