I nodded. "Yeah."
"We're sitting in the juice bar, and I've just asked you out. What do you say?"
"I should say no."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You sound suspicious."
"Always," I said.
"Never taking a chance is the worst failure of all, Anita."
"Not dating is a choice, not a failure." I was feeling a wee bit defensive.
"Say you'll go caving this weekend." The leather coat crinkled and moved as he tried to move closer to me than the seat belt would allow. He could have reached out and touched me. Part of me wanted him to, which was sort of embarrassing all on its own.
I started to say no, then realized I wanted to say yes. Which was silly. But I was enjoying sitting in the dark with the smell of leather and cologne. Call it chemistry, instant lust, whatever. I liked Richard. He flipped my switch. It had been a long time since I had liked anybody.
Jean-Claude didn't count. I wasn't sure why, but he didn't. Being dead might have something to do with that.
"Alright, I'll go caving. When and where?"
"Great. Meet in front of my house at, say, ten o'clock on Saturday."
"Ten in the morning?" I said.
"Not a morning person?" he asked.
"Not particularly."
"We have to start early, or we won't get to the end of the cave in one day. "
"What do I wear?"
"Your oldest clothes. I'll be dressed in coveralls over jeans."
"I've got coveralls." I didn't mention that I used my coveralls to keep blood off my clothes. Mud sounded a lot more friendly.
"Great. I'll bring the rest of the equipment you need."
"How much more equipment do I need?"
"A hard hat, a light, maybe knee pads."
"Sounds like a boffo first date," I said.
"It will be," he said. His voice was soft, low, and somehow more private than just sitting in my car. It wasn't Jean-Claude's magical voice, but then what was?
"Turn right here," he said, pointing to a side street. "Third house on the right."
I pulled into a short, blacktopped driveway. The house was half brick and some pale color. It was hard to tell in the dark. There were no streetlights to help you see. You forget how dark the night can be without electricity.
Richard unbuckled his seat belt and opened the door. "Thanks for the ride."
"Do you need help getting him inside?" My hand was on the key as I asked.