“This okay?” I lay out the blanket from my backpack in the center of the walkway, just to the north of my mom’s headstone.
“You mean dinner in a graveyard?”
“No, I meant the spot. There are some big shade trees down that way, but I always liked this hill.” I work really hard to keep the nostalgia from my voice. This spot is special. When I set out today my plan was to take a ride along Lake Michigan, find a peaceful stop on the beach and eat there. But once I started driving I couldn’t help but steer my bike here. I’ve had so much fun with Mia, and even though it’s silly and impossible, I wanted her to meet my mom. I don’t think there are many women who wouldn’t be weirded out by picnicking in a graveyard, let alone love it, which only causes my admiration for Mia to grow.
“It’s beautiful here.” She sighs and sits at one corner of the blanket to look around. Anyone else and I’d think they were blowing smoke, but she means it.
Dropping to my knees, I grab my backpack and proceed to pull out the goods. “Don’t laugh but we have grapes, cheese, wine . . .”
“Those are my basic food groups. Nothing funny about that.”
Sitting on the blanket next to her, I pull out our main course, crinkling my nose as I say the rest. “And protein bars.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “Okay, that’s weird.”
“Next time I’ll do better.” I hold up a pair for her to choose from. “Peanut butter chocolate or cookie dough?”
“Mmm . . . peanut butter chocolate.” She takes the bar from my hand and studies the back of it while I pop the cork on the wine bottle and pour the liquid into two red Solo cups. She takes her glass and nestles it into the earth near her side of the blanket. “Are these any good?”
“Not bad, but I won’t lie to you. They aren’t as good as the real thing.”
“Nothing ever is.”
I raise my cup and wait for her to do the same. “To the real things in life.”
“I’ll drink to that.” She taps her cup against mine and takes a sip. I love the way she looks right now. The clouds coming in off the shore cast shadows over her face in the most mysterious way. It’s entirely fitting, and after today I’m determined to learn as much as I can about this woman.
“So, if we weren’t on this date today, how would you have spent your Sunday afternoon?” As much time as we’ve spent together, there’s still so much I want to learn about Mia.
“Probably finishing up your website.” She raises her brows a beat before laughing.
“Damn it. Really shot myself in my foot there, didn’t I?”
“Yep. Remember that when I don’t have it up and running for a few more weeks.”
“I will.” Normally that would be incentive enough to end this bet, but Mia’s not some random science experience to determine whether I can win over her beauty and brains with my wit and sheer will. She’s someone I genuinely enjoy spending time with. I don’t see that holding an arbitrary expiration date. “But after the website design, what would it be? Lounging in lingerie while watching porn?”
It’s hilarious to watch her reaction. For a second she can’t tell if I’m joking but the minute she does she rolls those eyes and shoves at my shoulder. “What is it with guys and porn?”
“So, yes to the lingerie, but no to the porn?”
Her lips pinch together with her smile but her eyes study mine closely as she narrows her gaze. “Actually . . .”
I groan. A real, tortured sound leaves my lips and it only makes her laugh.
“Yes to the porn. Tasteful, not corny. And a hell no to the lingerie. I’m more of a sweats and no bra kinda girl.”
At the mention of her nonexistent underwear my gaze drops to her chest. She’s not wearing her jacket but I can’t see a trace of nipple through that thin sweater.
She shoves my shoulder again, her laughter growing. “Eyes up here. Not now, you perv. When I’m at home alone in my apartment.”
“Sorry.” I apologize even though she doesn’t seem disturbed by my question or my staring.
“What would you be doing, Matt Haywood, if we weren’t on this outing?” I don’t miss the fact she skirts calling this a date.
“Work. I work a lot.” Pushing the cheeses and fruit between us, I’m happy when she digs in without any encouragement.
“That sounds awfully boring.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a pretty simple man. At least since I opened the gym.”
“What about before that?”
“When I was fighting?” She nods. It’s almost like another lifetime, the Matt from then so different from who I am now. “I trained, but after a fight, especially a win, I took a few weeks to indulge in the finer things of life.”
“Scandalous.”
She doesn’t know the half of it. “Yeah, but now look at me. It’s almost embarrassing to admit aloud how uneventful my days are.”
“Come on, you’ve got to do something for fun,” she says as if she doesn’t believe me.
Taking a moment to think, I pluck a grape and pop it in my mouth. “Okay, besides work I do sometimes meet up for dinner with my brother.”
Her eyes light with interest and she crosses her legs together to wrap her arms around them. “You have a brother? Older or younger? Any other siblings?”
A chuckle leaves my lips at her slew of questions. “Just the little bro. He’s what . . . twenty-three now. Lives downtown not far from me.”
“Interesting. So, did you both grow up here?”
“In a graveyard? No.” I crack a joke because she’s really good at steering the questions my way and I’d rather not talk about my fucked up family. It’s an automatic downer and she doesn’t deserve that. I’m going for fantastic first date, not stay-away-and-never-again-date. “Yeah, I grew up near South Shore. But what about you? You don’t have the Chicago accent. Where did you hail from before Chi-town?”
“Little town in Iowa. Clear Lake. My parents will live and die there but it’s not for me. I love the big city. Moved here after high school with my best friend and haven’t looked back. That was sixteen years ago. This is home now.”
We continue to munch on food, trading stories and learning more about the other for the next hour. I love that she eats and chats with an ease I’ve never seen before. As if she’s letting down her guard down. I’m getting the real, unscripted version of her.
“Another?” I point to her empty glass. I’ve hardly touched mine. Not that it would hurt if I did, but even now I can’t allow myself to enjoy the pleasure.
“I better not,” she says but then frowns. “Wait, you don’t have a top for it. I feel bad wasting it.”
