Page 43 of Over Time Advantage

His whole body deflates. He thinks I’m apologizing because I’m going to leave.

“I’m sorry you’ve been hurt so badly in the past. I’m sorry you’ve suffered so much. I’m sorry your personal life has been such a struggle. I…I’ll stay. Let’s see how things go tonight.”

The corners of his mouth raise slightly. “Really?” he asks excitedly. “You’ll stay?”

“Yes.”

His shoulders straighten, and his smile widens. Oh my god. With less facial hair, I can now see a dimple on the right side. As if he needed more sex appeal. I’m so screwed.

He reaches into his breast pocket and pulls out his reading glasses, placing them on his face. Why are his reading glasses so hot? Why is everything about him so hot?

He picks up the menu and begins reading it, but I can’t stop staring at him. He’s undoubtedly the most gorgeous man in existence. The videos don’t do him justice. He oozes sex appeal from every pore without a single ounce of realization. I think I’m literally salivating as I watch him study the menu.

The waitress appears and asks us if we’re ready to order. I’m about to tell her I haven’t even looked at the menu yet, but before I can do so, Jett orders our drinks, appetizers, and meals, telling her when we’d like each so they don’t all come out too quickly.

I’ve never once in my life seen a man do that in a restaurant. It’s almost out of a movie or a romance novel. The feminist in me wants to be outraged, but in reality, his take-charge demeanor is fucking hot. I wonder if he’s this domineering in bed.

I don’t know what he ordered and, frankly, I don’t care. I have this overwhelming urge for him to boss me around. Maybe throw me around too.

“…today?” he questions, even though I have no clue what he asked because I’m imagining this mountain of a sexy man throwing me down on a bed and having his wicked way with me.

I force my sex-deprived head to focus. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked what you did today.”

“Oh, I worked with Bailey. That’s⁠—”

“I know who she is,” he interrupts. “What happened to her is horrible. I hope she’s doing well.”

“She’s doing great. I worked with her all morning and into the early afternoon. Her progress is honestly miraculous. Then I had a few things to do with my dau…Harper, and then I went home to get ready. My close friend Reggie came over to help.”

“Is she the work friend or one of Harper’s friends’ parents?”

I can’t help but smile. He really paid attention to everything I wrote in our messages. “She’s the work friend. She’s a nurse. What about you? What did you do today?”

He sighs. “Dealing with a few loose ends with the team. The premature end of our season has caused a bit of turmoil.”

My face falls. “I’m sorry about that. Tough game. Your defense was brutal.”

He chuckles. “Yes, it was. Are you a big football fan?”

Hmm, should I admit I’ve been a little more of a fan since I met him? I shrug, acting unaffected. “I watch the games for the coach. He’s kind of a cutie. I enjoy it when he yells and screams at people on the sidelines.”

His green eyes sparkle with amusement. “Is that so?”

I nod.

“Does that mean you’ve thought about me since that night too?” he asks.

We’re interrupted by the waitress bringing our drinks. A beer for Jett and a white drink in a martini glass for me.

I look at him in question. “What is this?”

He smiles. “It’s a rum raisin martini. I found the recipe online and asked the bartender if he could make it before you arrived. I showed him the ingredients, and he said he had everything.”

I think I physically feel my ovaries explode. “Wow. I don’t know what to say. That was really thoughtful. I didn’t even know it existed. Thank you.”

His smile only grows bigger, like he’s proud of himself. He’s so damn cute.