by Elle James
Otis laughed and touched his fingers to the tie. “Yes, it is. It’s one of my favorites. I love the concept of the Tardis being a time machine. This was the only bow tie I could find with the Tardis on it.”
Leslie laughed softly. “Look at you two. Your outfits match.”
Twyla held out her hand to Otis. “So very nice to meet you, Otis.”
He gripped her hand and smiled into her eyes. “So nice to meet you, too, Twyla.”
Tag dove into his opportunity. “Since you two match, and Leslie and I know each other, why don’t we sit together in the restaurant?”
Otis shot a glance toward Leslie. “Are you okay with that?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. You two obviously have something in common, and Tag and I are old friends. That’ll make us all more comfortable getting to know each other.”
“My reservation was for a table for two,” Otis said.
Tag held up a hand. “I’ll take care of it when we get inside. I’m sure they have a table for four.”
“I don’t know,” Otis said, his brow wrinkling. “They book up pretty quickly. I was lucky to get a table for tonight.”
Otis held the door for Twyla and Leslie.
Tag took over and held the door for Otis. Once inside, Tag excused himself with, “I’ll see what they have.” He left the other three standing by the door and crossed to the hostess’s stand. He’d already reserved a table for four. He let the hostess know they were there, and that Otis Peebles’s reservation could be canceled.
Tag rejoined the others. “We’re in luck,” he said. “They were able to give us a table for four.”
Otis smiled. “That’s perfect.” He turned to Leslie. “Are you a fan of Dr. Who?”
“I’ve watched a few of the shows,” Leslie admitted.
Otis blinked several times. “A few?”
Leslie grimaced. “Sorry. I…uh…don’t get much of a chance to watch TV. I do like action-adventure and superhero movies, as well as science fiction stories, like Star Trek and Star Wars.”
“Oh, okay.” Otis turned toward Twyla. “I take it you’re a Dr. Who fan, too?”
Twyla laughed. “What was your first clue?”
“I really like the Tardis dress.” He smiled at Twyla. “And who was your favorite Dr. Who?”
She snorted “In my opinion, there was only one Dr. Who, and that was David Tenant.”
“That goes without saying,” Otis said. “Although, I must admit I was impressed with Peter Capaldi, who played Dr. Who from 2013 through 2017. He started out a little rough, but he got good after a while.”
Twyla nodded. “Agreed. But still, David Tenant was the man.”
“If you’ll follow me, I’ll get you seated,” the hostess said, carrying a stack of menus.
Otis returned his attention to Leslie and held out his arm.
She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, her gaze going to Tag.
Tag’s gut knotted just a little. He knew this was her date with Otis. Tag held out his arm for Twyla.
She hooked her arm through his. Together, they wound their way through the steakhouse and took their seats, boy-girl, boy-girl.
Though Tag wasn’t with Leslie on this date, he at least got to sit beside her, with Leslie on one side and Twyla on the other.
As they settled at the table, Leslie turned to Otis and smiled. “I noticed on your profile that you’re a physicist.”
Otis nodded. “I am.”
“What exactly does a physicist do?”
Otis smiled. “I work at the University of Texas in Austin as a research physicist. I design experiments to test theories. We use the scientific method and draw conclusions about the theories.”
“That sounds very interesting,” Leslie said. “What do you like to do when you’re not at work?”
Otis glanced toward Twyla. He hesitated for a moment, and then he launched into his after-hours activities. “I am such a fan of sci-fi movies about comic book heroes.”
“Seriously?” Twyla said. “Did you know that there’s a Comic Con here in Cedar Park this weekend?”
“As a matter of fact, I did know,” Otis said, looking back at Leslie as if he was about to say more.
The waitress chose that moment to take their orders. After she left, Twyla and Otis got into a discussion about the Comic Con and which celebrities would be in attendance. They continued with a detailed discussion of several episodes of Dr. Who.
