Rebellion (A Dangerous Man, #2) (10 page)

I take a small step back. “You’re very young.” I say
unnecessarily. I’m disappointed. Her eyes drop from my face, and then she looks
back up again. We look at each other for a long while, my mind full of images
of all the things I want to do to her. I am a pervert.

My eyes catch on a small glass sculpture beside her. “I’d
like the glass swan.” I say.

She looks like I just spoke in Greek. “The what?”

I smile at the expression on her face and incline my head
towards the sculpture. She looks embarrassed as she picks it up, taking it to
the desk at the front of the shop.

“Do you want it wrapped?” She asks, looking up at me.

“Yes, and delivered.” I give her my address in Seattle, and
she jots it down in  neat handwriting on a notepad.

I hand her my card. As she takes it, her fingers brush
against mine, cool and soft. I’m filled with an urge to take her hand and kiss
it, or something equally stupid.  The contact is only for a few moments, but
those moments seem to last for a long time. I look at her face, and she’s
staring up at me like a deer caught in headlamps. She feels it too, I think,
whatever this is.

Abruptly, she pulls her hand away and swipes my card, not
looking at me.

“I want to see you.” The words escape my lips without any
input from my brain. She stops what she is doing, and those green eyes find
mine again. “What are you doing tonight?” I continue.

“Nothing.” She whispers softly.

“Then have dinner with me.”

She looks as if she’s thinking about it, confusion, and a
whole lot of other emotions running through her features. “Please.” I say. I
give her a smile for good measure. Somehow, I want this very badly.

“Yes.” She says.

I feel like I’ve won a major triumph. I realize that I’ve
been leaning over her, eagerly waiting for her reply. I straighten. “When do
you finish here?” I ask.

“Five.” She tells me.

“I’ll be here.” I smile at her, backing slowly towards the
door. Outside Steve is waiting patiently in the car. He doesn’t ask me why I’m grinning
so widely as I climb into the back seat.