“I’m originally from Maine,” he said with a smirk. “Besides, our chowder’s way better.”
Our entrees arrived: shepherd’s pie and some kind of barbecued chicken. We split everything, spoons and forks rising and diving, until virtually nothing remained.
“So how in the world did you guess the movie?” I asked finally.
“Serendipity? It’s a New York classic.”
“I wouldn’t think you’d be a romance fan.”
“I’m a John Cusack fan,” Lincoln acknowledged. “Better off Dead. Con Air…”
“Say Anything,” I smiled.
“That one too.”
“I would’ve thought you were more of a Kate Beckinsale fan.”
Lincoln’s grin spread even wider. He let out a low whistle. “Who isn’t?”
I kicked him under the table. Not hard, just enough to be flirtatious. I no longer felt the least bit tired. I felt alive, in fact. Charged with energy.
“Ah,” Lincoln said as our waiter approached. “Here we go.”
Two very large, very familiar mugs were set in front of us. They were topped with a mountain of whipped cream and chocolate shavings… just like in the movie.
“The infamous Serendipity 3 frozen hot chocolate,” I sighed happily. “We’re never going to finish these, you know.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Lincoln, leaning in the direction of his straw.
It turned out Lincoln’s sweet tooth was significantly longer than mine. While he finished his dessert, I barely made a dent in mine. The way I’d been eating all weekend, I’d have to go the gym twice a day next week.
The gym…
I fought hard to keep my mind from wandering, but then my date’s phone buzzed. Lincoln excused himself and checked the screen. His face went blank.
“Uhhh…”
“What is it?”
He looked troubled all of a sudden. There were lines his forehead that weren’t there a moment ago.
“Do you mind if we stop by my office before I take you back? There’s something I need to get.”
“No,” I said. “Of course not.”
His smile returned as he called for the check. “Have I told you you’re a champion?”
“Not in the last hour or so,” I laughed. “But go ahead. I’m all ears.”
Seventeen
LINCOLN
She looked amazing wandering my office, spinning in every direction to admire the open-glass view. In turn, my eyes wandered her legs. They crawled up from her sexy black boots to where her skirt bounced merrily around the backs of her thighs.
“This is incredible!”
The folders spread out across my desk weren’t the right ones. Or maybe they were, and I was just too distracted.