Tag caught Leslie’s gaze, his mouth twitching at the corners.
Otis finally remembered he was on a date with Leslie. He turned to her. “And what do you like to do in your off hours? For that matter, what is it you actually do?”
She smiled. “I’m a software developer.”
Twyla perked up. “Really? I’m a programmer.”
Leslie turned to Tag. “Tag is a software developer, as well.” Thankfully she didn’t mention that his software firm was international, and that he made a lot of money at it. Leslie understood the importance of keeping her clients’ monetary status confidential. People tended to treat him differently when they knew how much he was worth.
“What kind of programming do you do?” Otis asked Twyla.
“I do programming for medical experiments for clinical research projects,” she replied.
“That’s interesting,” Otis said with a smile. “How long have you been doing that?”
“I landed the job straight out of college. I’ve been at it now for the past seven years.” She shrugged. “It’s interesting work, and I enjoy being involved in the trials. I hope that someday I’ll be involved in a clinical trial that will be responsible for finding the cure for cancer.”
Otis nodded. “That would be the ultimate victory.” He turned to Leslie. “What kind of software do you develop?”
“Relational database software,” Leslie said, her gaze capturing Tag’s, her lips quirking upward in a smile.
Tag almost snorted out of his nose the drink he’d been sipping. More like relationship software. Her clients didn’t need to know she was the one responsible for the BODS system that got them there.
Thankfully, their food arrived, limiting the amount of talking they could do. Tag ate his steak, watching as Leslie pushed hers around on her plate. He’d make certain she got a box to take her meal home to eat later. The woman didn’t eat nearly enough.
When she became his wife, he’d take better care of her. He liked cooking and didn’t mind cleaning. He had a maid that did both, but he still preferred to do his own chores.
After their plates were cleared away, Leslie pushed back from the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to make a visit to the ladies’ room.”
Tag waited a few moments then stood. “Excuse me. I need to see a man about a horse.”
Twyla’s brow scrunched. “A horse?”
Otis chuckled. “He’s going to the restroom.”
Twyla’s eyes widened. “Oh.”
He hurried to the rear of the restaurant where the restrooms were located down a narrow hallway. Though he didn’t need to use the facilities, he wanted to compare notes with Leslie about their dates. He waited outside the ladies’ room until she emerged.
Her eyes widened when she saw him.
He smiled. “So, what do you think about Otis?”
Leslie looked in both directions to make certain Otis and Twyla weren’t coming or going in the hallway. She smiled up at Tag. “I think he’s a very nice man. He’s intelligent, not bad looking, and he knows a lot about Dr. Who and celebrities.” She shrugged. “I guess I need to brush up on my Dr. Who series if I plan on seeing him again.”
Tag frowned. “Are you planning on seeing him again?”
She shrugged again. “I don’t know. I want to give the other candidates a chance before I decide.”
Tag nodded. “The big question is, can you see Otis as the father of your children?”
Leslie’s brow puckered. “I don’t know. It’s hard to say after just one
date.” She raised her eyebrows. “How about you? Twyla is pretty, and she’s very sweet and smart.”
“You say that as if you don’t expect me to date a smart woman,” Tag said.
“Not at all,” Leslie said. “You’re a very smart man. I’d expect you to date someone equally smart. Otherwise, you’d walk all over her.”
“And that’s why I like you so much,” Tag said. “You call it like it is, and you don’t let me get away with anything.”
She grinned. “What are friends for, if they can’t tell you the truth?” She tilted her head. “So, do you see Twyla as the mother of your four children?”
There was no way in hell he’d marry Twyla, but Tag played along. “She’s nice. She’s good-looking, and she’d make pretty babies. But I can’t see me marrying a woman who’d probably want to name a child Dr. Who, or after David Tenant, Spock, Spider Man or Thor.” He lifted a shoulder. “And I’m not all that into Comic Cons or cosplay. Dressing up is fun for Halloween parties or masquerade balls, but I’m not all that into it. I’d feel more comfortable riding a horse out on my ranch.”
