Before Dev could knock on the door, I opened it up just as he had his hand up in a fist. His face lit up when he saw me, and I imagine mine did the same. To say that a shift had happened in our dynamic would be a gigantic understatement, but I was enjoying it more than I even wanted to admit to myself. Yes, he was still a massive flirt, and yes, he sometimes annoyed me, but things were just different. The annoyance was slight, playful, and no matter what, I found myself wanting to be annoyed by him, wanting him to push my buttons so I could tease him right back.
“This place was impossible to find. What the hell?” he said, strolling past me into the apartment.
“Nice to see you too. Come right in,” I said with a laugh as I closed my door. “And what are you talking about? It’s, like, seven blocks from your beloved Bennet’s.”
“Seriously?” He looked astonished as he glanced around my place. “I had no idea. I took an Uber from work. Maybe my driver didn’t know what the hell he was doing. I think we went around your block, like, six times.”
“Sounds like he was just trying to get the meter up.”
“Maybe,” he said with a laugh. “Nice place though. It’s very…you.”
I licked my lips and crossed my arms. “What makes you say that?”
“It looks like a bookworm’s house. Books, candles, comfy-looking couch,” he said, extending his arm toward my wall of bookcases before plopping himself down on said couch. “Ahh, I was right. Very comfy.”
I chuckled. “I’m so glad you approve.”
“I’m starving,” he said, jumping back up on the balls of his feet. “Where should we eat?”
“What are you in the mood for?”
“I could seriously go for a burger. You?”
“Perfect. There’s a Five Guys right near the party store.”
“Dude, that place is my favorite. Let’s do it.”
“I’ll just get my coat,” I said, grabbing my coat and scarf from the kitchen chair I’d thrown them on.
“Weather’s not too bad if you wanna walk.”
“You sure? You’re in your fancy work shoes,” I said, looking down at his leather wingtip shoes. They looked damn good on him.
“Nah, I’m good. Sorry, I didn’t have time to go home and change.” He pulled back on his wool trench coat to reveal his navy blue suit, gingham checked Oxford shirt, and navy tie. He looked incredible.
Suave, Sophisticated Dev has entered the building.
“I’m good if you’re good,” I said with a smile, guiding him out of my apartment and locking the door behind us.
“I’m good,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows.
Yes, you are.
Fifteen minutes later our number was called and we were digging into our paper bag of goodness. Dev had insisted on paying and with a line of people behind us, I had let him. As I unwrapped my burger, he grimaced.
“I don’t know how you eat it like that,” he said, scrunching his nose at my burger wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.
“What? It’s delicious.”
“I just didn’t peg you for being one of those Keto girls.”
“I’m not, but I really love their fries. So it’s a trade-off. If I want the fries, I skip the bun. It’s not a big deal.”
He tilted his head in understanding before taking an enormous bite of his double bacon cheeseburger complete with bun.
“Besides,” I said, “we can’t all eat anything we want and not gain a pound.”
He covered his mouth and laughed. “That’s not totally true. Yeah, I have a good metabolism, but I run every morning too. Usually about five miles.”
“Holy hell,” I said, impressed. “I didn’t realize that.”
“And you do yoga with Mare.”
“Yep. Usually two or three times a week.”
“Savita’s obsessed—I mean totally obsessed.”
“Same.”
“Why? What’s so special about it?”
“It’s just…relaxing and stimulating at the same time. I leave class feeling exhausted and invigorated. No other exercise has done that for me, and I’ve tried just about everything,” I said, popping a salty fry into my mouth. “And what about you? Why running?”
“The high. When I’m finished with my run, I feel unstoppable, powerful, ready to kick ass and take names.”
“I tried running once; I just wanted to take a nap,” I said before biting into my lettuce wrap. When I felt the juice from the burger dripping down my chin, I grabbed a brown paper napkin.
He laughed, shoving a handful of fries into his mouth. “Mm-hmm, sometimes that too. Depends on the day, I guess.”
“And you play a lot of card games.”
“Mmm!” His eyes grew wide as he took in a huge sip of soda. “That reminds me. I need a rematch.”
“Oh really?”
“Yep, I think it was all beginner’s luck. And I think you took advantage of my injury.
“I’m sorry,” I tilted my head toward him, “took advantage?”
“Yeah, I was on some major painkillers. My brain wasn’t at its normal capacity.”
“I’m pretty sure you were on Advil,” I said, tossing a fry playfully at his face. He swatted it down to the table with a shit-eating grin on his gorgeous face, and I felt a warm glow flowing through me as he smiled.
Oh how I’m falling for that face.
”I’m serious. You took advantage of me in my compromised state. Now we need to see if you really have what it takes.”
“What it takes to what?”
“Go up against me,” he said with a flirtatious wink. “For real.”
“I thought I proved myself already. I mean, we didn’t just play one game…” I tilted my head to the side. “And maybe I don’t want to play again. Maybe I want to retain my title.”
“You don’t have a title.”
“Yeah, I do. I’m officially the one to beat you at your unicorn game.”
“We’ll see, Khaleesi.” He chuckled, taking another big bite. “We’ll see.”
A glob of ketchup dripped from his burger onto his lap. “Oh shit,” he said, grabbing a handful of napkins. “Probably should’ve changed my clothes after all.”
“Sorry,” I said through clenched teeth. “This place is delicious but awfully messy.”
“It’s all good. Cleaners’ll get it out. No big deal.”
Looking at his suit, I realized I had no idea what Dev did for a living. I knew he made good money and that he loved his job, but that was it.
“So I know I should probably know the answer to this already, but considering you thought I worked with kindergarteners, I’m thinking it’s safe to admit…”
“You don’t know what I do,” he said with a smirk. “Maren can never remember either.”
“Sorry. I know you work in an office,” I said, clenching my teeth.
“Computer and information systems management.”
“That’s a mouthful.”
“That’s what she said,” he said with a wink before taking a sip of his drink.