“Sounds like fun. I can only imagine which ones you’ll pick. Can I please have a water too?”
I nod. “Go sit down. I’ll bring your food and drinks.”
A few minutes later, I place her éclairs and the water bottles on the table. “Here you go. I feel like I work here. Can I sit with you two?”
Alexa answers first. “Of course. It’s so funny you’re here today. We were shopping at Century 21. You should see the dress Tina bought for the wedding. S-E-X-Y.”
“It sure is,” Tina taunts me.
I find their bags at their feet. “What have we here?” I say as I grab a bag.
Tina yanks it from my hands. “No way, José. That’s for the wedding. You’ll have to wait.”
I throw my hands up. “Hey, I’m a patient man, but at least give me a hint.”
She lays the bag on the other side of her, out of reach. “It’s purple.” She giggles.
I squint my eyes. “Really? I thought it’d be red.”
Alexa perks up. “I’ll be the lady in red at the wedding. She’s the one who loves purple.”
“I know. I’m just kidding. Since you won’t show it to me, at least eat the surprise éclairs.”
“No blindfolds this time?” Alexa mentions, then bites into the chocolate mousse éclair.
My stomach jumps. Time to leave. Why do they keep bringing it up? I never talk about it to anyone. “I’m fresh out of blindfolds. I think she had enough of that the other night.”
“Yep. Now let me eat one of these.”
“How did you come up with the whole blindfolded taste-test thingy anyway?” Alexa questions.
Tina stops midbite. She covers her mouth and mumbles, “I’m curious too.”
Scheiße, I say to myself.
“Well, I, um…”
“Hey, guys.” Matt interrupts. “Great to see you here. Gerry, why aren’t you at work?” Matt gives the girls a hug.
Perfect timing.
“No hug for me, big guy? I feel left out.”
“I’ll give you a big kiss.” He bends over and smacks a long, squeaky kiss on my cheek.
The last woman in line turns around to see what we’re doing.
“Man, you’ve got to trim that scruff. That’s painful.” Matt covers his lips.
I push him away. “Get away from me. You’re the disgusting, annoying brother I never had.” I wipe my cheek.
He grips the back of their chairs. “What do you think of the éclairs? They’re selling like hotcakes today.”
Alexa kisses her fingers. “The chocolate mousse one is divine.”
“There will be a buffet of desserts and wedding cake at the wedding. Éclairs will be included—made by me, of course.”
“I have no idea what this one is, but it’s delicious. It’s spicy, if that’s possible for an éclair, or I’m allergic to this too.”
Matt leans over. “You have the chocolate chili one. It’s not that spicy. It just gives it a little kick.”
“I thought I was going to need the medicine in my bag.” She looks at me from the corner of her eyes with a slight grin.
“I can already see this’ll be a never-ending joke for the next twenty years.”
Tina rubs my knee. I grab her hand and hold it there. She doesn’t pull away. Maybe it’s because she’s freezing again. I take advantage and keep it there to see how long it takes for her to pull away. Matt looks at our hands and then at me. He nods with a slight grin.
“Matt, we need you back here,” yells Kayla over the noisy room.
“Sorry, guys. I need to get back to work. Kayla’s stressed. It seems people are addicted to éclairs today. I can’t seem to make enough. Say goodbye before you go.” He greets customers in line as he walks behind the counter.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day? Are you going shopping somewhere else?”
Alexa responds quickly. “We were going home, but Tina mentioned you have the day off. Why don’t you two go and do something? The weather’s great, and Central Park isn’t too far from here.”
I squeeze Tina’s hand. She looks down and slowly pulls it away. That hand goes straight to her necklace.
“Why not? It’s early afternoon.”
“I’m game,” Tina says. “I’ve always wanted to walk through Central Park. Alexa, come with us.”
Please say no. Not that I don’t like her, but I want Tina to myself.
