The way her heart seemed to flip-flop was totally ridiculous. Amazingly foolish. But only because he had such a good body. Not muscular but kind of lean and wiry, like a long-distance runner.
“Hi.” He took her hand and bent to kiss her briefly on the lips.
The familiarity surprised her, and she stiffened.
He released her hand. “Guess I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No. I mean, it’s fine. Really.” She shrugged a shoulder, feeling awkward suddenly. “You just took me by surprise.”
“So did you. Thanks for calling.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d show up.”
He reared his head back. “You gotta be kidding.”
She smiled, her confidence returning. “You could have had a meeting or something.”
“I would have canceled it.”
“Just like that?”
“Uh-huh.” He smiled, his gaze slowly taking in the clingy peach-colored V-neck top she’d borrowed from Wendy. Probably a tad too small for Dallas, but she loved the color. “You look great. I mean, really terrific.”
“Thanks,” she murmured, a little embarrassed by his obvious appreciation but also glad she’d splurged on a trendy new pair of white capris after work. Might as well show off her tan while it lasted.
He took her arm and they started walking. “You have anything in mind?”
She nearly missed a step and had to take a deep breath before she answered. “A drink maybe.”
“How about some dinner?”
“Okay.” She wasn’t the least bit hungry. But she supposed dinner could be a start. “Have any place in mind?”
“Hmm…” He thought for a moment. “You like Chinese?”
“Love it. But this time it’s my treat. Nonnegotiable.”
He smiled. “There’s a hole-in-the-wall five blocks from here. Great food. They even cook everything.”
She laughed. “You were a good sport last night.”
“I still think that California roll had something raw in it.”
“See? You’re still alive.”
He stopped and stared at her. “You swore there was nothing raw in—”
She burst out laughing. “Teasing. Only teasing.” She held up her hands. “I swear.”
With phony gruffness he grabbed one of her hands and pulled her toward him. An older lady wearing a huge straw hat and walking a Chihuahua had to side step them and she muttered a surprising oath about them blocking the sidewalk.
Eric apologized, though unable to lose the smile, then steered them off to the side. “I thought she was going to sic Bruno on us.”
“Don’t underestimate those little suckers. One of my college roommates had a Chihuahua. He had me cornered a couple of times.”
They’d started down Fifty-ninth again, and he looked over at her. “Where did you go to school?”
She hesitated. “Cornell.”
“Whoa. Nice. Scholarship?”
“Partial.”
He nodded. “What was your major?”
Dallas stalled a moment. She really didn’t want to get into this personal a conversation, but nor did she want to ruin the evening. “Let’s just say that much to my parents’ delight, I’m not working in the same field in which I studied.”
“Which would be?”
She smiled. “Are we there yet?”
He gave her a speculative look and then decided to drop it. “Almost. Hungry?”
She nodded, which was a lie but she’d effectively changed the subject. “Hope they aren’t too crowded.”
He took a long time looking at his watch. “They probably will be.” He looked at her as they stopped for a red light. “I usually take out.”
She held his gaze. “Fine.”
“My place okay?” he asked slowly.
“Sure.”
His eyes seemed to bore into hers. “It’s only a block from Chun’s.”
“Let’s go.” The light turned green and they hurried across the street with the few other pedestrians who hadn’t ignored the stop signal.
Eric didn’t say much for the next block, which made Dallas nervous. Although she hadn’t volunteered much conversation either. Her thoughts kept straying to later. When they got to his place. Of course, nothing had to happen. They could just have dinner. Talk. Kiss a little. Yeah, right.
She was getting damp just thinking about being alone with him. About the way he’d kissed her last night and how she’d felt the warm, gooey sensation down to her toes. About how he’d gently cradled her breasts.
Her breathing came so quickly that he even glanced over at her. “Are you okay?”
Heat climbed her neck. “Yeah, I’m fine. Really.” Fortunately she spotted a sign for Chun’s on the corner. “We’re almost there.”
