The What If Guy - Lauren Blakely Page 0,24

appreciative look. “Excellent name. You must send me a photo.”

“I believe that can be arranged,” I say, thinking of her Instagram account.

We return to our late-night meal as Bruce flops at Bryn’s feet, rolling to his side and showing off his dark-striped belly.

When we’re done eating, Bryn’s eyes light up. “I almost forgot something.”

My brow knits. “Fortune cookies?”

She laughs, shaking her head as she points to my phone. “We need to leave a review for the driver. From the Lyft.”

I smile, loving that she’s a woman of her word. That she remembered a promise she made to a Lyft driver.

I click on the app. “Want to do the honors?”

“I do.” She gives him five stars, then talks as she types. “Friendly, considerate, and sure knows his restaurant recs.”

Then she hits submit, and my chest warms. It’s the little things that matter.

And I like this little thing.

I like this woman too.

But it’s late, and I have work in the morning, so after I clean up, I tell her I have to go. “I’ll text you tomorrow. We’ll do this again?”

“Definitely.”

I haul her in for a hot, hard kiss. “There is so much more to do,” I say in a low, dirty growl.

“Can’t wait to find out what that might be.”

I cup her cheeks, smooth out her hair. “I had a great time with you.”

“I had doubles,” she says, a little cheeky.

I laugh. “Yes, but I also meant before and after those doubles.”

She smacks her forehead playfully. “Oh, yeah. The other stuff. Talking and eating and things like that. That was pretty good too, Logan.”

“It was better than good,” I say, then give her one more kiss—a soft one this time—before I leave.

On the way home, I’m still savoring the aftereffects of a great night.

Taking out my phone, I google “when to text a woman you want to see again,” then click the top link.

I smile to myself that the top hit is an article on The Dating Pool. Ironic, but no surprise, really. It’s a great site with smart advice.

I read it, digging the last line. But if you like a woman, text her after you’ve seen her.

As the car cruises up Park Avenue, I do just that.

Logan: Have I mentioned I had an amazing time tonight? Well, it bears repeating. Also, would you like to have dinner with me on Friday night?

Her reply is swift.

Bryn: I’d love to. Also, I love sushi. :)

Logan: Then I will take you out for sushi.

Bryn: Sushi and dessert?

Logan: If by dessert you mean more of what we had tonight, then yes, yes, yes.

Bryn: Then my answer is yes, yes, yes.

I lean my head back, replaying the evening the whole way home, then while riding the elevator, then when I’m inside my place too.

Queen LaTofu greets me, rubbing her fluffy body against my leg.

“Hey, pretty lady.” I scoop her up, stroking her head between the ears. “Did you have a good evening, my queen?”

When she stares back at me with a satisfied grin, I interpret that as yes. What’s the fun of pets if you can’t anthropomorphize them?

I slide into my Queen LaTofu impersonation. “Why, yes, Logan. Tell me every dirty detail. And don’t spare my ears.”

“If you insist,” I answer.

I proceed to tell her all about my night. She’s my cat, my priest, my confidante.

And as I end my confession, I whisper one last secret to her. “And I can’t wait for it to happen again.”

9

Queen LaTofu

Queen LaTofu strutted to the door, grateful her person was home at last, since his return signified two important things.

One, food. Preferably tuna, because no cat wanted the same damn kibble every single day and night.

And two, amusement.

He was always so chatty, and his voice entertained her. Such a funny voice, almost like he was trying to be sexy to female humans or something. All that gravel and roughness. Maybe it worked on two-legged ladies, but it was hard to say, since Queen LaTofu hadn’t seen any of those around these parts in a long time.

Perhaps he was losing his touch?

Did he need lessons in seduction?

She could help with that to some degree. As a cat, she was naturally seductive, with a stunning coat she kept in tip-top shape and a tail that was the envy of all the city.

When he opened the door, she glided her silky body against his legs. Perhaps some of her sultriness would rub off on him and he might learn a thing or two.

If he didn’t, he was still a lucky human