Page 20 of When the Walls Come Down
Wait…
No…
It was our first date.
Wasn’t sex on the first date sort of taboo in this day and age? Of course, she was a vital, young woman, and far—far—be it for me to deny her. There was nothing wrong with wanting what you wanted. And if she wanted it from me? You could say I’d fucking consent my ass off. I’d probably blow my load in my hand first. But by the second round, if she hadn’t run laughing away from me, I’d give her the best six—nay, seven minutes of her weekend.
Of course, I was probably just overthinking all of it because this was the first human contact I’d had in way too long.
“Shane, where specifically are you taking me?” she inquired again on our leisurely stroll out the doors of our lobby and into the neighborhood we shared.
“Well, I don’t want you to freak out or anything—because this just might blow your mind—but what if I was about to tell you we’re going through my favorite farmers market? Where I may or may not buy you flowers. If you’re not too mouthy. And I need basil to make my sister’s special spaghetti sauce…for my dinner, not yours. I know you’ve already eaten dinner today.”
She’d told me Italian was her favorite kind of food, and as it turned out, Blake’s being an award-winning chef was finally about to come in handy for me.
“Then I was going to show you a coffee shop I like. Maybe I’ll point you toward the gym I use. They have kickboxing there. Down that same street, there are a few stores my sister loves to waste money at. Although you and I probably shop at the same places, but I’m not sure I trust you enough to just hand over my sweater dealer. Yet. And it’s just a wild guess, but I bet you haven’t been by the library yet to get a new card.” I coughed into my hand. “Loser.”
She squinted at me, mock offense on her face, but then relented. “I have been meaning to do that.”
“After that, I’ll let you in on one of my favorite hidden gems in the neighborhood. Prepare yourself, Peach.” I used my free hand to paint her a mental picture of what the sign looked like hanging off their awning. “Pulaski Dry Cleaning and Tailoring. I have three shirts to pick up while we’re there.”
I wasn’t even attempting to impress her with my knowledge of San Francisco, mostly because I didn’t have any. What I did know was this neighborhood, and if I was really being honest, it was where I was most comfortable.
So what if our date looked more like a list of errands? It was time with her I was after anyway.
“Wow,” she droned with all the enthusiasm of a student learning of a surprise pop quiz. “You sure do know how to show a girl a good time.”
I came to a dead stop on the sidewalk, and she stared up at me to see why.
“You’ve got a little something…” I gestured to the corner of her mouth.
As one does, she immediately swiped at the spot. “Did I get it?” she asked, totally serious.
“Never mind. It was just a little too much sarcasm. Gone now.”
I tried to hide my smile. Anyone who knew me would attest to the fact that I wasn’t typically that funny, but something about her dry sense of humor and the feeling I had when I was around her just brought the smartass out in me.
We weren’t even a hundred yards into our date and I was already feeling like I’d won some kind of lottery. It was hard not to with a spunky knock-out like Maggie on my arm.
“You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?” She sneered but in a yeah-you-got-me-this-time type of way, which I was certain—and hoping—I’d have to pay for later. It was fucking adorable, and probably the first time I was really compelled to lean over and just kiss the hell out of her right then and there.
I was dead certain I’d be fighting the urge all night.
Luckily, I could control myself. For now. But that peek-a-boo shoulder was really eroding my resolve.
“We better get to the market before all the good stuff is picked over,” I said as she linked our arms together again and we kept going. “Plus, if I botch my sister’s sauce, she’ll never let me live it down. Blake said, and I quote, ‘It’s so easy that even a fuckwad kitchen disaster like you should be able to not mess it up.’ Aren’t sisters great?”
“Oh, I know all about sisters too. I have three.”
The traffic was bustling, and with cars parking and pulling away from the curb, I didn’t like the idea that she was closest to the road, so I quickly swapped sides with her. “Big family?”
