I let his question hang between us for a moment. I wanted to see him again, and the reasons not to take the risk kept feeling less and less significant. “Okay. Assuming Muriel doesn’t put the kibosh on this whole thing, but you can’t just fly across the country every week.”
“You grossly underestimate the number of frequent-flier miles I accrue.”
I took a breath, thinking of how to respond.
He spoke again before I finished exhaling. “Plus, I consider this recruiting for my kickball team. It’s a business expense.”
“You’re a good negotiator.”
“And you’re harder to pin down than the Wall Street guys I used to work with. So, I ask again, Dr. Naya Turner, when can I next see you?”
I laughed, holding my hands up in surrender, palms toward him. “How about we meet in Cincinnati?”
He barked out a deep laugh. “Not what I was expecting you to say, but okay. Why Cincinnati?”
“Well, it’s halfway between Chicago and Raleigh. I’ve never been, have you?” And I don’t know anyone there, which makes it an appealing location to continue our not-so-clandestine affair.
“I haven’t, but I’m psyched that you researched meeting places already. I think you might kind of like me.” His lips quirked, and I was busted. “What would we do in Cincinnati? I mean, besides the obvious.” We both reached for our phones and began searching, finding a zoo, shopping, trendy restaurants, and sports.
“I guess we wouldn’t be bored.” I held up the visitors bureau website for him to examine.
“I’m never bored with you. Except in bed. You are really boring in bed. Maybe we should stick to karaoke and zoos.”
I glowered at him. “Your jokes don’t always make you more charming. You don’t seem too invested in me seeing you again.”
“You know I’m playing.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Do you want me to give you a full list of all the ways I find you utterly fascinating, in and out of bed?”
“I like lists.”
“I remember. Have we checked anything new off? At least a few things from last night were on there, hopefully.”
Heat rose on my cheeks, and I shifted closer to him without answering. Dating isn’t on the list.
“I’m guessing so, because you’re blushing. I find your blushing kind of hot. It’s actually on the list. I’ll send you the rest of it later. I promise.” He yawned again. “I never get any sleep when I’m with you, but I need to get ready for a meeting. I’m holding you to Cincinnati, though.”
I ran a hand down his forearm, the short hairs tickling my palm. “Scout’s honor.”
* * *
Later that morning, I’d begun poring over my interview data from spring with the fourth graders. Before inviting me to play kickball, one of the kids had been telling me about the math game and how he wanted to show it to his abuela because she didn’t speak English, and the game would translate his game stats to Spanish. I smiled, hearing my grandfather’s voice in my head. I returned to reviewing, though my mind would trip on something Jake had said, or how he’d beamed when he gave me the pencils. I wondered if maybe in some universe I could have him, keep my job, and hold on to this contented feeling. Like he knew I was thinking of him, my phone buzzed with an incoming text from Jake followed immediately by a second, third, and fourth.
Jake: The spot on your neck, just below your jaw. The skin is so soft, and you make a little whimpering sound when I kiss you there. That sound ends me.
Jake: This tiny, crescent-shaped scar on your left inner thigh. How did you get that?
Jake: When your whole body quivers and shakes right before you come with my mouth on you and you grip my hair.
Jake: The way you seem to let go of every inhibition when you’re on top of me, all bossy-like.
Goose bumps pricked up my arms as I read, and a tension coiled low in my belly as I flicked a glance between the manuscript sitting lifeless on the screen and the bouncing dots on my phone, indicating Jake was drafting another text.
Jake: I had a few minutes, and I promised to share a list.
Jake: My list of things I like about you outside bed is much longer.
Jake: Your laugh, the look you give me when I tell a bad joke, how you get all twitchy when you’re nervous.
Jake: This is all on top of your cheese puns and kickball prowess.
Naya: You are something else.
Jake: Something good?
Naya: Something very good.
Jake: Something you can’t get enough of?