She waves her hand. “No thanks. I’d rather go stare at myself in the mirror with my new dress and shoes on.” She wraps the caramel éclair in a napkin and puts it in her handbag. “I’ll eat this on the bus. Give me your bag. I’ll take it home so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“Are you sure? You don’t have your car today.”
“Stop the mother-hen act. I’ll be fine.” She stands up. “I’ll see you later.” She gives us both hugs. “Toodles. Have fun!”
I turn to Tina. “I’m so glad I took the day off.”
Chapter 16
Tina
Take a deep breath and count to ten. The last several minutes weren’t easy to stay calm and cool. I want to scream in excitement that he’s here. It’s proof that something is pushing us together.
“And I’m glad Alexa wanted to come here. I wondered when I’d see you again,” I admit.
“I’ve been thinking about a lot of things since I saw you last. It made me realize what I’ve been missing these past years. The assistant manager works today, so I don’t need to be there.”
I bounce in my chair with excitement. “Then today’s your day. What would you like to do?”
“Alexa’s right. The weather’s great for a walk through Central Park. Let’s sketattle.”
“It’s skedaddle…but you’re right.” I crinkle my nose and shake my head. “Too girly. Don’t say it again.”
He takes my hand and pulls me up from the chair. Every time he touches me, I turn into a gooey mess. When he held my hand a few minutes ago, I didn’t have the willpower to pull away. Our hands fit as if they were made for each other.
I want to be attached to him every second we’re together, just like Sylvester the Cat or Tom from Tom and Jerry. I can’t remember which one, but there are episodes when a cat is tightly wrapped around a man. To get the cat off, the person needs to push it down and take it off like a pair of pants. That would be me. It’s been years since I’ve craved such a connection with someone.
I push my chair in. “Should we say bye to Matt and Kayla or pay for our food at least?”
“Nah. They’re too busy to notice we’re gone. Kayla said it was on the house.”
He looks at my feet. “Good. You’re wearing shoes you can walk in for a while. I want to show you something in Central Park, but it’ll take some time to get there from here. Most people don’t realize how big the park is.”
“What a gentleman,” I comment when he opens the door for me.
“Not everyone has that opinion,” he mumbles.
“I find that hard to believe. Why would you say that?”
“Never mind. Let’s go and have some fun.”
I let it pass, but there’s something he’s not telling me. It’s probably connected to the incident that made him come to the US. I can’t push him to tell me, because I don’t want him to push me. I’ve thought about snooping on the internet, but I feel like I’d be invading his privacy.
I search for my sunglasses in my handbag. “You’ll be happy to know I bought a new pair of sunglasses. I promise not to embarrass you while we walk through the park.” I take them out of the case and put them on. “See?” I say as I strike a pose.
“I think I like them better with only one lens.”
For a second I think he’s serious but then he bursts out laughing. Good acting.
I swat his arm. “You’re cruel.”
He puts his sunglasses on, which makes him look even hotter. Damn!
Fifteen minutes later, we pass Tavern on the Green. I’ve seen it on TV but never in perso
n. “Have you ever been there before?”
He shakes his head. “Never had a reason to go, but maybe that’ll change in the near future.” He glances my way.
With a big smile on my face, I wave my arms back and forth. “Where are we going? Not that I have a clue about what people do here.”
“It has something to do with water.”
“That could be anything. One more hint.”
He walks ahead of me while walking backward. “It’s a house.”
“Those are stupid clues. Fine. I’ll just wait.”
He wiggles his eyebrows and then turns forward again. “It’s more fun when it’s a surprise.”
I see a baseball field to the right. “Have you ever played baseball? Do they even play baseball in Germany?”
“Actually, yes. A town not too far from my hometown has its own baseball team. It was in the first league for a while but went down one level. They don’t have the big stadiums like here. But it’s popular in certain areas. I’ve been to a couple of Mets games here. When I was younger, I always went to batting cages with my cousins. I loved it.”
