“I just realized how quickly we’re moving, and it freaked me out a little. I’m practically living with you, and we’ve only been on two real dates.”
“And what do you call those nights hanging out in your apartment or mine while we drank wine after work?” he asked.
“Uh, not dates.”
He lifted a hand and ticked off his fingers. “We were spending time together outside of work, talking and getting to know each other. That says date.” He moved on to the next finger. “We consumed beverages or snacks as we did this. That says date, too. Do I need to continue?”
“Yes, because, to me, a date means that we go out, together, and do things. Together.”
“So, we have to go someplace else for it to count as a date? That’s silly.”
She opened her mouth as though she were going to argue, then she stopped. Consternation was clear on her face.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m just irritated because I realized you’re right. A date is spending time together, getting to know each other. I just haven’t done a lot of that because I don’t like strangers or people I don’t know well in my space.” She paused. “But it never bothered me when you were.”
“That’s because you already knew me,” he said. “We’ve been getting to know each other since you started working for me, so I don’t feel like a stranger to you anymore.”
She nodded as she conceded his point. Then, she frowned at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Are you just saying that chilling in front of the TV and having wine and tapas at my place or yours are dates so you can get out of actually going places with me? Because I have a problem with that.”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Absolutely not. I was taking advantage of the situation.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Stealth dating,” he said.
“Stealth dating? What the heck is that?”
“You said yourself you didn’t think they were dates. Therefore, I was dating you and you didn’t even know it. And it worked.”
She crossed her arms over her chest again. “Oh, my goddess. You have got to be kidding me.”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m right and you know it. You weren’t sure you wanted to date me, but you were anyway.”
“You are the most pigheaded man I think I’ve ever met.”
Torin smirked at her. “You like it. You like me.”
She froze for a moment then her body relaxed. “Yeah, I do like you. I guess you like me, too.”
“Guess?” he asked, stalking across the office toward her. “Guess?”
“Yeah, well, I think I need some convincing,” she replied, her tone teasing.
He glanced at his watch before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his body. “Well, we have ten minutes before we have to get back out there, so I’d better get to work.”
Her mouth was still smiling when he kissed her, but not for long. In a blink, she was kissing him back.
* * *
Nova leftTorin’s office feeling light-headed and happy.
The selkie could kiss, she had to give him that.
