First and Ten by Michel Prince Read Free Book Online Page B

her, she might have fallen. He’d parked illegally, or
turned his flashers on as he stopped half on the curb. A campus cop
was getting ready to write him a ticket and probably have him towed
when Jerome walked up to him and in less than three minutes they
were on their way heading to Lake Shore Drive.

    Danika nervously fumbled with her loose
skirt. Jerome loved the way it hugged her curves, but didn’t scream
from being stretched to its limits. So far he had seen her at her
best, her worst, and now her most comfortable middle ground. Not
one had turned him off. Each showed him a piece of her that made
him want to know more. Today her index finger was twisting the
charcoal gray fabric so tight it might be cutting off
circulation.
    “I didn’t tell you my Tuesday Treats were
usually more casual.”
    “You went to La Femme, didn’t you?”
    “Well, that was a bit out of my norm. You
could have called or texted me about the dress code. I do have the
ability to accessorize with the best of them.”
    “Of that I have no doubt, but you never gave
me your phone number.”
    “Randy has it.”
    “I’d never ask another person for a woman’s
number.”
    “That a general rule?” she asked, finally
releasing her finger from its confines.
    “If you wanted me to have it you would have
given it to me.”
    Jerome had hundreds of women’s numbers in his
phone. They threw them at him like trash out a car window. Although
not having Dani’s had been irritating over the last week, it did
help with him keeping the stalker thoughts of texting every few
minutes away.
    “I feel underdressed,” she confessed as her
finger started to twirl again. He placed his hand over hers and
loosened the fabric so he could intertwine their fingers.
    “I had a meeting in the city. It wasn’t until
I looked up online where the business school was that I realized I
needed to drive to Evanston. I didn’t have time to change.” He
lied. His plans were formal, but not necessarily so. They were the
only two involved so the dress code wasn’t set in stone.
    “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
    “It’s okay,” he laughed. “I didn’t get caught
by the staties when I tore up here.”
    “You were early, why did you have to
speed?”
    “Lombardi time,” he replied with a smirk.
    “What exactly is Lombardi time?”
    “When Vince Lombardi coached, his players
knew whatever time he told them you better get there fifteen
minutes before.” Jerome shifted in his seat as he approached the
exit he needed to get to Navy Pier.
    “I said five fifteen.”
    “So I got there at five, it was a good thing
too.”
    “Why’s that?” she asked.
    “You were trying to avoid the date.”
    “Was not,” she said defensively.
    “Right, that’s why I caught you and Esme
walking toward the parking lot.” Rome let his window down and
retrieved the parking ticket. “You said you’d be by the
building.”
    “Esme’s my project partner,” Dani began then
stopped and turned to him. “I don’t have to explain myself…why am I
explaining myself to you?”
    “How would I know?” he said as he put his
truck in park and retrieved his wallet and phone from the center
console. “But you’re here now. Any reason you’d not want me to
treat you this week?”
    Dani’s top teeth nibbled on the corner of her
bottom lip. When her eyes flashed up at him, he saw the vixen
inside her. It resided in every woman and when they chose to
unleash it, Rome crumbled. This might not have been his best
decision. After a day of planning out a custody agreement for the
son he’s barely seen, he needed a night of relaxation as much as
Dani did.
    “You think Navy Pier is the way to treat me?
I usually try new things on Tuesday.”
    “Are you telling me you’ve eaten at every
restaurant, rode every ride, and played every game at the
pier?”
    “Native Chi-towner,” she said pointing to her
chest.
    “Alright,” he said leaning back in his seat
and stroking his chin. “What