“Okay, let me kick it off. What’s your last name?” I started with the easy questions.
Clouds rolled over us causing the sun to sink behind them.
She adjusted to the cloud cover by taking her glasses off. Her eyes were even bluer than the ocean. “Roberts,” she fired.
Now, I could see and connect with her better. “Last boyfriend?” I asked.
“A jerk,” she quipped.
I laughed.
She smirked and a dimple appeared.
“Biggest win at the casino for a night?” I fired back. I was enjoying this as much as I hated to admit it.
She glanced to the sky as she stole another sip of wine. “Umm, let’s see, 25k, Vegas.”
“Are you a professional gambler?” I kept going, admiring the fire in her eyes.
“100 percent.”
“Favorite casino to play at?”
“Biloxi.”
Jackpot. A unique way of gaining the information from her, but it was a good one. At least, I could find out what happened with her at this casino.
“Favorite color?” I asked as her sultry lips clung to her glass. God, I wanted to jump over there and scoop her up.
“Red, followed by black.”
Casino colors; made sense. “Pets… yay or nay?”
“Nay. I can’t love them like they need. I travel a lot.”
The more I unraveled the tightly wound ball, the more I liked her. “Jaz is short for?”
“Jasmine.”
“Okay, is that ten?” I asked her.
“Is that another question?”
Man, she was quick. “No, it’s not. You can ask me something now if you want.” I was working off the premise that if I let my guard down, she would too.
She finished her wine.
I sipped my beer. It sure went down good in the heat.
“Are you dating anybody, Ink? You’re a hot guy. Not trying to pump up your ego or anything, but you are.”
Her saying this made me feel alive inside. So she wanted me like I wanted her, and here we were sitting across from one another, playing little games.“I’m not dating anyone. Are you?” I wanted to know as well if I had competition. If I did, then I planned to knock them off real quick. It seemed funny how territorial I felt and we weren’t even together yet.
She pushed the pad of her finger onto my arm. “Hey, it’s my turn to do the asking, alright?”
Her merest touch felt like an exhilarating electric shock, making fire run through my veins. “Alright.” I drew my hand back and got back into the nachos. I signaled the waiter for more drinks by pointing to Jaz’s wine glass and my green beer bottle.
He nodded back to me.