“I got lucky, and I definitely was never the best guy on the team.” He speared some lettuce with his fork. “Do you know anything about rugby?”
Amusement played across her gorgeous face. “I know I like rugby romance.”
He tilted his head to the side. “That’s a thing?”
“Oh yeah, it’s a thing.”
“Well, damn.”
She grinned, pointed at his plate “Eat your salad before your jaw falls off.”
He snorted but shoved the bite hanging off his fork into his mouth, chewed and swallowed. “Where’d you grow up?”
They exchanged first date pleasantries, finding out that they’d both grown up in California, though Kay was born and raised in the Bay Area, while Garret had been in L.A. until his rugby career had taken off. He’d moved back to the States and up to Northern California just a few months before.
“Did you learn to surf?” she asked, after they’d both discovered they were only children.
Garret shuddered. “No. The guys tried, but I’m hopeless.”
Kay smiled. “I learned. The water was freezing, and I was freaked out the whole time that a Great White was going to attack me, but I managed to get up on a couple of waves at least.”
“Nice.” He raised his fist for her to bump, and their eyes met when even that tiny bit of contact made his nerves spark.
“Why does that keep happening?” she breathed.
“I don’t know.” A beat. “But I don’t hate it.”
Her laughter made his heart skip a beat—something that was starting to become a regular occurrence with this woman.
They talked about her books during the main course, laughed over a few of Garret’s rugby stories during dessert—an American rookie had led to no small amount of good-natured teasing and pranks. She had him in absolute stitches as she relayed a tale about how she’d been so mad at a former boyfriend that she’d made him the impotent villain in an early book as the live auction was going on.
He clamped a hand over his mouth, nudged her with his shoulder. “You almost made me buy that trip to Maui,” he said with a mock-glare.
“I’d make you take me,” she teased.
He bent close. “Should I be worried you’re going to make me impotent in a future book?”
She leaned in conspiratorially. “I was going to kill you off.”
“What about now?” He turned, and suddenly their lips very close together.
“I’m considering my options.”
“I—”
Applause broke out around them and Garret blinked, trying to sort out the reason until he realized the first portion of the live auction was over.
Kay stood. “I’m going to hit the ladies room before they start bidding on these babies.” Her fingers traced over the centerpiece of books in the middle of the table. “I’ve had my eye on this one since I first gave Rachel the idea for them.”
He rose as well. “Do you want me to get you another drink? I promise I won’t spill this one on you.”
Her smile lit up her face, and Garret knew in that moment that he’d do anything for this woman. “That would be great. Thank you.” And with a quick word to Heather—asking her to watch her purse—and a soft touch to the spine of one book in particular, a whispered, “I’ll be back for you,” she hurried across the room.
Heather glanced up at him, raised her brows.
“I’m an idiot, and you know all.”
Clay’s mouth quirked. “Words my wife loves to hear.”