Chapter 35

"So I have no idea what to order here," she admitted with a rueful twist to her full lower lip. "Any suggestions?"
He asked a few questions to ascertain what she could handle as far as meats and spicing then ordered a sampling of appetizers and a couple different entrees for them to share. Rajit, the waiter and son of the owner of the place, was an old friend and had thoughtfully tucked them in the coziest booth, secluded from most of the rest of the dining room. A sandalwood-scented candle burned on the linen-covered table between them, bringing out hidden glints of flame in Cora's black hair.
"So tell me about your day." He stretched his long legs out under the table, smiling when his calf brushed sensually along hers. "I know the details are probably classified, but surely you can vent about some of it without giving away names or anything."
She sighed. "Let's see, today started with a nasty custody hearing. This adorable little girl and neither parent really wanted her except as ammunition against the other."
"That sucks." Val made a face. "I just can't understand people like that. If you don't want to love your kids, you shouldn't have them."
"I agree - just wished someone had mentioned that to my parents," she sighed. "I was raised by my grandmother until I was eight because my mom dumped me there and took off - never knew who my father was. After Grandma died, I spent ten years in foster care."
"I'm sorry." With his own big, loving, sometimes interfering family, Val had a hard time even imagining that kind of loneliness. "That explains a lot about why you do what you do."
"Therapist heal thyself?" She grinned. "Something like that, I suppose."
They paused while the appetizers arrived then continued to chat while they ate the amazing food. "Okay, enough about me. Why systems analysis? You don't register as a typical computer geek."
"Ah, but that's where you'd be wrong." He tapped his fingers on the table, an imaginary keyboard. "I love it. Nothing like fixing a piece of wonky code or getting a crashed hard drive back up and running. It's weird, being in a family full of creative types, but I really get a kick out of making the network sing." The blissful expression on his face underscored his words.
"I believe you. So, Mr. Computer Genius, how did we both end up on a dating service neither of us signed up for?" She couldn't help wondering what it would be like to have those fingers working on her and to have been the reason for that look of joy in his eyes. It was a good thing her thick suit jacket hid her erect nipples. She'd never reacted like this just from talking to a guy. What the hell was going on here?
He shrugged, showing off shoulders that were broad and sturdy compared to his slim waist. "I really don't know. I've tried everything I can think of to figure it out. Nothing."
"Huh." She believed him. "So do you think we're going to keep getting emails from the site?"
Val shrugged again then they stopped chatting as the empty appetizer dishes were removed and the main course laid. He showed her how to use the bread to scoop up the various dishes laid family style between them - one called paneer that was some kind of fried cheese in sauce, and the other a spicy chicken dish. Cora took one bite and closed her eyes in bliss.
"You like it?"
"Oh yeah." She took a bite of the other entrée. "Tell me, did you really see a picture of me in a red dress? You said you did in your email, but I don't own a red dress."
He shook his head. "There was one in jeans and a sweater. But that doesn't sound like any email I ever wrote. Mine were always on the theme of 'Sorry, but I didn't sign up for this.'"
"Huh." That put a whole new weird spin on things. "That's pretty much what I said in all of mine too."
"So was there really a picture of me in nothing but strategically placed hearts?"
Her mouth went dry at the thought - apparently all the moisture in her body was now between her legs. "Umm... No. Is there such a picture?" If so, she wanted it.
He shook his head. "Hell no."
"So Compu-Cupid is even changing the emails we send one another through the site?" That was pretty terrifying.
His lips set in a grim line. "Apparently."
"So what do we do?"
He thought a minute then whipped out a business card and a pen and scribbled something on the back. "Here's my personal email and my cell phone number. If you get an email that's supposedly from me, drop me a note directly or give me a call."
She took the card and got out one of her own. Even though part of her brain tried to say he was a stranger, she shouldn't trust him, her instincts won out. She wrote down her own personal email and phone number. "Same goes."
"Thanks."
When they'd finished eating, he paid, waving away her offer to share the bill. Then he stood and held out a hand to help her rise. "Can I walk you to your car?"
"No need. My condo is just around the corner." The touch of his hand tingled all the way to her belly. "I like being able to walk to work."
"Funny, me too. I have a loft just a few blocks away. Come on then. I'll walk you home." Hands still clasped, he led her out the door. "Which way?"
It was against all her rules to tell a strange man where she lived, but Cora pointed down the side street. "That way."
At the door to her building, he paused, looking down at her with an odd smile on his face. "I had fun tonight. If I had signed up for the dating service, I don't think they could have done a better job finding me someone to go out with."
"Really?" Most men considered her dull as dishwater. "I did too. Thanks for a lovely dinner." And she couldn't imagine being hooked up with a more attractive man. He was pretty much her ideal specimen, geeky science-fiction jokes and all.
"Good night." He leaned down and brushed a kiss against her cheek. "Let me know if you hear from Compu-Cupid again."
"I...I will." The idea of him kissing her for real had her practically hyperventilating. "Good night."
"You're supposed to go inside now."
She'd been standing like a statue. How embarrassing. But as she started to turn, he bent his head again. "Otherwise, I'm going to give in to the temptation to do this."
This time it was a real kiss. A no-holds-barred, hot, wet kiss that seemed to brand her from the inside out. His tongue swept between her parted lips and claimed her soul.
Eventually though, he pulled away and leaned his forehead on the cool brick of the building she was backed up against.
"Good night, Cora. Sweet dreams." His voice had gone thick and raspy.
"Good night, Val." Hers was barely a trembling whisper. She summoned her courage, smiled up at him and opened the front door, ducking inside.
Once she'd closed it, she leaned back against it, gasping for breath.
Oh. My. God.
She was going to have wet dreams about that kiss for the rest of her natural life.