The Dating Game (Alphalicious Billionaires 5)

“No. I have to say I can’t remember a single time, even as a kid.”

“That’s too bad. It’s fun.” She realized how lame that sounded. Her face heated and she carefully kept her eyes on the path, unable to look at Alex. She didn’t want to see him look at her like she was a candidate for the Loser of the Year Award. Or maybe the Most Boring Citizen Certificate. “I mean, if you like birds that is,” she tacked on after a few awkward seconds.

“I do like birds. I enjoy watching them. There isn’t enough nature in the city.”

“I agree. Uh- thanks again for taking me out of the city the other night. I really liked it. I haven’t done anything like that in a really long time.”

“It’s much more pleasant when it’s warm out. Although, the bugs will eat you alive.”

“I’m afraid of bugs. I mean, spiders and stuff.”

“I don’t think there’d be a big spider horde that would come get us, but you never know. Maybe they would have a master spider, like the big leader king style spider. He could lead his army against us invaders if we parked in his field.”

Muffy’s lips twitched. Even though Alex was joking, he really wasn’t laughing at her. More like with her. It was a nice change. She’d been with some guys who were unmerciful when she said stupid, naïve shit.

“How do you know it wouldn’t be a queen?”

“Oh, it could definitely be a queen.”

They walked a few more steps. “So, you weren’t talking about spiders then. I’m dumb. I honestly don’t know why I said that.”

“You’re not dumb.” There was a tenderness in Alex’s voice that almost made her stumble.

“Oh- well- thanks. I’m glad that you think so.”

“I do think so. You can’t be an accountant and be dumb.”

“Maybe I’m one of those people who is book smart but has no street smarts.”

“I highly doubt that.”

The warmth in his words erased the sting of self-doubt that was somehow always percolating in her heart. Muffy shivered, but it had nothing to do with the cold wind whipping at her face and tearing at her clothes.

She walked a little further. She spotted a bench up ahead in the distance. She was about to point it out when a scream tore through the park.

She froze as the hair at the back of her neck prickled to life. “What the heck?” she muttered as she glanced around frantically.

The source of the scream became obvious as her eyes lit on an elderly woman who was being accosted by a man in black. He was dressed in a black jacket, black pants, and had a black toque pulled down low, hiding most of his face. He’d cornered the elderly woman, who was bundled up to the nines, along the path. The bastard was currently trying to rip her purse from her arm, but the elderly woman was putting up one hell of a fight.

Muffy didn’t even think. Her bag hit the sidewalk with a thump, and she took off running, her boots eating up the frozen grass she veered off into.

“Hey!” She yelled. She had no idea what she was going to do, but if she figured she could scare the guy off, he’d leave the old woman alone.

The bastard struggled harder, ripping and tugging at the purse that was actually looped around the woman’s shoulders. He was having trouble dislodging it from the folds of her jacket. She was also beating at his face and head rather ineffectually, but it slowed the guy down a little.

“Stop it! Leave her alone!” Muffy yelled.

She was gaining ground. She kept running, her lungs burning, a stitch forming in her side. She didn’t realize she was so damn out of shape. She often walked to work and always took the stairs, but she couldn’t remember the last time she’d done a full-on sprint. Ridiculously enough, her mental checklist took center stage in her brain and she vowed to join a running group or hit the gym for some cardio a little more often.

“I’m going to call the cops!” She yelled as she got closer.

She actually watched the thief’s eyes widen. They were blue, sky blue. His face had a thick growth of stubble along the chin, light stubble. He was likely blonde. He was probably about six feet tall. She mentally took in all the details, right down to the guy’s black construction style boots.

He finally figured out that he wasn’t going to be able to make off with the purse. Instead of waiting around to get caught, he hoofed it in the opposite direction. Muffy slowed, watching him retreat. He was fast, the bastard. If he’d actually got the purse, she never would have caught him and even if she did, he was twice her weight, broad and fit. She was probably no match for him.