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What makes you think I want to go home with you?, she asked, smiling like
a person who already knows the answer but enjoys catty conversations.

You do, he answered. He didn't want to play her little game, if that was
indeed what she was doing. His tone was even, self assured. He knew
it, she knew it, who cared how he knew? Although it wasn't hard to tell.
It was in her eyes, her face. It was not a question of what she wanted to
do, it was only a matter of whether she would. He was inclined to
believe luck was on his side.

You do, he repeated, and you will.
But, I came with friends. Her eyes were wide, so innocent as she hesitated

coyly. Hers was the most delicate shrug he could have imagined.
They'll manage. So that was her game, to promise the sun and moon with her

eyes while her lips formed inconsequential objections.
My coat...it's in their car, she continued to delay, adding that her money and

ID were in the pocket.
You can wear mine, you won't need any, and I won't card you. His tone was

still casual and even.
But I -
Let's go. Now. He cut her off abruptly, tired of playing. Her smile

disappeared as she slowly stood up. She regarded him coolly for a
moment, seeming to grow more distant with each passing second. He
began to wonder if he'd misjudged her. He waited, wondering what more
he could do, short of picking her up and carrying her out the door. He
wondered why he didn't just do that. He wondered what she was thinking
about, how she could transform so quickly from the playful coquette into
the serious woman now looking at him as if she could see inside to the
very core of his being. She reached for her purse, dropping her gaze to
his mouth for just a moment before catching his eyes with hers once
again. He wondered how he could have thought them innocent when those
eyes of hers took in everything. She slowly backed away, then suddenly
bent to flick at imaginary lint on her skirt. He silently thanked God for
the pause and inhaled deeply, realizing he'd forgotten to breathe once
they'd locked eyes. What the hell was going on? He felt uncertain and
that unnerved him. He mentally told himself to calm down, it was a mis-
take, she was leaving. He'd wasted his time.
I thought we were leaving, she whispered against his mouth, leaning into

him now, much too close.

Jennifer Farver

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