My jaw drops. “To move?”
“Maybe for a little bit. My next novel is set in Europe, and I want to do some research there,” she says.
“That sounds awful,” I say. “So awful I may need to stow away in your luggage.”
“Please. You’ll be busy here conquering another industry,” she says, then shakes a finger at me. “But stop distracting me. How good was the date?”
“So good. I’m going to see him again…tonight,” I say, a little thrilled to share.
Hazel blows on her nails. “I’m taking the credit. Since I gave you that challenge.”
“And you deserve it.” Then I shrug happily. “I’ll probably see him a few more times this week.”
She jerks her gaze back. “So, you really like him?” Her question turns a touch serious.
But quickly, I dismiss the gravitas vibes. “We’re hanging out this week only. We both have a ton going on next week when he starts training camp and I start the show. So we’re just having fun for a couple days.”
She seems to chew on that for a few seconds, then says, “Then have the most fun of all.”
“Oh, I plan to,” I say, then pull her away from the table toward the back of the patio for more privacy. “Do you think boss ladies like to be dominated in the bedroom?”
“So it wasthatgood,” she says with a laugh. Then her eyes turn thoughtful. “Some do.”
“It’s a bit wild how much I love being in charge of my destiny at work and how little control I want in bed.” I’m not surprised I liked sleeping with Gabe. I’m surprised at how much I liked the kind of sex we had. “I’ve always liked sex a little rough. A little hard. But Gabe is next level in the bedroom. He’s an animal,” I confess, shivers running down my spine as images of him flash before me. “And I loved it.”
“Loved what?”
At Veronica’s question, I spin around. Sporting a yellow sundress, she saunters across the patio. With her is a pretty brunette in skinny jeans and a tank, with a boho tangle of necklaces draped across her throat. That must be Veronica’s client who owns the jewelry shop. “This is Rachel Dumont,” Veronica says of the fashionable woman next to her. “And she wanted to throw the party for her friends, customers, and fellow business owners.”
Rachel gestures to the party-size table full of white boxes with pink bows. “Because every woman needs a box for her box.”
It’s official. I’m in love with Rachel. I stride over to the new kid on the friend block. “I’m Ellie. We’re going to become new besties. I’ve just decided it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Rachel says.
And I have a plan too, for my date tonight. In a few more hours, I’ll be pretending to be good.
13
THAT’S A NEW MINI GOLF STRATEGY
Ellie
If I’d known dating with a built-in boundary would be so freeing, I’d have done it sooner.
As I wait for Gabe outside the mini golf rental counter, the usualwill this turn into somethingworries are all gone. In their place is just…excitement over tonight.
This is how dating should be.
At six on the dot, Gabe strolls across the parking lot, looking like he belongs at a country club.
Yes. I like his costume.
Tonight, he’s a perfect prepster, striding up to me wearing khakis and a sky-blue polo.
When he stops a few feet away, I grin in delight at the pièce de résistance—the tiny tennis racket icon stitched onto the shirt. He understood the assignment—play the part.
I smooth a hand over his collar. “You aresothe boy next door,” I say.