seat, and I went back to working on my spreadsheet. I felt him, though, his eyes studying my every movement. When I finally flicked a glance his way, sure enough, he was still sitting there, leaning his elbows on his knees. But where there would normally be a playful smile, he was thoughtful, with relaxed lips and eyes that tilted down slightly. “So you’re picking up my hours from Sophia again?”
I paused, holding his eye contact before nodding. “Someone has to.”
“But you get paid for that time, right?”
I shook my head. “I clock out when I’m covering those hours.” It was wrong not to. It would essentially be allowing the tutoring center to pay for my French lessons.
He nibbled the corner of his mouth before sliding his hours sheet back and looking at it once more. “Tell you what. I’ll stay—do my full time with Sophia…”
My eyebrows shot up nearly to my hairline. “Really?”
He nodded, and his smile curved. “If you’ll let me take you out to dinner after your shift here.”
My blood slowed within my veins. The whooshing pulse in my head was louder than a waterfall, matching its rhythmic beat thrumming in my throat. On one hand, it would be nice not to have the extra work of helping Sophia…and it would be good for her to have Tate as a more stable fixture in her life. And I did want to go out with him. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed Tate’s company. So, why was I not letting myself indulge a little?
Because he’s everything I’ve sworn off. And when it doesn’t work out, I’ll have to see him every day. Idiot.
“What about Buddy?”
His smile widened. “I have a dog walker I can call on nights I can’t make it home.”
“Of course you do,” I said under my breath, then I gulped the last bit of water Ryan had given me before answering aloud. “Fine. For Sophia’s sake, I will grin and bear a dinner with you—”
Tate laughed, hopping to his feet.
“But.” He froze and spun to face me once more with an eyebrow raised in question.
“But?”
“But—it’s not a date. And I get to choose the restaurant.”
He chewed that over for all of a second before nodding. “You got a deal, Betty.”
…
Every sip of water I took landed hard in the pit of my stomach, like dropping a quarter onto a trampoline. My insides were bouncing with anxious energy. And as I watched Sophia skip away hand in hand with her mother, something sweet knotted in my chest. Watching them should have made me sad, but if anything, it offered a small slice of what I’d been missing the last few months. A moment of peace and love between mother and daughter.
“You ready?” Tate’s deep voice vibrated behind me. And just like that, the trampoline was back.
I nodded and held up a finger. “Give me one minute to file these.” I backed up toward Ryan’s cubicle, which was created out of boxes and chairs and shelves, and slipped open the top folder of the metal cabinet. Tucking the time sheet for Tate into the first file, I let the drawer click shut. I stood there another second, the cool cabinet chilling my skin.
On a deep breath, I pushed off the surface to find Ryan standing in the doorway, watching. “You okay?” he whispered.
My throat closed, and I nodded. “Yeah,” I said. “Just going to grab some dinner.”
His smile lifted at the corners. “Be sure to order a mint chocolate chip milkshake, just for me.”
“You know it,” I answered and brushed passed him.
I jerked my head as I approached Tate. “Let’s go.” He pushed the door, propping it open for me with a foot as I swept by his shoulder.
Keys jingled in his hand. “Should I drive?”
I shook my head, taking the lead and falling into a faster step. “Nope. It’s just across the street.”
Tate’s face was tinted red in the glow of the diner’s lit sign. His eyebrows lowered for a moment before he grinned. “Sounds great.” Test number one was passed.
“Seriously? I mean, the place doesn’t offer caviar or anything, but it’s got a damn good burger and amazing milkshakes—”
“Caviar?” His eyes narrowed. “Who the fuck said anything about caviar?”
I shrugged. “I just didn’t know how casual you were willing to go. Now I know.”
He curved my hand into his, and his palm was dry and warm despite the balmy September heat. With a gentle tug and a quick look both ways, he pulled me across the street.