was strong and always ending up confused and unsure. She nodded at his drink, what looked like a Coke, the same thing he’d ordered the first time they met. “You don’t drink alcohol.” He wasn’t the only one who was observant.
“I don’t. I never really have.” He looked out over the cityscape and gestured at the video being projected on the building across the street. “That’s cool.”
A change of subject, which was fine. Alcohol consumption could be a testy subject. “They usually pick a single artist and broadcast their greatest hits. Must be MJ tonight.” They watched the zombies dancing for a minute. “‘Thriller’ is my favorite.”
“Mine too.” The touch of wind blew a strand of his hair over his forehead. It had grown out since the conference. She wondered if he would cut it short again or let it go long, like when she’d seen him in Cayucos. She’d liked those wavy locks.
She shifted and placed her drink on the table nearby. “You ever think about how the music video wouldn’t make sense if it was shot today?” She continued when he shot her a questioning look. “I mean, technology could take care of this whole problem. Car breaks down? I have a battery starter in my glove box, it’s the size of a tablet. If that doesn’t work? A cell phone would call AAA and help. You wouldn’t have to leave your car to walk down some spooky path with a werewolf.”
“Eh. I don’t know about that.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know about that? A cell phone solves like 99.9 percent of the problems that created conflict in media prior to 1998.”
“Hear me out. You didn’t charge that car starter. You’re out of cell service, or, as is usually the case with me, your phone battery’s run out.” He spread his hands out in front of him. “Boom. Zombie dance. Technology’s only good if it’s functional.”
“Okay, but the setup still might not work.” Rhiannon gestured to the terrified young woman on the screen. “That poor girl’s on a date, possibly a first date? Today’s day and age, she’s got pepper spray or a Taser on her. I’m on a first date, and a guy’s car breaks down, and he magically ‘doesn’t have’ cell service?” She used air quotes. “I’m going to have one hand in my pocket or purse, on my weapon and my keys, ’cause something’s fishy there. A woman with a hair bow that jaunty, she’s a fighter.”
He mulled that over. “You think pepper spray would work on zombies and ghouls?”
“Open membranes are open membranes, son.” She couldn’t hide her smile at his laugh. He had a beautiful laugh, all deep and hearty.
She sobered. It would sound good on camera, which is what they were here for. Rhiannon pulled out her phone and a tripod, setting it up on the table so it would capture some of the scenery. She adjusted it so the music video wasn’t in view. The last thing she wanted was for legal to bitch about how they couldn’t air the thing because of licensing.
“You have a little phone tripod?” He peered at her setup. “How clever.”
“I didn’t invent it, but it is clever.” She hit record and took a step back. She glanced up at him and then pressed his shoulder, angling his body so they were both visible.
“You know what you’re doing,” he rumbled.
She dropped her hand away from his shoulder, that nice, solid shoulder. Because business first. Pleasure later. “Sometimes.” She fixed a smile on her face for the camera and gave a brief intro, including where they were standing. The bar manager had been kind enough to allow them to do this for free, in exchange for a mention, so she dropped the bar’s name a couple of times.
A few people glanced their way, but this was L.A., and there were more exciting things in the world than two possibly vaguely familiar-looking people talking to a cell phone set up a foot away from them. They’d be left alone.
She looked up at Samson. “Samson, I’m not even sure where to start with you. How long have you been out of the dating game? Years, right?”
“Five years.” There was a shadow of a smile on his face, and she knew they were both thinking of their one night together.
Which they couldn’t. Not now. “Phew. Too long. We gotta get you up to speed. Where to even start with you.”
He grimaced. “I’m afraid I was so awkward I may