“Yeah, that’s it,” he said with a final concerned look before taking her arm and ushering her to the door.
He hadn’t been kidding. The place truly was a hole-in-the-wall. Really tiny, with only four tables, all taken, and a counter crowded with paper bags, presumably containing take-out orders. Several people waited in line as a young Asian woman efficiently yanked slips from the bags, called names and rang up bills at the cash register.
The aroma of onions and garlic and exotic spices permeated the air. This place was obviously the real deal and not a watered-down version to appease Western tastes.
Behind the counter an older man and woman worked side by side, stirring pots and tending a large grill against the far wall, speaking loudly to each other in Chinese. One of the customers got up from the table and went to the corner, where there were pitchers of water and iced tea and a bucket of ice. Sitting on a hot plate was a glass carafe of hot tea. He poured himself some and then returned to the table and his two companions.
Dallas smiled. She liked the place already. Kind of homey and friendly.
“I know it smells pretty bad, but I promise the food is terrific,” Eric said as he took her hand and pushed his way inside.
“Are you kidding? I think it smells great.”
The cashier looked up and smiled broadly.
“Eric.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Mom, Dad, look who’s here.”
The short, graying man at the grill turned around. He spotted Eric and put down the long wooden chopsticks he was using, his big grin displaying a gold-capped tooth. “My friend, where have you been? I haven’t seen you for three weeks, I think.”
“Been busy working.”
The man wiped his hands on his apron and gave Dallas a curious glance. “I see.”
Unlike his daughter, who had no trace of an accent, the man’s English was heavily coated with his native dialect. The sly look he gave Eric, however, was universal.
“This is my friend, Dallas. And this is Jimmy Chun, owner and chef of this wonderful establishment.”
Jimmy chuckled. “He likes to use funny words,” he said and gave his palm another swipe across his stained apron before extending his hand to Dallas.
“Uh, Jimmy, I think you can skip the formality,” Eric said, one eyebrow lifted at his friend’s slightly soiled hand.
“Pleased to meet you.” Dallas readily accepted the man’s hand. If Eric only knew what her hands went through on a daily basis. Even wearing gloves all the time at work didn’t totally protect them.
Jimmy grinned, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “You are most welcome here.”
Eric waved to the woman still cooking. “Jimmy’s wife, Ruth.”
She smiled and then said something to her husband in Chinese, her tone slightly brusque. Dallas could sure guess what was said, with all the people lined up for their orders. Two more guys came in after they did, and the phone had rung twice. The place was really hopping. The food had to be good.
“Maybe we should come back,” she whispered to Eric.
Jimmy heard. “No, no, you come with me.”
He pushed aside the low swinging gate that separated the galleylike kitchen from the eating area and motioned for them to follow. Jimmy led them into a small kitchen where a young man wearing headphones and singing was dumping a huge pot of cooked rice into a wok heating on a stove.
Jimmy touched him on the shoulder and the man stopped singing, turned toward them, a sheepish smile twisting his lips.
The kitchen was crowded with a stainless-steel commercial refrigerator, a double sink and a small stove. Too small for a business, but that’s all that would fit. There was barely enough room for all four of them to be in there. Nevertheless she was impressed with how spot less the kitchen was kept.
“You tell me what you want. Anything.” Jimmy jabbed a thumb into his chest. “You tell Jimmy and I cook for you. You like some orange chicken? Garlic shrimp?”
Eric put a hand on the shorter man’s shoulder. “I’ll give you an order, but no rush. I’ll pick it up later. You need to go help Ruth. You have a lot of customers out there.”
Jimmy waved a dismissive hand. “I have so many customers because of you. They can wait.” With his hands motioning wildly, he barked instructions in Chinese to the young man.
“Jimmy, honestly we’re not ready to eat. We have someplace to go.” Eric briefly met her eyes and purpose fully looked at his watch. “We’d like to pick up dinner in about an hour and a half, if that’s okay.”