Page 22 of Somebody To Love

“So why are you interested in my marital status?” Ty asked, bringing my attention back to the moment and away from the subject of brownies.

“I’m not.”

“Let me guess: You’re single.”

“But not desperate. So if you’re asking me out, you might as well stop now.”

He laughed hard, so hard that people looked in our direction.

“What’s so funny about asking me out?”

He was still laughing and I shot him a glare.

“Sorry,” he said, trying to contain his laughter, “So let me get this right. You inquire about my marital status, but I’m the one planning to ask you out?”

He was right. I made no sense. This was all his fault. He was too good looking and I had already embarrassed myself around him too many times to not feel stupid, so in fact, I had instead said something stupid. I was doing great.

I could sit there angry with him and therefore myself or I could change the subject. I decided to just change the subject.

“So what do you do?” he asked me, beating me to the question. I was about to answer, when he added, “I think I should at least know what you do before I ask you out or should I leave that question to our first date?”

“Ha. Ha.”

He tried to hold back a smile but he lost. When he smiled, he was even more handsome. I felt so out of my element. I didn’t know what I was doing, flirting with a guy like him. Because that’s what we were doing—flirting.

I liked the way his full lips tipped up just at the corners when he was trying to smother a smile. For some reason, he reminded of like a young James Bond. Kind of mysterious. Definitely sexy. A little pretentious, but still thrilling to be around. I made myself stop thinking of him that way. I didn’t even know him. But I wanted to know him… which I realized was in direct violation of the contract I had signed with Infinity Connections.

I hadn’t thought of it at the time, since I was sure I wouldn’t meet anyone else until I was 80. I had signed a contract to only go out with the guys of their choosing until my membership expired. In fact, I was required to go on four dates, just to step out of my comfort zone. At least, that’s what Sylvia had said.

But I was getting ahead of myself. We were just chatting. Flirting. Whatever you called it.

“I run a translation service.”

He looked impressed. “What languages do you speak?”

“French, Portuguese and Spanish.”

“Wow. Did you speak all those in your home or—”

I laughed. “Oh please, as my Dad called it, we only spoke ‘American’ at home. I spent some time abroad in South America and languages come easy to me. So learning French wasn’t a big deal. My specialty is Spanish and Portuguese though. I learned French just to make sure I’m not insulted in French next time I go to Paris.”

“I’ve never been to Paris. Haven’t been much of anywhere outside the States.”

I frowned. Mr. GQ wasn’t a jetsetter, breaking hearts across the world? I was surprised. “Why don’t you travel?”

“I spent most of my adult life in school and then building a profitable business, so I just haven’t had the time or inclination. I also didn’t have a woman with neon pink undies tempting me to run around the world with her.”

Oh, he was definitely flirting.

“I didn’t say you should go around the world with me, just that you should explore things outside the States. Get outside your comfort zone.” Now I was starting to sound like Sylvia.

“Maybe I’ll do that. Maybe I’ll take your advice.”

“It’s free. You might as well.”

He laughed.

“So why are you here if you’re not a parent?”