“Next Wednesday.”
“So just one more day this week and three days next week? And you’re off until when?”
“Second week of January.”
“There are perks to teaching,” he says as we got up to the counter. He gets us two orders of potato pancakes, one with applesauce and one with a horseradish-type sauce, and I’m impressed with his command of the German language.
“You speak German well,” I say as we stand at a bar-height table to eat.
“Like I told you, I have a thing for languages. I speak a lot of them.”
“How many?”
He pauses. “Eight fluently, four or five more that I can muddle through.”
“Thirteen languages?” I gape at him. “I thought I was cool because I speak three and a half.”
“Is German the half?” he asks.
“Yes, but I’m learning.”
“We can practice if you want.”
“Are you going to be around long enough for us to practice?” I meet his gaze intently, as if that’s a very important question.
Because it is.
To me, anyway.
“Would you like me to be?”
Chapter 11
Ace
I have to stop this little game I’m playing in my head, pretending I might be able to spend more time with her. I want to, but I have to go as soon as I handle this stalker situation and letting her think otherwise isn’t fair to either of us.
“I’d love if you stayed for a while.” She pauses. “But something tells me you’re not going to.”
“What makes you say that?” She’s fairly astute for someone as naïve as she claims to be.
“The way a muscle in your cheek twitches just a little the minute we discuss something like how long you’re staying or having two-point-five kids.”
Damn. How does she know me so well already?
“It’s not something I’m used to talking about. I’ve steered clear of the heavy stuff over the years because I had to.”
“And now?”
“Darlin’, the first time I danced with you, you made me want to break every rule in the book. And it doesn’t seem to be any different this time.”
“Why do you think that is?” Her eyes are guileless, but I have a feeling there’s a lot more emotion behind her question than she’s letting on.
“I wish I knew. There’s something about you.” I reach out and impulsively cup her chin with my hand, letting my thumb gently rub away a touch of applesauce on her lower lip.
“There’s something about you too,” she whispers, her eyes never leaving mine.
“If I kiss you, Shannon, I’m never going to stop,” I say gruffly, letting my hand rest on her chin, waiting to see if she will move away. Instead, she leans into it.