“It’s good for anger management.” I pretend to swing a bat. “I cracked many balls into the field when I was younger.”
He stops me from walking. “Are you telling me you have anger issues? I’d never believe it.”
“And I can’t imagine someone said you aren’t a gentleman.”
He looks away from me.
I continue. “Only the baseballs knew. I’m good at hiding things. Believe me—I’ve had moments when I needed to expel some major negative physical energy. No one knows I used to do that. I’m pretty strong, ya know. Feel my bicep.” I flex it for him and tap it.
He squeezes it. “Wow, you’re like Popeye. Maybe there was some spinach in one of those éclairs.”
I punch him in the arm.
“That was nothing. Try again.” He smacks his arm and braces himself.
I punch him harder, and he flinches.
I cover my mouth with my hands. “Oh my gosh. Did I hurt you?”
He bursts out laughing. “Hell no.”
“I’m gonna get you for that.” I rub his peach fuzz on his head and run away. He chases me until I can’t breathe anymore. I’m laughing too hard. He runs up and puts his arm around my shoulders, and then he gives me, of all things, a noogie. He’s so freaking cute.
I scream and pull away from him, panting. “I can’t believe you just gave me a noogie. What are you, two years old?” I pat my hair down.
He moves closer. “Want me to do it again?”
I back away from him. “No. We aren’t even supposed to touch each other. Remember? Unless you want an atomic wedgie.”
“An atomic wedgie. What the hell? You started it first.” He steps closer.
I take a step back with my hands up for protection and then stumble and fall on my ass on the grass.
He kneels next to me. “Tina, I’m sorry. Did you hurt yourself? You fell over a rock. I didn’t see it behind you.” He takes my hand in his.
I laugh out loud. “I’m fine.” I don’t care anymore if I make a fool out of myself. “You act like I’m gushing blood. I’m a lot tougher than you think. It’s nice to sit here for a second though. We’ve been walking for hours.” I pretend to whine to annoy him.
He looks at his watch. “You mean forty-five minutes. Don’t exaggerate.”
“Where’s this house we’re walking to? I’m dying of thirst.”
“Do you always complain this much?” He holds his hand up and flashes five. “Five more minutes.”
I tilt my head to the side. “Does that mean thirty minutes in German?”
His crooked smile appears. “You’re quite the smartass. I promise you’ll like where we’re going.”
I stand up and dust off my pants. “It better be that building over there in the distance.”
“Yep.” He turns his back to me. “Get on my back, my little Schnecke.”
I crinkle my face.
“Sorry, my little snail. You’re taking forever. I’ll give you a piggy back.” He bends at his knees. “Jump on.”
I inch closer to him and place my hands on his shoulders. “You’re pushing the boundaries, Mr. Maier.”
He huffs. “Just do it and stop being such a baby.” He inches closer to me.
I jump on, but only because I want to know what it feels like to have him between my legs.
We finish our drinks in the outside bar of the Loeb Boathouse, which overlooks the lake. “What a great place. It was worth the walk. If I ever come back here again, I’m definitely renting one of those boats on the lake.”
“Let’s go check it out. Let me pay first.” I lift my hand but he cuts me off before I can protest. “It’s my turn to pay.”
After he settles the bill, we walk around a little bit and watch the boats glide by. “Come on.” He pulls on my sleeve. “Let’s rent one.”
I clap my hands together. “Seriously? Don’t do it just for me.”
“I’m not. It looks like fun. Let’s take a selfie with the water and boats behind us.” He takes out his phone.
We sift through the several pictures we took. “Can we be any more stupid when it comes to taking selfies?” I point at one. “We can see right up my nose.”
He pulls it closer. “Wait a second. Do you have nose hair?”
“Do I?” I cover my nose with my hand and look closer at the picture. His laugh radiates through me. “You’re mean.” I smile but jab him in the stomach with my elbow.
We walk to the counter. “I hope you know how to swim,” he says.
