“Did you like it?”
“The kids are cute, but there are too many of them for just two of us. I’ll be glad when Ezreal has time to help.”
“He can ask around his team for more helpers.”
Ahri nodded but said nothing more. He needed to get her to smile and searched his mind for a humorous topic. At the memory of her turning her face away from Ken, the corner of Rafe’s mouth twitched.
“What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to you on a date?” he asked.
She shot him a considering look. “I’ll only share if you do.”
“All right. I’ll even lead off.” Rafe chuckled at the memory. “I was a freshman at Harvard and was taking out this girl from oneof my classes. I was so nervous I forgot my wallet and didn’t realize until the waiter brought the bill. She said she’d pay, but they wouldn’t take her card. I called my roommate Ethan to bring mine, but he was in a theater on a date of his own.”
“What did you do?” Ahri had straightened, finally showing some interest.
“She had to call her roommate to bring another card.” After all that time, his face still heated up thinking about it.
“You couldn’t have called your mother to get her number?”
“That was before Ma married Alex, and finances were too tight.” Rafe shook his head. “Better to suffer that humiliation than hit her up for money she didn’t have.”
Ahri watched him for a few seconds before looking away. “You’re a good son.”
“I try to be the kind of son she deserves.” He coughed at a sudden tightness in his throat. Self-conscious, he said, “It’s your turn.”
“Okay,” she said. “A friend of mine in high school had this really cute stepbrother that I’d been crushing on. I can’t remember the details, but they were having a party at their house, and I was invited—ashisspecial guest. I thought I’d hit the jackpot. I took special care with how I looked and everything. I hadn’t been there very long when she confided in me that he was interested in another girl at the party, and she wanted to set them up.”
“Ouch. Nice friend.”
“Yeah. I thought I’d misunderstood the invitation. I only stayed for a little while. He’d been really nice to me and even walked me to the door. Nice manners for a host, I thought, but when he acted like he wanted to kiss me, I went brain dead and backed away.”
“Oh no,” Rafe said, understanding. “He’dthought it was a date too?”
“Yep.” Ahri let out a deep sigh. “My friend asked me the next day what I’d been playing at.Shewas mad atmefor treating her brother like that.”
“A date that wasn’t a date but was. Do you think she set you up?” he asked.
“No. She wasn’t that kind of girl. I’ve always preferred to think she was just a little dense about how inappropriate it was for her to talk to me about that if I was supposed to be his date. I kept hoping he’d ask me out again, but it never happened. My friend got her way. He and that girl became an item a couple of weeks later.” Ahri glanced at him. “It’s funny. I haven’t thought about that in years.”
“Sorry it was a bad memory.”
“Itisfunny now, looking back. I was just sensitive then and was going through a tough time, and it fit my fatalistic attitude.” She gave a rueful laugh. “Upon reflection, I seem to have had a lot of tough times.”
“I’m sorry.” Rafe reached over and clasped her hand. He’d meant it to comfort her. She shot him a quick glance with those amazing eyes of hers. A shudder went through her, and she laced their fingers, color flooding her cheeks.
Ahri had misunderstood Rafe’s gesture. He should pull back his hand. Except hers felt so good, sorightin his that he didn’t want to. Besides, after her story, he didn’t want her to feel rejected by him too.
Fortunately, they’d reached the mine, and he needed both hands. When he’d parked, he took charge of Nik, while Ahri helped Lessa from the car.
“I’ll get the tickets and a bucket.” He strode ahead, leaving her with the children, so he could collect his thoughts. If he didn’t handle this right, she might think him rude.
What should he do? His supposedly brilliant mind betrayed him, only leaving him with the remembered sensation of holding her hand.Holding her hand.What was he, twelve again? His mother was right that he needed a life if something as simple as holding a woman’s hand could mess with his head so thoroughly.
“We’re ready,” Rafe said when he had everything.
“What?” Lessa stood with her feet planted, hands on her waist. “Onlyone?”
“We don’t need two.” He frowned at her. “Nik’s more interested in the rocks than the gems anyway.”