“Not a waste.” I smile and shake my head, holding the glass bottle. “Can’t ride with this open anyway.” I find a nearby trashcan and dispose of the leftover wine, along with our food wrappers. On my way back to Mia, I stoop at my mother’s grave and caress the headstone, my heart both full of love and heavy with sorrow. “Love you, Ma,” I whisper and then stand to help Mia refold the blanket. I should tell her exactly why this place is so special, but part of me wonders if it’s too personal, too fast. I grab for my bag and shove the blanket inside instead. Maybe the moment is lost, or I’m just a chickenshit, but either way there’s a storm moving in and I need to get Mia home before we’re caught in the rain. That, I’m certain, would ruin this perfect first date.
The ride back to her apartment isn’t as enjoyable, the wind whipping off the water brings a chill that settles in my bones. Mia holds me closer than she usually does, her entire front pressed against my back, and I wish I could enjoy it a little more. As night draws down upon us the lights ahead shine with the cityscape. Thankfully, the storm clouds from earlier yield no rain. My focus is on the road and getting Mia home safely, but there’s also a piece of me that doesn’t want this night to end. I may let up on the gas more than once the closer we get to her apartment, simply to draw out the drive.
Usually when I drop Mia off after training I wait at the curb, but today I park and we walk together in companionable silence. Reaching for the door to her building, I pull it open and wait for her to pass. I don’t think she’ll invite me up, but there’s a need in me to be a gentleman and make sure she gets inside without any problems.
Before we reach the elevator she stops and turns to meet my gaze. “This is me . . .” She points behind her and I almost grin because I was right. She won’t invite me up. Not tonight.
“I had a really good time with you, Mia.”
Her brow narrows and lips purse. “I did too.”
“Don’t sound so damn surprised.” I laugh out loud and it causes her scowl to deepen before she shakes her head.
“Sorry, it’s just . . . It really pains me to admit this to your face, but today was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Not just on a date.”
“Yes,” I hiss, close my fist tight, and pull it into my side.
She rolls her eyes, but laughter teases the edges of her mouth. “Oh God, you’re gonna gloat now, aren’t you?”
My smile widens. “Just proud I was able to set a new benchmark. No more sucking monkey balls for you, sister! All thanks to Matt Haywood.”
“Wow. Third person. Not at all arrogant.”
“Confidence. Confidence, Mia.” I wink and she shakes her head, but I can see the smile she tries to hide. Taking one step closer I put the joking aside to tell her how I really feel. “I’m glad you had fun, because I did, too. I can’t wait to wow you again. Next Sunday?”
“You’re really determined to drag this out.” I know she’s teasing, but the truth is, I’m not. I wish we could do this again tomorrow. If I didn’t have a failing business and two stupid side jobs, I’d ask her to have dinner with me every night this week. Probably a good thing I can’t, because even though she’s obviously had a good time, I don’t want to upend the trust we’ve built today by being overeager.
“Well, of course,” I smart. “I need at least a week to plan something that lives up to today.”
“I don’t even know how that’s possible. You did good.” She sighs like it really does hurt to admit, but I’m thankful for her honesty.
“You make it easy.”
Her gaze snaps up and just like that the fire in her eyes appears. “What is that supposed to mean?”
I want to laugh because it’s almost too easy to rile her up, but that’s not my intent. I need her to understand how much today meant to me, too. How she affects me. “I enjoy your company. You’re smart. We laugh. It’s uncomplicated.” I shrug and it must be enough because her defensive posture is gone.
She nods once and her gaze lands on my lips. I’m almost certain she’s thinking about kissing me right now and that causes my dick to jump to life. If I could roll my eyes at him, I would. Talk about easy.
“It isn’t complicated with you.” The words leave her lips a murmur. They’re laced with so much naked honesty I wonder if she realizes she even said them.
It’s all I can do to not wrap my hands around her waist and tug her close. All of the push and pull today, the witty banter, the closeness, the building chemistry between us is about to explode. The desire I feel for her is more than a quick lay or one-night stand. With Mia I already want more than my four dates—three after this one officially ends.
She leans a little closer, her eyes hooded with what I imagine is longing, but she still won’t meet my gaze. Her tongue darts out to lick along her lower lip and only a weaker man would cave and give in, take what her body language is implying. But I won’t.
“Training Tuesday?” The words come out huskier than I intend. Her eyes flutter closed and it’s only then I realize my hand has found its way to her hip. Resting above the waistband of her jeans and against the soft flesh there, my thumb draws circles on her skin. Skin I dream of tracing with my lips and gripping so tightly my fingers leave prints.
“Hmm?” she says and leans into me, her gaze now at my chest and the white shirt that peeks from beneath my jacket.
“You still want to meet for training on Tuesday?” This time I’ve got my voice back, and my body under control. I drop my hand from her hip.
She blinks and takes a step back. “Yeah, Tuesday.”
“’Night, Mia.”
She opens her mouth to respond, her brows now knit and eyes cast down. I can’t read her expression and I wish I knew her well enough to understand its meaning. “Good night.” Her words leave in a rush and she turns, walking inside the elevator the moment it opens.
I hope I made the right move in not kissing her. I can’t tell if she was relieved or disappointed. I only know I didn’t want a repeat of Thursday’s rejection. That, and even though this is all a bet, I’ve never really dated. Not in the traditional sense, and I want to get it right. I’m attracted to Mia, have been since that morning at Zig’s, but after today my feelings have evolved. I don’t simply like Mia, I’m falling for her. I can only hope she feels the same, and I don’t scare her away. Pulling my bike away from the curb and riding back to my apartment, I run through the possibilities for next week’s date. One of them is tracing those luscious lips with mine. Damn, I’m almost giddy with the prospect. I don’t even care that I’ve got another week like the last one to get through. It’ll all be worth it in the end.