The Blind Date Read Online Free PDF

J’s “Jingling Baby.” His dance partner practically did a strip tease in front of him, tossing her long tresses and working her voluptuous body in a series of provocative gyrations.
    The next thing Shawna knew, another woman danced up behind him and created a Ryan sandwich. He handled them both by switching back and forth, turning every so often to give each woman his attention, and even incorporated spanking motions with his hands.
    Someone nudged her in the arm. “You better go get your man.” The warning was issued, and then the woman walked away.
    As the song flowed into another, Shawna made her way over to Ryan.
    “Hey.” He smiled but kept on dancing.
    “I couldn’t find you. Where were you?” She yelled to be heard over the music.
    “In the bathroom for a sec.”
    “I’m ready to dance now.” She gave the women dirty looks.
    Ryan stopped and smiled apologetically to both of them. When they walked away, Shawna narrowed her eyes at him.
    “You played me.”
    He flashed his teeth. “No. You played yourself.”
    Chubb Rock’s “Treat ’Em Right” started his shoulders bouncing and feet moving again, and Shawna shook her head and started moving, too. She would have to watch him.
    ****
    The night air wafted across Shawna’s face and cooled her heated body. “I had so much fun!”
    The venue had shut down and the partiers disbursed, heading for their cars. Her feet hurt after being in heels all day and spending the last few hours dancing, but she didn’t regret it.
    “Should I be offended that you sound so surprised?” Ryan had removed his tie and stuck it into the right pocket of his pants. He looked more relaxed with one button undone at the top of his shirt.
    “No. What do you mean?”
    “Didn’t think the white guy could dance, huh?”
    Embarrassed, she slanted a sheepish grin at him. “There’s not an anti-defamation league I have to answer to, is there?”
    He laughed, the sound especially attractive as they walked along the dark street. “Not this time. I’m giving you a pass.”
    “Thank you.”
    Up ahead, a man with a handwritten cardboard sign on a food cart offered sausage dogs for sale. “Do you mind if I stop and get a bite to eat?” Ryan asked as they neared.
    “Are you sure you want to do that? He’s always out here after the parties selling his overpriced hotdogs.”
    “Right now, I’d mortgage my parents’ farm for a bite.”
    “How is that possible? We didn’t eat that long ago.”
    “We sat for a long time talking in the restaurant, and we ate almost eight hours ago,” Ryan pointed out. “Do you want anything?”
    “No, you go ahead.”
    They waited in line while the vendor served others. When Ryan’s turn came, he ordered a spicy sausage dog with everything and purchased a bottle of water. They started walking again, and he lifted the napkin-wrapped hotdog, taking a third into his mouth with a big bite.
    “Mmm. This is good.” He spoke around a mouthful of meat and bread. “Sure you don’t want some?”
    Shawna looked at the sandwich. The alluring smell of onions, sauerkraut, and relish moistened her taste buds. “You don’t have cooties, do you?”
    “No, I was immunized from them years ago.”
    She grinned. She felt relaxed with him, as if she’d known him forever. “In that case . . .”
    They stopped a few feet from the car and he held out the hotdog. As she opened her mouth, their gazes met. She became very aware that she was taking a bite from the exact same spot where his mouth had been. All of a sudden, the act seemed very intimate. The smile on Ryan’s face eased away as if the same thought crossed his mind at the same moment. His eyes went from being filled with humor to darkening with something that looked very much like lust.
    Shawna’s chest tightened and she diverted her gaze to the hotdog, sinking her teeth into it and quickly withdrawing when she’d pulled off a small chunk.
    “Good?”
    She nodded, still unable to look at him. He