Page 15 of Forever Only Once

“I can do that. However, I’m pretty sure this was a date, Hazel.”

I blinked as I set my card down next to his.

Cross Brady. That was the name he had given me. Unless his ruse was completely elaborate, that hadn’t been a lie.

“Maybe it was a date,” I said softly.

“Maybe. And, because it’s a date, can I ask for your number?” Cross asked, and I froze. “You want to talk to me again?”

“Why not?” Cross asked, shrugging as if it weren’t a big deal. It really was. “Maybe this is nothing, but I had fun tonight. And like I said, it’s been a while since I’ve been on a date, real or otherwise. Even accidental.”

I smiled at that.

“What if it’s a complete mistake? What if, after this, the shades are drawn, and the facade slips away?”

“Then it does. And maybe the magic won’t be there. Or, maybe this is just a start?”

“That’s a really good line,” I said, still heated.

“It really is,” he said with a laugh. “So, what do you say?” he asked, and I licked my lips, noticing the way his gaze followed the movement.

This was probably a horrible mistake. We likely would never talk to each other after this.

But then again, tonight had been a night of firsts and what-ifs.

So I smiled and reached for my phone.