"I don't think I should tell you. You might decide to ghost me."
"Play fair."
She sighed. "Well, that's definitely one of my faults. I cheat at card and board games. I don't like camping or hiking or anything that requires me to sleep outside, which shocks other nymphs. I'd rather read than socialize. And, like you, there's not a lot of people I like."
"Other than the cheating, none of those sound too terrible." He paused. "But I cheat at games, too."
"Then I guess we shouldn't play together."
"Are you kidding? Of course we should. I want to see if I can catch you."
"You won't," she replied in a smug tone. "I have quick hands."
"We'll see."
Their food arrived then and they dug in. They talked as they ate and continued long after they'd finished.
It wasn't until Dylan happened to glance at her watch and said, "Wow, it's already nine-thirty. I need to get home. I have to get up early for work tomorrow."
He didn't want to leave, but he understood. She didn't get to call her own schedule the way he did.
When the waitress took their order earlier, Dylan had asked for separate checks. He still didn't like it, but he'd find a way around it. Like when she came over to set up his social media account this weekend. He'd order food and pay with a card. He’d convince her that she should accept. She was doing him a favor after all.
They each paid their checks and walked outside. The night had grown cooler and Dylan tucked her coat tighter around her as they walked to the parking lot.
"You know, I don't think our first date was a fluke," she said.
"Neither do I." He stopped by her car. "Do you think our first kiss was a fluke though?"
A hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "I don't know. "
"We should find out," he said.
She laughed as he reached for her but stepped forward to meet him.
As their lips touched, he knew that she was something special. Something precious.
Then he wasn't thinking at all. He was only feeling the heat and need that burned in his blood because she opened her mouth and touched her tongue to his.
She still tasted like berries, but there was a hint of spice beneath from the hot Thai dishes they'd eaten during dinner. He’d even shared some of his with her.
Clay pulled her into his body, holding her close. She was so tiny in comparison to him that his hand nearly spanned her ribcage from where it rested on her back.
And that was what brought him back to himself. She was likely tougher than she looked, even though she was nymph, but he couldn't be rough with her. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her.
Slowly and with regret, Clay lifted his mouth from her and relaxed his grip.
"Can I see you before the weekend?" he asked.
He nearly groaned when she ran the tip of her tongue over her top lip before she answered.
"Maybe, but we're having a book signing on Friday and I've got a lot to do to prepare."
"What about lunch tomorrow?"
She hesitated. "I'd like to, but I only get an hour."
"Is there somewhere close by where you like to eat?"
