He is, too. “Did I pass the kiss test?”
I blink, trying to reconnect my brain to my mouth. Fortunately, that’s one of my talents. So is remembering my half of this deal, which seems like small potatoes. But he needs those potatoes, and I’m going to serve them up however he wants. Mashed, fried, roasted, grilled. “You passed with flying colors. We’re going to work through your list of top ten dates, and I’m going to make damn sure you have the best time of your life. Because it’s anywhere, anytime, and any position with me.”
His smile is wide and wicked. “You’re going to make this the best work project ever.”
“I think I’m going to like this project, too.” I shift gears, my organizational side taking over and kicking into full gear. “Speaking of, I should be entering the ovulation zone in a few more days. I’ve been charting so I have a good idea of when it should be. Want to get started on a plan for those top five positions and the ten dates?
“How long does ovulation last?”
“They say it can be right in the middle of your cycle. Personally, I don’t want to miss a shot, so I think it’s best if we try for the five days on either side.”
“Ten days in a row.” He smirks. “I believe I’m amenable to that.”
We grab a seat in the café, and I open my calendar app. We pick a day to start, and I pencil in a few dates for him. I point to a week at the end of the month when I’ll be out of town, doing my show on the road. “But at least I’ll be at the end of my cycle then,” I say, then I meet his eyes. “Will that work out for your dating guide, though, if we miss a week?”
Ryder nods. “Cal sees this as a project that’ll last several weeks, so that sounds good to me.”
When we leave, I’m still giddy, and something occurs to me.
That wasn’t a regular wobble a little while ago when he kissed me. He made me weak in the knees.
But surely that’s because he’s going to give me a baby. I’m only swooning for the baby.
Twelve
Ryder
We fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
Nicole might have been a bird in a past life because she takes to the trapeze as if she has wings, or circus performer blood in her.
She’s strapped in with a harness contraption and swinging upside down, her knees hooked over the bar.
A September breeze zips through the air at Hudson River Park in lower Manhattan, home of Trapeze School New York. In the quest to find ever more interesting activities for dates and life, the city is home to trapeze lessons, rock climbing, indoor golf, trampolining, and more. God forbid we ever be bored in Manhattan. Rest assured I’m not.
When Nicole finishes her swing, the instructor helps her regain her footing on the platform. The look on her face is pure exhilaration. She’s breathless, her cheeks are flushed crimson, and her red hair is wild.
“Oh my God, that was amazing!” She swats my arm. “I want to see you do that upside down.”
I scoff. “Piece of cake.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh yeah?”
“I used to cover scary-as-hell wide receivers.”
She laughs. “I love that you’re actually trying to equate college football with flying like a squirrel.”
“Squirrels are pretty amazing. So are strapping safeties.”
She shakes her head, amused.
Callie, the pipsqueak instructor with the high blond ponytail, chimes in, talking to Nicole. “You’re very natural on the trapeze. I can’t believe you’ve never done anything like this.”
“I’m naturally daring,” Nicole says with a wink.
Truer words.
“That is the best trait,” Callie says, then she regards me. “Do you want to try catching her? I hear you were some kind of superstar safety.”
Nicole’s mouth turns to an O. “Whoa. She’s calling you out.”
“I was on defense. We didn’t catch that often.”
“Surely you caught interceptions?” Nicole asks, lifting her chin, challenging me.
I scrub a hand over my jaw, gesture widely to the acrobatic setup, then back at my pseudo date. “So you’re daring me to catch you?”
She gives me a tough-girl bring-it-on look, going gangster with her hands. “You’re afraid to catch me?”
I toss my head back and laugh. “Woman, you have no idea.” I cup her cheek and give her my best smolder. “I’m going to catch you so fucking good.”
Her laughter ceases, and she drops her voice. “How the hell did you just turn that into some kind of come-on line?”
Callie is fixated on her sneakers.
“It’s my special talent.” I bring my mouth to her ear. “Plus, I think you might have nothing but sex on the brain.”