Dating and Other Dangers Read Online Free PDF

we go to the movies,’ he said. Amusement and satisfaction lurked in his eyes.
    She stiffened as she saw the smugness, and her game plan zipped back. The urge to better him overwhelmed her. She’d do it whichever way she could.
    ‘Oh, that would have been great …’ She let her voice trail and frowned a little.
    ‘But?’ he prompted.
    ‘Well, the thing is, a movie I’ve been wanting to see for ages is on, and to catch it we need to go straight to the theatre.’ Shedeliberately bit her bottom lip and looked up, up, up at him, with wide, wide eyes. ‘Do you mind?’ she asked, as softly and breathily as a 1960s screen starlet—she hoped, anyway.
    He didn’t answer for a long moment, that lurking light of amusement completely snuffed. ‘That’s…not a problem.’ He half turned away. ‘Shall we go now, then?’
    ‘Oh, come in for a moment,’ she said with a sweet smile, aiming to appear as accommodating as possible. ‘I need to get my wrap.’
    It was a warm summer night and she
so
didn’t need the wrap—she was boiling. But after half an hour in the movies she always ended up freezing, and she had no intention of snuggling next to him for some heat, despite her plan to fire up the flirt between them.
    ‘Thanks.’ He sounded surprised. He looked surprised. She glanced back and saw him taking in the bright surroundings. She knew the flat was stylish and welcoming. But he made rooms shrink when he stood in them, and he made both the background and colours fade—so her focus was forced towards him.
    ‘You’ve got a nice place.’
    Nadia picked up the pashmina that she’d artfully draped on the edge of the large, soft sofa. ‘You thought I’d live alone in some dreary bedsit?’ Like the lonely, bitter spinsterhe believed she was? She’d known he’d think that, so she’d deliberately put a slide show of pictures from one of her and Megan’s riotous trips to France on her computer. What was it with people pigeon-holing her? Her own parents had told her she shouldn’t move to London—that the city was too big for her. The only thing that was too big was the price of the rent. But she had a job at a fabulous firm and sharing this place with Megan was worth it.
    His smile grew as he watched a few pictures glide across the screen. ‘I’m a fast learner, Nadia. And I’m learning to expect the unexpected with you.’
    ‘Really?’
    ‘Sure.’ He faced her. ‘So let’s get going.’
    Adrenalin zinged. She followed him out and locked the door. They walked down the path a few metres before he hailed a cab. She was surprised—for some reason she’d thought he’d have a car.
    ‘You don’t like to go by cab?’ He caught her hesitation as he opened the door.
    Truth was, she didn’t want to sit in the back with him. It felt intimate—she’d have preferred to be in separate seats, with a drinks holder between them. Sharing this one spacemade all kinds of inappropriate images flash—namely, snogging in the back seat.
    She banished the wild idea, crossed her knees and ankles, and crouched into the corner, firmly telling both her body and her thoughts to settle down. He relaxed across his half, not taking up more than his fair share. But it felt like it. He was angled towards her. She didn’t look at him but could feel him willing her to. She sighed and gave in, registering his slight smile.
    ‘You look lovely, by the way,’ he said suavely. ‘Very beautiful.’
    ‘Thanks,’ she said without meaning it. ‘You look good too. But you already know that.’
    ‘Well,
you
know you look incredible no matter what you wear.’ His smile teased. ‘But isn’t it nice to be told anyway?’
    She just rolled her eyes.
    ‘Compliments don’t work for you?’ He looked all the more amused.
    ‘Not from you,’ she said bluntly—despite it being partly untrue. ‘This whole date thing is a really stupid idea, don’t you think? I’m not going to believe a word you say because all you want to do is