Read Online Sushi for One? by Camy Tang - Free Book Online Page B

skittish as a racehorse. Get your hand off me.
    “I’ve got some great condos that you’ll fall in love with.” George finally dropped his arm when Lex took a giant step back.
    “Let’s go see them.”
    “I’ll drive.” He gestured with pride to his gleaming Lexus SUV.
    “I’ll follow you in my car.”
    As she looked at condos, Lex felt like Goldilocks, except without little Junior Bear to lend her his chair and porridge and bed.
    The first condo was too far away — not from her current workplace, but if she got the job at SPZ, it would be more than an hour’s drive.
    The second place had an astronomical price tag — not too bad on her current salary, but it would take 130 percent of a minimum-wage paycheck. And Lex would have a hard time hiding her potential job switcheroo plans, at least until the loan application came through.
    The third house was a dump labeled as a “fixer-upper” —affordable on a receptionist’s salary, but she’d be eating ramen noodles every day for a couple years. Plus, it had that ratty air of a place that would start to fall apart as soon as she breathed her first sigh as the legitimate owner.
    “Well, that’s all I have for today.” George walked her out to her rusted bucket, looking forlorn next to his hulking Lexus.
    “Thanks, George. I appreciate you taking me to these places.” Even though I can’t afford most of these houses if I quit, but if I tell you I’m going to quit, you and the loan officer are going to abandon me faster than a smoking Pinto.
    “Are you going home now?” George leaned against her car frame. Her Honda gave a sighing creak.
    Weird question for an agent. “Uh . . . yeah.”
    “I wondered if you’d like to go out to dinner with me tonight.”
    Whoa, momma! Did he just ask for a real date? He didn’t go the safer, less committed “Give me your email address” route that most engineers in Silicon Valley took. Not even the Starbucks coffee-hour option. Full-blown dinner. You landed yourself a winner, toots.
    She should have hurled herself in his arms. Instead, she hesitated. Dark memories wove on the edges of her mind. Her gut clenched for only a moment, then released.
    No, you’re bigger than that. You can do this. The volleyball girls needed her. Grandma wouldn’t win.
    “I’d love dinner, George. Where?”

EIGHT
    T hank goodness for the casual California dress code. Lex entered Crustaceans Restaurant in Santana Row and knew her simple cotton skirt wouldn’t look out of place. Some diners were dressed up, but others wore jeans.
    She actually felt kind of special being seated with such a good-looking guy. Except that George also noticed the appreciative feminine glances he collected.
    “Do you know those girls?” Lex nodded at the scantily-clad gigglers who were batting their eyelashes from a couple tables away.
    George whipped his attention back to Lex. “Uh . . . no.” He flashed that bright, warm smile. Lex would have felt enveloped by it if she hadn’t seen the girls over his shoulder still ogling him. Look all you want, girlies. He’s with me.
    He seemed to welcome the attraction, which didn’t bode well for item number five on her Ephesians List — the whole faithfulness issue. Well, she had all dinner to weigh him against the List.
    Lex skimmed the menu, but she knew what she wanted to eat. Same thing she always got.
    George glanced up at her. “Want to split a crab wonton appetizer?”
    “Sure. Good choice.” To add to the List: Must enjoy good food as much as me.
    The waitress appeared at the table like a genie, and dressed like one too, in a gauzy jewel-toned Vietnamese dress. “Do you know what you’d like to order?” Her bell-like voice tinkled.
    George’s eyes didn’t immediately raise from his menu to the waitress’s face — he took a rather slow journey over her slender curves. Lex’s jaw flexed. That was strike two on the faithfulness point of the List. This might be a short date.
    “We’ll share