“Exactly,” Leslie said. “Fewer people…wide open spaces…communing with nature.” She sighed. “Sounds like heaven.”
“It is,” he said. “Especially when you can share it with someone who appreciates it equally.”
Leslie glanced down the hallway. “I guess we should head back before they come looking for us.”
Tag nodded. He started to go around her in the hallway when a woman exited the ladies’ room and bumped into him. Tag pitched toward Leslie, catching himself by bracing his arms on the wall on either side of Leslie.
“Sorry,” the woman said and hurried away.
Tag wasn’t sorry. He was right where he’d always wanted to be…his body pressed against hers. Everywhere they touched was on fire. He could feel the heat burning through him.
Leslie’s irises flared. She tilted her head up toward his. All he had to do was dip his chin just a little and he could capture her mouth with his.
A large man entered the narrow hallway. “Excuse me,” he said.
Tag didn’t want to move, but he had to in order to let the man get by to the men’s room.
He’d been so very close to kissing her. Once again, he told himself, it was too soon, He wondered if it wasn’t too soon to let her know it was a possibility. He wanted to give her something to keep in mind on her dates. Not that he wanted her kissing her dates. But if the opportunity came up, how would she feel about kissing Otis as compared to him?
“We’d better get back to our dates,” Leslie said.
Tag nodded and moved out of the way, allowing the big guy to move past them. He cupped Leslie’s elbow and guided her down the hallway until they reached the end of the corridor.
“You’d better go before me,” Tag said.
She nodded and took off across the room.
Tag followed a few seconds later. When he arrived at the table, Otis and Twyla were grinning. “We just had a great thought,” Otis said and cast a quick glance in Twyla’s direction. “We are just around the corner from Greater Austin’s Comic Con. They stay open until ten o’clock. Let’s go.”
Tag really didn’t want to go, but when he looked at the pained expression in Leslie’s eyes, he smiled. “Great idea. Let’s do it.”
For the next three hours, he, Leslie, Twyla and Otis walked around the convention center, bumping into numerous versions of Thor, Spider Man and nearly naked women dressed as Princess Leia or Wonder Woman. It worked out well for Tag, because he got to walk with Leslie, while Twyla and Otis bonded over a life-size Tardis parked in the middle of the convention center. They snapped photos of each other in front of the big blue box, and with other cosplay characters, having the time of their lives.
Tag leaned toward Leslie. “Having fun?”
Leslie tilted her head to the side a little. “Actually, I am.”
Tag frowned. “Really? I didn’t think this was your scene.”
“I didn’t either,” Leslie said. “But I find it fun watching other people enjoying it so much. Who knew I’d be a fan of Comic Con? I definitely need to read up on my comic books, watch my action movies and catch up on Dr. Who, if I decide to see Otis again.”
Tag nodded toward Twyla and Otis. “You may have some competition in Twyla.”
Leslie smiled. “They do seem to be getting along quite well, don’t they?”
“They have a lot in common, starting with their clothing,” Tag said.
Leslie glanced down at her sleek gray slacks and soft white blouse. Then she looked at Tag’s dark jeans and white button-down shirt. “We don’t really fit in here, do we?” she said.
“Not really,” he said. “We might be considered boring compared to the others in the convention center.”
“That’s okay,” Leslie said. “But I do like the bright blue Tardis dress Twyla is wearing. Royal blue is one of my colors.”
Tag leaned back and stared at her. “Seriously? I only ever see you wearing gray.”
She grinned. “That’s my professional look.”
“And when are you not professional?”
She shrugged and grinned. “When I’m wearing my PJs at home.”
“Now, you have me curious,” he said. “What do your PJs look like?” His groin tightened at the thought of Leslie in her PJs.
“That’s my little secret,” Leslie said. “It’s one of my guilty pleasures.”
