He let go of her. “Have a seat,” he said. “Do you want to order dinner? Go out somewhere or aren’t we allowed to be seen together in public?”
She was still in her workwear.
Brown pants, a pair of black and brown heels on her feet that he was only getting a glimpse of when she walked as her pants dropped to the floor. She had a pretty light pink sweater on with what looked to be cherry blossom branches along the bottom and a few flowers.
He’d spent some time studying flowers but didn’t tell many that. Sometimes when he was bored, he picked a topic, dove in, and tried to educate himself hoping something might stick or feel right.
Horticulture and floriculture weren’t it.
“We can order dinner in,” she said.
He grabbed the menu on the table. “I’m getting some fish dish. Not sure what yet. I’ll see if there is a special.”
“Baked Cod,” she said.
“Do you always know the specials?” Talk about efficient. It wasn’t as if she worked in the kitchen.
“Yes. I like to have that information in case someone asks.”
“Prepared,” he said. “Just like your little piece of paper.”
“I’ll get the same thing.”
She moved to sit on the couch while he placed their orders, then added strawberry shortcake and tiramisu for dessert.
Arik turned to her and said, “Now that’s out of the way, answer me this. Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what? Having dinner? I’m hungry.”
He liked the grin on her face. Her relaxed pose, that maybe the contract proposition, though her idea, still made it feel stiff. Forced, like a requirement, rather than a good time to enjoy in a few days. As if she was putting on the business front to keep it serious even if he didn’t want to. Or maybe she didn’t either.
“The same. Even this date. Number three if we count that first lunch here when I searched you out downstairs. See, we are dating by the time we get to Baltimore.”
“A few dates and saying we are in a relationship enough for you to bring me to a family wedding aren’t in the same ballpark.”
“Potato tomato.”
“What?” she asked, her brown eyes enlarged some.
“I don’t like repeating the same word twice. Seems redundant.”
“You’re supposed to repeat it saying it differently.”
“What fun is that? I like to be different.”
“So I noticed.” Thankfully she was still grinning.
He moved over and flopped next to her on the couch. His hand landed on her thigh. She didn’t flinch, move, nor did her smile drop.
“Do we need a contract for dates too?” he asked.
“No.”
“Good,” he said, rubbing her thigh and letting his hand drop. It was a test of sorts for them both.
He knew how it made him feel to get even a small part of her body under some part of his.
Natalie was a tough one to read. He couldn’t figure out how she felt about him.
