Heart-Shaped Hack(17)

“I wish I’d known about brunch. Not having access to your computer means I have no idea what you’re up to these days. However, I want this to count as an actual date—our second, I might add—and not just a quick outing in the park.”

She laughed. “I suppose that will be okay. I wouldn’t want to throw off your schedule.”

He took a drink of his champagne. “How has your weekend been so far?”

“Good.”

“Do anything fun?”

“I met some friends for happy hour on Friday, and then I had a date on Saturday.”

“You had a date?”

“You sound so surprised. A man actually messaged me on my dating account, despite my less-than-attractive profile picture. He read my bio and asked me out. I had to say yes. He did seem a bit confused when I showed up.”

“That’s because he’d just hit the online dating jackpot. Where did you go?”

“Lunch and a matinee.”

“And?”

“I had a good time. He was very nice.” That much was true. Justin had been courteous, funny, and kind. He was also Stuart 2.0, and Kate had felt nothing. Not one single spark. She let him down gently with a handshake at the end of their date.

“I bet he wasn’t as charming as me.”

“Do you know who else was supposedly very charming? Ted Bundy.”

“I may be a thief, but I would never harm you, Katie.” He said it so softly and sincerely that the quip she’d been about to make about Ted Bundy promising the same thing died on her lips.

“No,” she said. “He was not as charming as you.”

When Kate’s glass was empty, he took it, and Kate thought he meant to refill it. But he set down the empty flutes, caught her chin between his thumb and index finger, and tilted her face up to his for a champagne-flavored kiss, closing his eyes right before their lips met. Though they were in a clearing off the main path, it was still a public place where anyone could come upon them. Kate didn’t care. She kissed him back and ran her fingers through his hair because she’d wanted to do that since the day she met him. It felt soft and luxurious.

“You really know how to turn an average Sunday into a great day, don’t you?” Kate said when they came up for air.

Ian reached for the champagne bottle and refilled their glasses. “Are you having a great day?”

“I am. When I was at brunch, the girls were complaining about having to spend the rest of the afternoon cooped up inside working, the same way I used to. But instead of working, I get to stroll the sunlit paths of a magical urban forest and drink champagne with a charismatic, green-eyed man.”

Ian smiled. “And to think I had to convince you to give me a chance.”

“Astonishing, I know.”

“And now?” He paused in front of Kate’s mouth with another strawberry.

“You’re growing on me,” she said and opened her mouth.



Kate insisted on feeding Ian a strawberry every time he fed her one until finally they were gone. There was more kissing and even fewer inhibitions on Kate’s part when the flutes were empty again. Ian was currently giving Kate a kiss that she’d labeled the number three because it resembled the third kiss he’d given her at the end of their first date. It was a little more demanding than the others, but still slightly restrained. It hinted at what his kisses might be like if he were to stop exerting control over them. That thought made Kate’s stomach explode with butterflies.

Drowsy from the champagne, Ian lay down on the blanket and coaxed Kate into lying down beside him and using his arm for a pillow, which she did. The sun was bright and Kate hadn’t brought her sunglasses, so she closed her eyes. She wished she could take a nap right there on the blanket with Ian.

“I’m so comfortable,” she announced.

“My arm is asleep,” Ian said.

Kate immediately tried to move, but Ian laughed and encircled her with his other arm so that he was spooning her. “I’m just messing with you.”

“Stop spooning me,” Kate said, rolling over to face him. “This is a public park.”

“How is this any more appropriate?” Ian asked, pulling her closer so they were pressed up against each other.

“It really isn’t,” Kate admitted.

“Kiss me.”

Kate obliged willingly and then tucked her head against his neck. “You sure seem to enjoy kissing.”

“What’s not to like?”

“Nothing. I love kissing. I’m just not used to it. Stuart wasn’t really a kisser. It was mostly a means to an end for him.”

“Stuart is nuts.”

Kate looked into his eyes. “Are you ever going to tell me your last name?”

“No,” he said. His tone was quite serious. Then he kissed her again.



Around four o’clock, when the temperature had started to drop a little and the sun went behind the clouds and stayed there, Kate started to shiver. Her hands were getting cold, and they decided to call it a day.

“Ready?” Ian said.

He held out his arm and Kate took it.



When Ian pulled up in front of Kate’s building, he turned off the car, and she waited for him to come around and open her door.