Page 39 of Fighting Chance

“Shit, sorry, that came out wrong,” he curses, moving forward. “It’s a good thing. I’m glad you like it.”

I nod, offering a forced smile, still riddled with the heat of humiliation.

His hand captures my chin before gently forcing my head up until his worried blue eyes are in my line of sight. He cups his chest with his free hand. “I’m sorry, that was a dumb thing to say. I just meant that I’m really happy to seeyouhappy over food.”

My brows furrow.

“I…forced Bella to give me updates on your treatment, and one of them was how you could eat food without pain.” He smiles, and it momentarily stuns me as he goes on. “I don’t think you realize how radiant it is to be around someone experiencing things with such joy. So please, don’t stop enjoying it. In fact, I’ll hate myself for eternity if you stop doing those breathy little moans when you take a bite.”

My eyes widen. “I do not moan!”

He stares at me blankly.

“Okay fine, I moan…a little,” I say teasingly, my thumb and pointer finger pinched together.

He snorts out a laugh, dropping his hand from my chin as he sits back, twirling his fork through his fettucine. “Well don’t stop. It’s sexy as fuck.”

A burst of shocked laughter escapes me. “Are you always this blunt?”

He nods emphatically as he chews around a mouthful. “I’m surprised you’re just now realizing. Did you seriously not read my text messages?”

My eyes roll of their own accord. “Of course I read them, I had my first stalker. I was somewhat proud of myself.”

“I’m happy to have ticked off another thing on your life list.”

“Having a stalker wasn’t one of them, Ashford,” I tease.

“You just didn’t know what you were missing out on.”

Not when dark romance novels exist.“Trust me, I knew.”

He stretches his arm along the back of the couch and I swallow, hyperaware of his hand being a mere inch from my body.

“What is on your life list?” he asks suddenly.

My cheeks flame as I think about the list I have under lock and key in my phone, protected by a password. Half the stuff on there…let’s just say the books I’ve read have heavily inspired me.

Kieran is beyond sweet for bringing to life one of my desires today with the water fight, but I don’t have the heart to tell him that most of the things on the list I most certainly can’t do with myboss.

He automatically assumed innocent life things but mine are more along the line of firsts…in the bedroom.

Like losing my virginity.

Cocking his head, he studies me, his eyes suddenly narrow. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Shoving a forkful of pasta in my mouth, I shrug, not trusting myself to speak.

“Can I see it?”

My eyes practically bulge out of my head.

That was all he needed to see. A dirty grin spreads across his lips. “Oh, I’m going to do everything in my power to pry that list out of you.”

“You can try,” I sing-song. “But you won’t get very far.”

“Never challenge an athlete. We’re extremely competitive.”

“Noted.”