“Also, Duffy,” he said, andsweet Jesus I like the way he says my name, “it sounds like you were the one willing to sacrifice and move in with your dad after she passed, so I don’t think you need to worry about following them at all.”
Shit. How am I supposed to deal with someone like this?!
It was too soon to be in love, yes?
Yes.
Way too soon.
But the way he seemed to remember every tiny detail I’d shared on that first date was…hell, it was reallysomething.
We finished our food and were almost at our seats when we grabbed another beer to go from a vendor.
“Two, please,” I said, but I was in my head once we stepped up to order. Since it wasn’t a real date, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to buy my beer, but when I took out my card, he scowled at me.
“What are you doing?”
“This is called a credit card, and I use it to purchase things. Like this beer, for example. I’m going to use this card to pay for my Bud.”
I took the beer from the guy behind the counter and held out my Visa.
“I’ve got your Bud,” Connor said, sticking out his card, still giving me a grumpy face.
“But this isn’t a real date,” I said quietly. “You don’t have to buy my beer.”
“Iwantto buy your beer,” he said, waving his card as the beer guy—Rico, according to his name tag—just looked at us like he hated us both.
“Fine,” I said. “But then I want to buyyourbeer.”
“Seriously?”
I shrugged. “Just because you’re a gazillionaire doesn’t mean I don’t want to pay my share.”
A corner of his mouth kicked up a little. “You think I’m a gazillionaire?”
“Ithink you’re a gazillionaire so I’m usingyourcard,” Rico said, snatching Connor’s American Express from his fingertips. He looked me in the eyes and added, “Just enjoy it while it lasts, lady.”
He tapped Connor’s card against the machine, handed it back, then said, “Good luck on Sunday, Mr. Cunningham. Their D’s pretty tough.”
“Thanks,” Connor said. “And you should listen to my buddy Rico,lady. He’s a wise man.”
“ ‘Just enjoy it while it lasts’?” I asked, giving Rico a look. “That’sthe wisdom here? It sounds like your boy Rico thinks I can’t keep you.”
“I mean…” Rico said with a smirk.
Which made Connor laugh.
Which made me laugh and say, “You guys are hilarious. I’m going to go watch a hockey game while you two bond over my perceived flaws and high-five yourselves on repeat.”
I turned and took a step before I felt Connor snag one of my belt loops and tug me back toward him.
I looked over my shoulder, feeling a little…warmfrom the physicality.
From the way his thumb grazed the exposed skin just between my crop top and jeans.
“Wait up—I’ll be good,” he said with a mischievous pout, his teasing eyes delivering toe-curling magnetism, dearGod. Something about his laid-back confidence was jarringly intimate, like he’d be all-in on anything I might suggest.
“Fine, come on,” I replied, wondering how red my face was as we started walking toward our seats.
