Educating Gina

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“What kind of exercise do you do?”

He brought his gaze back to meet her curious eyes. “Exercise?”

She nodded. “Everyone needs to exercise.”

“I get enough running around the office.”

She made a face. “That is not the same thing.”

“I work a lot of hours. I don’t have time.”

“Does my uncle work you that hard?”

Mike snorted. “I work me that hard.”

“That is not good,” she said, shaking her head with concern. “Do you swim?”

He shrugged. “I haven’t for a while.”

She extended her hands behind her and leaned back. The reclining position showed off her flat belly and made her breasts jut out. “Tomorrow, we will swim.”

Amused at her confidence, he asked, “Where?”

“You do not know of a place?” She frowned, and then her eyes brightened. “Coney Island. I read about it on the airplane.”

He hadn’t been there in years. “Maybe.”

“Why maybe?”

“Because I have a lot of work to catch up on. I thought you could go to the library for the morning and—”

She groaned. “I can go to the library at home. I want to see New York.”

Great. “We can’t go out every minute.”

“Why not?”

He laughed. “Look, how about if you go to the office with me and use my computer while I get some paperwork out of the way, and then we’ll spend the afternoon out.”

“At Coney Island?”

“I was thinking a museum. The Guggenheim?”

“Oh, yes, that is on my list.”

“Oh, great, you have a list.” He sighed. “You have any rest time on that list?”

She laughed. “Come,” she said, sitting up straight and then scooting backward until her back rested against the tree trunk.

“Where?”

“Here.” She tugged at his sleeve until he leaned toward her. “Closer.”

What the hell was she doing? Knowing it was trouble, he shifted his butt a foot closer.

She put an arm around his shoulder and urged him to put his head on her lap. He resisted, but she gave him a smile that sent his resolve floating off in the warm breeze.

“What? You think I’m too old to keep up? I need a nap?”

“Yes.”

“Hey.” He started to lift his head.

Laughing, she splayed her fingers through his hair and gave it a small tug, forcing him to rest his head on her thighs. He complied, but she left her fingers in his hair and gently massaged his scalp.

He briefly closed his eyes at the soothing sensation.

“This is not a good idea,” he finally said, yet made no move to get up.

“Why not?”

He opened his eyes. She looked down at him in innocent confusion, her fingers continuing to work their magic. “You don’t know?”

She blinked. “Papa used to like when I rubbed his scalp. He said it relaxed him.”

Mike snorted. Obviously her mind wasn’t in the gutter with his. God, he was a dope.

Her fingers stilled. “But I never got a funny feeling in my stomach with Papa.”

Mike sat up.

“Did I hurt you?” she asked, her eyes filled with genuine concern.

He shook his head as he got to his feet. Was she really this naive? “We’d better start back. In another hour it’s going to be tough to get a cab.”

She held out her hand and he pulled her to her feet. Without warning, she kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you for the nice day.”

“Don’t mention it.” He quickly backed away.

“Scusi.” She made a sound of impatience. “Excuse me, I do not understand. I did something wrong?”

He smiled. “It’s a term that means what I did was nothing. Don’t give it another thought.”

“Oh, but that is not true.” She slid her arms around his waist and looked up into his eyes. “You have given me the perfect day.”

“Yeah, well, I’m glad you liked it.” He tried to disengage her arms. “I don’t think you should be doing that.”

She held on tightly. “Why? Because you make my stomach, um, what is the word? Jump? Flutter?”

“Gina.” He drawled her name into a warning she ignored.

“Mike?”

“Yes?” He took a step back. She moved along with him.

“Can I ask for one more thing?”

“What?” he asked slowly, his gaze hopelessly tangled with hers.

“Will you kiss me?”

His gaze stayed locked with hers another moment, until he realized he was actually thinking about giving in. “Holy shit! Gina, don’t even think about stuff like that.”

She blinked. “Why?”

“Because.”

“You have a girlfriend?” She slackened her hold.

“No.”

“Good.” She tilted her head back farther and closed her eyes. “You can kiss me now.”

The sun shining on her lips made them glisten. He swallowed. “No kissing.”

She opened her eyes again, hurt gathering like storm clouds. “You do not like me. You think I am too much trouble.”

“Of course not.”

She dropped her arms and moved back. “That is all right. I understand.”

“No, you don’t.” He hated the hurt look on her face. What had she been told by her parents? Or maybe it was the nuns who’d undermined her confidence. “It’s just that it’s too public here.”

She stared at him, her eyes growing wide, and then her lips curved in an expectant smile. “You must be planning some kiss.”

Mike groaned. She’d probably been asking for a peck. Now she’d expect much more. Gee, no pressure here.

“ROBERT, WAIT UP.” Mike shot up from his desk to catch him before he disappeared for the day.

“Coffee. I need coffee right away.” Robert turned and headed for the office’s small kitchen.

Mike followed, but stopped at Augie’s office when he noticed the door was open. “I didn’t know you were in already. We could have had a coffee together.”

Augie shrugged and stared down at the newspaper spread across his desk. “I had a lot of stuff to catch up on.”

Mike frowned. Yeah, Augie looked as if he were really busy. What the hell was going on? Augie always had time for coffee with him, even if only to find out what was happening with sales so he could try to stay on top of things.

“No problem,” Mike said. “Maybe tomorrow.”

“Sure,” Augie looked up briefly and went back to his paper. Mike continued to the kitchen, his concern growing, but waited until his friend poured a cup of the strong black brew. It was pretty early. For Robert, anyway. “Your office or mine?” Robert asked after he’d taken a sip.