Chapter 16
Ian
Ijog up the stairs of Maggie’s apartment building.
I should feel bad for forcing this date on her, but I don’t.
Not even a little bit. And I could have misread her, but she didn’t seem disappointed when I told her I won.
Not that the outcome would’ve been any different if I’d lost. When I texted her a few days ago to finalize the day of our date, she didn’t try to get out of it, so I’m taking that as a positive.
It's disconcerting to me how often I feel nervous around Maggie. Maybe this is something I should talk with Pamela about next week.
Before knocking on her door, I huff out a breath.
I clench my fists and release them to burn off some of the nervous energy.
When her door swings open, I stop, losing my breath.
She looks amazing. She’s wearing another sundress that gives the perfect amount of mouthwatering cleavage, and she has her glasses on today.
She doesn’t always wear them, but every time she does, all the dirty librarian fantasies I didn’t even know I have go right to my cock.
I mentally shake myself. I know men are supposed to bring flowers to a date, but I felt like Maggie would appreciate something else more. Not that I’ve ever brought a woman anything when I picked her up, so this is a first for me.
I hold out my hand. “I brought you a coffee.”
She wraps her lips over her teeth, and I have a moment of panic when I think she might start crying.
She saves me when she says, “Thank you, Ian. That’s incredibly thoughtful.”
I shrug, still somewhat uncomfortable with the gesture. Needing to change the subject, I ask, “You ready to go?”
“Let me get my purse.” She turns and grabs her purse off the table by her door.
As she steps out into the breezeway, the combination of her perfume and her shampoo floats in the air around us, and I inhale deeply. After locking her door, she looks up at me with a shy smile. My palm connects with her lower back, and I guide her to the stairs.
Once we’re in my Bronco, she twists in the seat. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
I start the engine and roll through the parking lot. “Well, last year you told me you love trivia but never get to play anymore, so there’s a brewery with trivia and great food.”
Her excited gasp has me no longer doubting my choices for tonight.
“Ian! I can’t wait! I freaking love trivia!”
I take my eyes off the road only for a few seconds, but I need to see her.
Maggie is always the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen, but a happy Maggie is something else entirely.
The sight of joy is worth doing everything in my power to keep her happy.
I’m under no illusion that I’ll get another chance after tonight, but it’s something to work toward.
To prevent any awkwardness, I turn on some music. I remember Maggie telling me her favorite artist, so that’s what I choose. Her sweet voice fills the car as she sings along quietly with the songs. The windows are rolled down, and the breeze flirts through the cab as I speed down the road.
I commit this moment to memory. There haven’t been many times in my life that were perfect, but I have a feeling tonight might be the forerunner.
I inhale sharply at the intensity of the emotion filling my gut.
Thankfully, with the wind whipping around us and the music, Maggie doesn’t notice.
Pushing away the sadness that this might never be repeated, I’m determined to make tonight amazing. If nothing else, I’ll have this memory.
Once I’ve parked, I look over at Maggie and wag my eyebrows. “You ready to beat all these losers?”
Her grin is wide and infectious. “Yes!”
I’m chuckling as I climb out and meet her at the front of my Bronco. I take a moment to recognize how unusual that is for me. I laugh a lot more with Maggie than I do with anyone else—with Nate, Jack, and Tyler a close second.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her body in to mine as we walk toward the door. I’m going to take advantage of having her so close, and that it’s just the two of us tonight.
“I have a confession.”
Her arm mimics mine and wraps around my waist, her finger hooking into the belt loop of my jeans. “What’s that?”
“I suck at trivia.”
She heaves a dramatic sigh and murmurs, “I knew this was too good to be true.”
I teasingly pinch her side, causing her to yelp and try to wiggle away from me as she giggles.
“How about another wager?” I ask once she settles back into my side.
“Ian, no offense, but your wagers suck. Probably as much as you do at trivia.”
I kiss the top of her head because I can. “You’re right. How about this? If we win at trivia, I’ll tell you what you won.”
She snorts out a laugh. “I’ll stress what I said the other day; that makes no sense.”
“Fine. If you don’t like prizes…” I trail off, knowing it doesn’t matter if we win or lose, I’m the one who is the true winner because I get to spend the evening with her. But I’ll do my best to make her feel just as lucky as I do.
She grumbles next to me, “Fine, deal. I want a prize.”
My hand slides down to her hip, where I give her an approving squeeze. “Good answer, champ.”