“Just Boston Bruisers games or other teams too?”
“I’ve caught a few games here and there. Boston Bruisers, their rivals, the Miami Riptide, and um, teams.”
“I see.”
Flustered, she eyes the room like a nervous hen who lost her flock. “Where is this woman? She’s going to be broadcast on television. She can’t just show up late to a date.” Pippa checks her phone again.
The server appears, her head volleying between us as she sets down two baskets with rolls and butter. “Did you want to order any appetizers for your, um, tables?” she asks, confused about our arrangement.
“We’re not together,” Pippa says, matter-of-factly.
“You sure about that?” I ask Pippa. “We drove here together and I just learned that you’re my biggest fan.”
She gasps. “I said no such thing.”
I explain to the server that Pippa watches the Boston Bruisers games but isn’t a football fan. “Maybe you could help me understand why that would be the case.”
The server bats her eyelashes at me. “That’s simple. She must like one of the players.”
“As I was saying...” I toss a smirk at Pippa and then turn back to the server. “Are you a Bruisers fan?”
“Yes,” she gushes about the team.
“Then you’ll know that we have a saying. Well, a few. My grandfather would be proud. He was a big fan of sayings, idioms, maxims...”
The server raises her hand as though she’s in class and has the correct answer. “I think the saying you’re referring to is ‘It ain’t over ‘til we’ve won.’” She correctly recites the classic Bruiser’s team quote.
I give her a nod of affirmation.
The server bounces on her toes and grins.
“I knew that.” Pippa swivels in her seat to face me, her cheeks pink with frustration. “It means that you’ll play until you win.”
The tension between us is as dense as cold butter, but as our eyes make contact, it slowly starts to melt.
“And I play for keeps,” I say, my voice a growl.
The server waves her order pad in front of her face. “I’ll leave you two to think about those appetizers for a few more minutes.”
The tables still divide us, but I say, “There’s an elephant in the room.”
Pippa looks around. No elephants or other pachyderms feature in the décor.
“When we were at the park the other day, you kissed me.” I gaze from her eyes to her lips, feeling the same surge I did when I kissed her back.
“Think of it as a rescue mission. After all, you saved me from Benedict.”
“But you’re right. I do need rescuing...from this charade. From people trying to keep us apart.”
One after the other, she taps the table with all five fingertips. “Apart? It’s only a table between us while we wait for your date.”
“Why don’t you be my date?”
“Chase, I can’t do that,” she whisper shouts as if appalled I’d suggest such a thing, and yet her eyes dim. “I can’t date you. You’re off-limits. Plus, rich, handsome, and famous.”
I smirk. “What was that second one? Handsome. You think so?”
She looks around guiltily as though being caught on film and then nods. “You’re also intelligent, kind, funny, but—” She wrings her hands in frustration.
