“What? No.” He looked genuinely shocked that anyone would accuse him of that. “No, no. I prefer spending evenings on the couch.”
“Wonderful,” Rachel said contentedly. That was exactly what she wanted.
“Wonderful, she says,” Connor murmured, shaking his head. He was chuckling softly again. But she wasn’t going to bite and ask what he meant. She had a date. Connor could leave, for all she cared.
Even though, of course, he wasn’t going to. He sipped his whiskey, seemingly preoccupied with solving the mysteries embedded in the table’s grain. Rachel knew he was listening to her and Phil’s every word.
She straightened her back. So let him listen. Then he could learn what compatibility looked like.
“I love quiet evenings on the couch too,” she said warmly, smiling at Phil. Now that Connor’s date was gone, she could focus entirely on him. On Phil, not Connor! God, she felt a little dizzy. It must be the alcohol the waiter had brought her.
She and Phil exchanged a few superficial things about siblings, favorite foods, favorite TV shows, all the things you talk about on a first date. That didn’t include, for example, explaining to someone in great detail why the nickname Perfect Rachel didn’t fit at all. Or telling someone you like itdirty. And if her date had stared at her as intensely as Connor had, she might have left immediately. Or pounced on him.
New heat filled her face as she shifted restlessly in her seat. She was distracted! Of course, Connor was hot. It pretty much defined his entire personality… But that wasn’t all.
God, he was doing it on purpose! The way he kept stretching, pulling his shirt taut across his shoulders; the way he yawned and then rubbed his stubbly chin, as if needing to draw extra attention to his chiseled jawline. He…
“Do you want to have kids?”
Wow. Okay. That question definitely demanded her attention, not that she minded clearing up the most important things on a first date. Nevertheless, it was still a surprise. No matter. Another chance to test her compatibility with Phil.
She smiled, ignoring the fact that Connor’s awfully long legs had bumped hers. “Yeah, I do. Not right away, but…”
“Great. Me too.” Phil looked visibly relieved. “I’ve always wanted two girls and a boy.”
She laughed because she didn’t know how else to respond. She liked Phil; he was nice. Interesting. Handsome. But…she didn’t feel comfortable with him. She didn’t feel like she could relax in his presence. She’d like to blame Connor’s presence for that, but that feeling hadn’t been there when she and Connor had been alone.
“And would you stop working immediately if you got pregnant or once the first child arrived?”
Wait, what? “Um…stop working? For the first few months after the birth?”
“No. Forever. If you had me as your partner, you wouldn’t have to work.” He winked at her.
“But I like to work.”
He looked at her, his mouth slightly open. “Well, a woman can’t be a good mother and earn money at the same time. You’d have to choose.”
“I… What?”
This time, Connor didn’t chuckle softly. He laughed loudly. Shit. Why were the corners of her own mouth twitching now too?
“You agree with me, don’t you?” Phil asked Connor, apparently confused by his laughter.
“Oh, Phil,” Connor said, grinning broadly as he leaned forward and slapped him on the shoulder. “I didn’t agree with a single word that came out of your mouth tonight. But Ilovethat you’re here! I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun on a date that wasn’t mine.”
Phil seemed visibly offended, but he didn’t respond because he was shy, rather quiet, and liked to avoid confrontation. That was exactly why they were more than a sixty percent match!
“Don’t be mean, Connor,” Rachel sighed.
His gaze shifted to her. “Mean? Me? No, no.Youwere mean. I’m being honest. I’d give it a try if I were you becausethat’s what you want, right? That’s what your beloved algorithm spat out? A prune as interesting as a museum of dryer lint that chases after a 1950s image of women?”
Rachel had a hard time keeping herself from frowning because, yes, it was a complete failure.
Phil was now blinking uncontrollably as if he had some of the lint from his museum in his eye. “Excuse me, who are you?”
“The man who’s ending this stupid date. You can’t win the bet with him, Rachel.”
Shit. She sighed. “For the record, I hate it when you’re right.”