“Was is something between you and Randy?” he asked, maybe a little jealous of his best friend and ghost.
She shook her head. “No. I started buying crazy pajamas after Randy passed. It helped to make me happy when I was at my saddest. Emma bought me my first pair. It had a pattern of rainbows and unicorns. It had a logo on it that said, ‘If you can be anything in this world, be a unicorn. Be proud of being different.’”
Tag looked around the convention center with a smile. “I think we have a lot of unicorns in this room.”
“Yes, indeed, we do. And they are all proud of their individualism. Next time we come, we’re dressing up.”
“We?” Tag’s eyebrows rose.
“Being here brings something important to my attention,” she said.
“Brings what to your attention?” he asked.
“That we don’t play enough.”
Tag smiled. “Aren’t we a little old to be playing?”
Leslie shook her head. “Never.”
“This is a side of you that I don’t remember,” Tag said.
“Probably because, with everything that has happened over the past ten years, I’ve forgotten how to play. If we hadn’t come on this date tonight, I wouldn’t have remembered. And if things don’t work out with Otis,” Leslie said, “I still need to thank him.”
“For what?” Tag asked.
“For reminding me how to be young. For reminding me that just because you’re an adult, you don’t have to grow up. You can still be a functioning, contributing member of society and still play.”
“I like that,” Tag said. “I like that a lot. And I like you.”
They stayed until the doors closed. Since they brought their own cars, they ended up leaving at the same time.
Otis shook hands with Twyla and Tag, and then turned to Leslie and held her hands in his, smiling at her. “Thank you, Leslie. I really enjoyed the evening.”
Leslie returned his smile, making Tag’s gut clench. “Thank you, Otis. I enjoyed it, too.”
Tag turned to Twyla. “Twyla, it’s been a pleasure.”
Twyla smiled up at him. “I really appreciate you bringing me here tonight. And thank you for introducing me to your friends.” She shot a smile toward Otis. “I can’t remember a better double date than I had tonight. And I wasn’t looking forward to this date, thinking I would have nothing in common with you.”
Tag tipped his head a bit. “Actually, you didn’t have as much in common with me, as I would have expected.”
“Yeah,
but you were nice enough to let me be me. And I appreciate that.” She leaned up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you again.”
Otis saw Leslie to her car.
Even though Tag would have liked to see Leslie to her car, he waited until Twyla got in her car and drove away.
Once Leslie drove her car out of the parking lot, Tag waved to Otis, climbed into his truck and drove home. He hadn’t gone very far before he dialed Leslie’s number on his cellphone.
“What? She didn’t insist on sleeping with you tonight?” Leslie asked without preamble.
Tag laughed. “I think she would rather have slept with Otis.”
“You’re right,” Leslie said. “Those two were too cute. Are you disappointed?”
“Not at all,” he said. “I got to spend the evening with you.”
“That wasn’t exactly how it was supposed to end up, but I’m glad too,” Leslie said. “Although I liked Otis, I like being with you better.”
Tag’s chest swelled. “I’m glad to hear it, since the feeling is mutual. Want me to follow you home?”
“That’s not necessary,” she said. “I know you have a long drive to your ranch.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Tag said. “And I’m not going to the ranch tonight. I’m staying in town at my penthouse.”
“It’s not necessary to follow me home,” she said. “But you can talk to me along the drive there.”
“Deal,” he said.
For the rest of the drive, they talked about the people they saw at Comic Con, about the steak and anything else that came up.
She talked to him all the way to her home and into her house until she locked the door. “Goodnight, Tag,” she said. “I hope you sleep well.”
“Sweet dreams, Leslie,” he said and ended the call. “I love you.” He hoped that, someday soon, he’d be able to say that to her out loud.
Chapter 6
Before she’d taken two steps into her house, Leslie’s phone rang again. Thinking it might be Tag, she answered it quickly. “Hey there, miss me already?”
