Page 34
“You wore that to make me sweat,” he said as he slid into the booth across from her.
She lifted her chin. “You’ll have to be more specific.”
“Those jeans that are hugging your ass, with the shirt that is so shiny and silky looking that I’m positive my hand would slip right off of it if I frisked you now. One thing is begging me to touch, the other is warning me it won’t last.”
She hadn’t planned it that way. “You’re thinking too much of things.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning I just put on what I thought looked nice.”
He leaned closer across the table. “You know damn well you look better than nice. I’m not sure nice is in your vocabulary. Even as a kid, you were always put together.”
“Stuffy?” she asked. “Stuck up?”
“Nope. Polished. Classic. I guess those are the words that come to my mind. We’d be out hanging at the playground on the swings, talking about life, teasing each other about what we wanted to know but knew we weren’t ready for yet, you’d be kicking your feet in the air, the wind blowing through your hair, and it was still picture perfect. That’s how I remember you.”
She angled her head. “I don’t remember you being so poetic.”
He laughed, the sound low, deep, rough and sending vibrations along her skin. “I’d hardly say I’m poetic.”
She took a moment to look him over. He had jeans on, black sneakers on his feet, not the athletic kind but more casual. His gray button-down shirt had white stripes in it, the sleeves rolled up on his forearms, two buttons undone at the top.
His hair was short, no product, not really styled but still fashionable. She was willing to bet anything he’d be insulted if she said he was fashionable right now.
But it was his eyes that she remembered the most. In the sun, the outdoors, such a clear blue you could almost see through them into his mind.
Now, inside, they were darker. More dangerous.
Tempting.
It’d been oh, so long since any man had tempted her.
“Maybe not,” she said. “You’re just you. Seems like you haven’t changed much.”
He laughed, but before he could speak the server came over, took their drink orders, told them the specials, then left.
“I’ve changed more than you can imagine.”
“Because you’ve wanted to or had to?”
“Both,” he said. “We all have to grow up, but then I got more forced on me.”
“Can I ask, is Bella home now?”
“No. She’s spending the night at a friend’s.”
She nodded. “Got it. That’s why you suggested tonight?”
“Is seven too late for you to be out?” he asked, his tongue in his cheek.
“Hardly.”
“You don’t lie very well.”
She pursed her lips, rolled her eyes, then let out a soft laugh. “Let’s say I’m a little rusty in the dating scene.”
“Interesting.”
