Page 42 of Double Booked

“Remember Carly? Well, it’s the same thing.”

She scooped a slice of pizza onto her plate, averting her gaze. “It’s totally different.”

“How so?” he said, as he helped himself to a slice.

“Carly kept flaunting her… assets. He was simply being friendly.”

“He might be more subtle, but the goal is the same. I’m a guy. I know these things.”

She shook her head. “In this case, you’re wrong.”

She doesn’t know how beautiful she is, he thought as he took a bite of pizza. Tonight, all her features stood out in stark relief, and it was like he was seeing her for the first time.

Soon, the waiter reappeared. “How is everything?” He looked from Cole to her, his gaze lingering on her.

“Great. Can I get some more water, please?”

“Of course. Be right back.”

Cole chuckled. “There is a perfect example.”

“What are you talking about?”

“As soon as you asked for something, he snapped to it, but he didn’t ask if I needed anything.”

“He’ll probably bring more water for both of us.”

Usually, Cole ordered beer with pizza, but tonight, he wanted to keep his wits about him. He noticed she’d ordered water, too.

The waiter returned with one glass of water and set it in front of her. “There you go.” He didn’t so much as glance at Cole before walking away.

“What did I tell you?” he said.

She pointed at his glass. “Yours is still half-full.”

His face split into a wide grin. “Ah-ha. I am rubbing off on you. Before, you might have said it was half-empty.”

She laughed, and he reveled in the sound of it. It was becoming a goal of his to make her smile and laugh.

Soon, they’d polished off the pizza. When the waiter reappeared with the bill, Cole handed him the gift card and tip. “Thanks a lot. You two have a great night.”

“Oh, we will,” Cole said, his voice dripping with innuendo.

The waiter gave him a brief nod and walked off.

Eden narrowed her eyes at him. “He probably thought we were together.”

“Yes, I know,” Cole said proudly. “As I recall, you did the same thing at the BBQ place, so now we’re even.”

“I didn’t realize we were keeping score,” she huffed.

“It was all in good fun.” It was mostly true, though he hadn’t liked the way the waiter was eyeing her. Was that how she’d felt about Carly?

They drove to the cabin in his car (they’d dropped hers off before they’d gone to the restaurant), when it started raining. At first, it was just a few scattered drops, but by the time they pulled into the driveway, it was a downpour.

“We’ll have to make a run for it,” he said.

“Don’t you have an umbrella in here?”