She looked almost comically alarmed, like I’d just put a loaded gun on the table or something. “That’s not necessary, Ashley. I don’t need my own keys.”
“Like I said, I’m flying out to Europe. I leave the day after tomorrow, for a week.”
“Oh. Well, then… If you don’t mind.”
“I insist.”
She took the keys, handling them like they were precious diamonds, and tucked them in her purse. “I’ll try to get the painters in while you’re away.”
“Great.”
“Did you pick any colors for the walls yet?”
“The white one.”
She tried really hard not to roll her eyes. Didn’t quite make it. “They’re all white, Ashley.”
“Then whichever one you choose will be perfect.”
* * *
After dinner, as we stood up to leave, Danica looked down at the ring, still sitting there on the table where I’d left it.
“Well,” she said, but she didn’t follow it up with anything. Then she made an awkward move to pick up the ring.
I scooped it up first, just like I’d scooped up the bill when she tried to pay. I put it in the little bag, then tucked it in my pocket.
“I’ll hold onto it,” I told her. “For now. You’re right… It’s way too cool for the average guy.”
She gazed up at me. Those pretty blue eyes of hers… so gorgeous.
“Wouldn’t want it to fall into the wrong hands,” I said.
“Keep it as long as you want,” she said softly.
“I’m getting it appraised,” I informed her.
She sighed. “You really shouldn’t bother. It’s not worth anything.”
Right.
“I think you may be a little nuts, Danica Vola.”
She cracked a small smile. “You wouldn’t be the first.”
* * *
I put Danica in a cab, since she seemed determined to head straight home. Then I got in with her and escorted her there. One, I wanted to see where she lived. Two, I wanted to make sure she got there safe.
Three, I wanted our little “meeting” to not be over yet.
When we got to her place, I asked the cab driver to wait while I walked her to her door. Pretty sure I wasn’t getting invited inside, but I’d be a gentleman about it either way.
Turned out she lived in a six-story apartment building, which stood in-between a similar apartment building and a new concrete condo building, the kind that had live/work co-op spaces for artists. I would’ve rather she lived in there. Wasn’t on a better street, but at least it looked secure.
Hers looked like I could kick the door right in.
It wasn’t a dive, but it was pretty old.