“Of course. I swam in the ocean any chance I could when I was younger. Do you know how to row a boat?”
“I think so. I’ve rowed some boats back in a day.”
“Back in the day,” I say.
“That’ll be twenty dollars,” says the boat controller. Gerry hands over the money, and we head to the dock.
“This boat is huge for two people. Are you sure you know how to work the oars?”
He steps into the boat and turns around to help me get in. “Stop worrying and get in the boat.”
The boat wobbles, so I sit down before I fall off the side. He follows and takes control of the oars with precision, steering us away from the dock.
“How do you know how to control the oars so well?”
“I was a rower and a swimmer in high school and college.”
Yummy!
“So that’s why you have such broad shoulders. Do you still do it now? Is that how you stay fit?”
“I hate going to the gym, so I bought a rowing machine when I moved here.”
“I hate it too. I can’t get past the smell.” I wave my hand in front of my nose.
He paddles away from the other boats. “I don’t swim anymore. My mom insisted we have a built-in pool put in years ago because she was an avid swimmer. She also gave swim lessons to the local kids. I use the pool when I visit. Since I did both sports for so long, my body is shaped like this. I can always spot a swimmer because their back is V shaped.”
“No complaints from me. You look good, but I don’t know how you stay fit when you’re surrounded by food all day.” I gesture with my hand toward his body.
“You love food and have a great body.”
“Excuse me.” I point my finger back and forth between us. “Just friends, remember?”
“What? You just said the same to me. Friends can’t say that?”
A boat passes us a little too closely, and I say to the couple, “We’re just friends.”
“It doesn’t look like it to me,” the woman says. She winks at Gerry.
He stops rowing. “Oh. I’m sorry. Should I have said you’re as hot as the chili in the éclair you ate? Or as hot as the Sahara Desert? Or so hot that I’m counting the days on the calendar until my hands and lips can burn on your bare skin.” He clenches his jaw.
I can’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but I can feel them.
/>
Holy shit. He’s serious. My hormones are screaming let him.
“You’re thinking about it too. Admit it.”
I remain silent and look out at the water. No way am I admitting that. Hide your emotions.
“I guess it’s going to be a long night. I’m not moving this boat until you admit it.” He lets go of the oars.
I jump up and step closer to him to grab them.
“Don’t jump up like that. The oars are attached. We’re fine,” he says as he tries to stabilize the boat.
It wobbles enough that I lose my balance, falling face first into his lap. Your face is in his lap. Get up! But what if I like it? Get up!
I push off him to escape the awkwardness. His arms wrap around my waist, preventing me from moving away. We’re face to face as I rest on my knees. I take his sunglasses off to reveal his heated eyes.
“Why couldn’t you just admit it?” he says with a low voice, his eyes glancing at my lips. “Now look what happened. Not that I mind.”
I whisper, “I think about it all the time. You all the time.”
He dips his head closer.
“Are you both okay over there?” interrupts the controller in a boat next to us.
We jerk apart.
“I saw you almost fall off the boat. Do you need help?”
I carefully push off Gerry, my eyes never leaving his. I sit back in my spot. I’m suddenly nervous, like we’ve been stopped by the police. “I’m okay. No worries. We were just, um, discussing something.”
Gerry snickers.
“It didn’t look like it to me.” He tips his sunglasses so he can show us his knowing eyes. “No more standing in the boat or pawing each other. You have fifteen minutes left on the water.”
“Yes, sir,” Gerry says with a small smirk as he slowly rows away.
As soon as we’re away from other boats, he slows down and looks at me with such sincerity.
“What’s the matter?” I ask as the boat calmly drifts along the water. “I’m sorry I fell on you.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve had more fun these past couple of weeks with you than I’ve had this entire year. I’m so thankful I found you.”
My heart grows three times the size. “Me too.”
Dreams Collide: Collide Series Book 2 Page 12
