n was far too attractive for his own good. And probably hers as well.
“Research, huh? And what did you find out?”
“Enough to know that I’m intrigued by you, and I’m wondering what the heck it is about me that’s made you come back tonight.”
He took a step toward her and she felt a flutter in her chest as he stood close enough for her to inhale the fresh, crisp fragrance he wore. It was clean and enticing, like a breeze off the lake on a summer’s day. It made her want to lean in a little, to lift her face, to see whether he’d respond to the cues and do whatever came next. When Miles lifted a hand to push an errant strand of hair off her cheek she felt as if his fingertip had burned a brand of ownership across her cheek.
“Y’know, I’ve been asking myself that same question. But it all comes down to me knowing what I want when I see it. Like I said before—I know its early days, Chloe, but there’s no question that I want you. And I want to get to know you better while you decide if you want me, too.”
His gaze dropped to her lips and she saw the flare of hunger in his green eyes. Her body flooded with heat in response, but then he turned away—leaving her standing there with her lips slightly parted and her brain and body on overload. He’d been about to kiss her; she knew it, and yet he hadn’t. Had he decided it was too soon, or had she been sending the wrong message? Or was he just some kind of tease?
No, she doubted it was the latter and she knew for a fact she’d just about had foot-high neon signs blinking over her head shouting at him to do it. To close the scant distance between them and to take her mouth with his. And he’d been about to. Every feminine instinct in her told her that was so. Then, for some reason, he hadn’t. If anything, it intrigued her even more.
She continued to watch him as he turned his attention to the box containing her new phone and knew she wasn’t mistaken that he was as deeply affected by that short interaction as she’d been when she realized there was the slightest tremor in his hands.
“It’s the latest version of the phone you had already,” he said, looking up at her. “You should be able to transfer the information from your old one easily.”
“That’s great. Thank you. Like most people, I have my life on that device.”
“Do you back up?”
“Yes, religiously.”
“Good. And everything is strongly password protected?”
She nodded. “And changed regularly.”
“Good. You’d be amazed at the number of people who aren’t. They really ought to know better, too.”
She shrugged. “I learned my lesson when I was in college. I had my notes for one of my courses on my phone. I dropped it in a toilet.”
Miles laughed. “Uh-oh. Well, you’ll be relieved to know this version is waterproof, to a certain depth anyway.”
She really liked it when he laughed. The corners of his eyes crinkled and he had a twinkle in his eye that showed he really meant it. She moved across to stand by him as he passed her the phone.
“Here you are,” he said. “Longer battery life on this model, too.”
“It’s great. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“It’s the least I could do after what happened. I had them put additional antivirus and antiphishing software on the phone, too.”
They set up her new phone and then had dinner together. Miles was good company and Chloe had to remind herself that she wasn’t supposed to be enjoying him quite so much. One thing that did surprise her, as they kept their talk along very general lines, was that he never once mentioned his family. Then again, neither did she. It was as though, by some unspoken agreement, they’d decided not to discuss anything but the most peripheral of subjects. It was kind of refreshing, in a way.
After their meal, he helped her clean up and then she walked him out. For some reason, though, she felt awkward as she held the door open for him. She could see his car, the dark navy paintwork glinting under the streetlight, parked outside her house and the sheer luxury in every line of the vehicle reminded her of the gulf in their lives. Of him being a “have” and she having grown up a “have not.” It firmed her resolve to see this through. She was scrambling to try to come up with a logical way to thank him for his help today and for his generosity with the phone and dinner, when he started to speak.
“I have tickets to a show in town tomorrow night.” He mentioned the name of an up-and-coming blues musician she’d been hoping to be able to hear perform live. “Would you be interested in coming with me?”
“Tomorrow? Wow, that would be great! Thank you. I’d love to go.”
He grinned. “Awesome. I’ll pick you up about seven. We can have a bite to eat before the show.”
“Oh, it seems silly for you to come all the way out here to get me. I can meet you at the club if you’d rather.”
“It’s no bother. Besides, my mom would whip my butt if I expected my date to meet me at a function. She brought me up far better than that.”
It was the first time he’d mentioned family. Interesting, she thought, that it had been his mom and not his dad who’d come up so casually in conversation.
“Well, then, I’d best let you make your mom proud.”