Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Her ass.
“Turn for me, please.”
Tess turns, holding her arms out to her sides, slowly going in a circle so I can pat her backside down.
“Nice. I like what I see.”
“Don’t stare at my butt,” she says.
“Too late.” I dry her, confident I’ve gotten her whole rear end sufficiently taken care of. “Turn, please.”
She smells good, like soap and shampoo.
Clean.
I stare at her body, run my hands down her belly.
Lean forward and kiss it, just above the belly button.
Press my forehead there, gently resting it on her abdomen.
Tess rests her hands on my head, funning her fingers gently through my hair.
We don’t say much of anything for a few moments.
Then,
I rise from my knees and finish toweling her off.
CHAPTER 53
TESS
DON’T GIVE UP ON SOMETHING YOU CAN’T GO A DAY WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT. OR SOME ONE.
I’ve always wanted to come to a place like this but have never had the opportunity—and by opportunity, I mean: I’ve never dated a guy who:
1. Could afford it
2. Made this kind of effort
Not that I know Drew could afford it, but I’m assuming, especially since he’s the one who paid for my airline ticket and hasn’t asked for reimbursement.
This place is cool in a way that I am not.
Dim.
Classy.
But hip in a way that most old establishments are.
“My brother always wants to come here when he’s in town.”
“Which brother?” I mean, he has three.
“Duke.”
Ahh.
The restaurant’s soft lighting casts a warm glow over everything, from the polished silverware to the pristine white tablecloths, and I am here for it.
I fidget with my napkin. I had almost forgotten to put it on my lap when I sat down—the fabric smooth beneath my fingertips.
This is it—our first real date.
I’m excited, nervous, and feeling a mixed bag of emotions all at the same time.
Ugh!
Nerves, go away…
Drew looks incredibly handsome in a well-fitted suit. I was shocked when he walked into the living room sporting it and feel underdressed, too.
I’m in jeans and a dressy blouse, but he’s in a suit—dressed to impress, and damn, he looks good enough to make my mouth water.
“Have I mentioned how you clean up nice?”
“Don’t you remember us dressing up for away games in high school?”
He mimics my movements, unwrapping his silverware and draping his napkin across his lap.
“Actually, I don’t.”
“Well, you look great, too.” He sounds nervous. “Gorgeous.”
I feel pretty tonight, too. After the hell I’ve gone through and the roller coaster of emotions, it feels good to feel human. And pretty. And put together.
I feel young again—not like a young woman who got pregnant after a one-night stand and had the entire world know about it.
A deep blush creeps up my cheeks, and I lower my gaze to the menu. “Thanks. I’m just... really glad we’re doing this.”
“Me too,” he says, his tone softening. “And you know what? Let’s make a deal—no pressure, just two people enjoying a nice meal together.”
His words ease my nerves, and I meet his gaze with a grateful smile.
“Deal.”
As we wait for our food, our conversation flows naturally in a mixture of laughter and easy banter. It’s a reminder of how well we click and how effortlessly we can talk about anything and everything. We share stories from our past, discuss our favorite movies, and even delve into a spirited debate about the merits of pineapple on pizza.
And then, with a sly grin, Drew leans in a little closer. “You know, this restaurant reminds me of a story…”
“Oh, do tell,” I say, my curiosity piqued.
Drew leans back in his chair. “A few years ago, my brother and his girlfriend thought it would be a good idea to, uh, have sex in the restaurant bathroom when they were on a date.”
I raise an eyebrow, my mouth dropping open in surprise. “Seriously?”
Drew nods, a grin tugging at his lips. “Well. I think what actually happened was he went down on her in the bathroom, and they almost got caught.”
“How?”
I select a piece of bread from the basket placed in the center of the table, butter it, and wait for more details.
“They thought they were being all sneaky and discreet, but they were making more noise than they realized, and clearly, my brother isn’t small. He literally cannot do anything graceful.”
I cover my mouth with my hand. “Oh god. I can’t imagine.”
Drew leans back, clearly enjoying my reaction. “So they’re in the stall, and he’s down on his knees trying to go down on her, and the door opens, and someone walks in.”
“Did they just stand there and wait?”
“No. I think he kept at it.”
“NO!” I breathe. “I would have died.”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure my boner would have shriveled up inside my body, so if you have any ideas about banging in the bathrooms over there, you should probably think again.”
“Um, no worries. I think I’m good.”
But now that he’s mentioning it, my eyes dart across the restaurant to the hallway where the bathrooms are located.