Page 35 of Fierce-Colson

“What is so interesting about it?”

“Nothing. Just a comment.”

“Nothing is just a comment if it comes out of someone’s mouth.”

He leaned back in his chair when his beer came out. Her seltzer was set down.

They placed their orders, then he said, “First, I don’t picture you as the type to get rusty in anything in life.”

“Rarely.”

“Yet you made that comment about dating.”

“I don’t have much time and, let’s be honest, when you hit a certain age, the pickings are getting slimmer. Most are married, have baggage, or are set in their ways.”

“I’m positive you’re number three and that makes it hard.”

She squinted at him. “I’ve been reminded that I should look for a few things first and then let the rest fall into place.”

He picked his glass up, his lips going to the rim, a small sip as he looked over it, his eyes smiling before he put it down.

“Interesting.”

“That word again,” she said. She didn’t want to get annoyed. She knew he was playing with her. The humor was there just the same, but she expected better of him.

“It’s a good word to use while I process.”

“In the past you just said what came to you.”

“And that’s where I’ve changed. I can’t really do those things in my line of work.”

“Fair point,” she said. “So, what is interesting this time?”

“Are you going to tell me what those things are that you need to look for and then will let the rest fall into place?”

“Will you share if I do?”

“Sure,” he said without hesitation.

That was more than most men had done in the past.

Honesty had gotten her far in life and she wasn’t going to stop now. “That feeling I had a few days ago. The one we shared.”

She paused to see if he’d deny it. He didn’t. “Yes.”

“I want that. But I want it with someone I feel comfortable with. And someone I trust.”

He seemed taken back by her words, then his smile came slow, steady, wickedly appealing and made her body get dewy in places it had no business being right now.

“I’m flattered.”

“As you should be,” she said, refusing to be embarrassed over this. Might as well let it play out.

“I like that about you.”

She batted her eyelashes. “What’s that?”

“That you’re the person I remember from school when you let yourself relax that guard of yours. It tells me it’s still there. Even if it takes more for it to come out.”