Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77490 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Hiding behind the single panel menu, I bite my lip. I don’t want to offend Gray and talk about the cost of the food like I did when I had dinner with Brax, but if I had known what the price ranges were, I’d have never agreed to come here.
This is another dating situation that I’m completely unprepared for, and I wish I could pull out my phone under the table and text someone for advice, but I know that wouldn’t go over well, either. In the end, I decide to be honest and just be myself.
“Gray, you didn’t have to bring me somewhere so … fancy.”
He looks around. “Are you uncomfortable? It is kind of fussy in here.”
I lower my voice, even though there’s plenty of distance between the tables. “It’s not the surroundings. It’s the prices. I can’t let you pay for dinner here.”
Suddenly, he looks amused. Returning his attention to his menu, he says, “It’s not a concern, Ava.” When I don’t say anything, because I’m not sure what to say, he adds, “I’m surprised Erik didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I make good money bartending, but it’s not my only income.”
“You have another job?” I’m suddenly imagining him doing something mysterious and possibly dangerous.
“No, my family has money.”
“Oh.” Now I feel silly. “So you’re, like, a trust fund baby?”
He laughs, and the sound strokes over my skin, including the skin I’ve been giving extra attention in the shower lately. I have to focus hard to hear his next words. “Not exactly, but you could say I’m comfortable.”
Comfortable enough that a restaurant like this is no big deal for him. “So why do you bartend?”
“It’s fun. I get to meet interesting people.” His gaze lingers on me, a silent seduction, though I can’t help but wonder if all of the interesting people he enjoys meeting are women.
Blushing, I pick up the menu again, doing my best to ignore the prices and think about what sounds appealing. When the waiter returns, I order sea bass with a side of French onion potato purée.
“Excellent choice,” the waiter says, and I feel a flash of pride. After Gray orders, I take another sip of my champagne and meet his eyes across the table. He’s looking at me like he’d like me to be his appetizer, main course, and dessert all in one. Instead of ducking my head, I let myself imagine kissing him, undoing his shirt a button at a time to bare his chest, running my hands over his skin.
His gaze turns hot. “Tell me about your fantasies, Ava.”
I suck in a breath and decide to be honest again. “I was fantasizing about you just now.” I bite my lip as his eyes flash. “But … I don’t know if Erik told you … I don’t have much experience dating. Much experience at all, really.”
My gaze drops to the table, but after a moment I force myself to look up and meet his eyes, hoping I won’t see scorn or disgust. I’m relieved that there’s no trace of either in his expression.
“I’m glad you can fantasize about me. As for a lack of experience, remember I know your brother, so I understand a bit about your background.”
His hand moves forward to find mine where it rests on the table, his fingers gliding over my wrist, then turning my palm up and stroking his fingertips over the skin there. Such a simple touch, but heat blossoms in my core. “When you’re ready, Ava, I’ll help you act out anything you want to try.”
The idea of Gray helping me fulfill my fantasies makes a quiver run up my spine, but I don’t feel bold enough to share any details. “What about your fantasies?”
The look he sends me then almost makes me moan. “I’d rather show you than tell you,” he says, his voice so deep, it seems to vibrate through my bones.
“I’d like that.” The words are out before I’m conscious of them, and I can’t quite believe they came from my mouth. But they must have, judging from Gray’s slow smile.
He’s still holding my hand, and now he rubs his thumb over my knuckles. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman quite like you.”
I’m too startled to hide it. The whole time we’ve been talking, I’ve been peripherally aware of all the women who keep eyeing Gray. The man’s clearly irresistible to women—I’m just like everyone else here in that regard. It’s hard to believe that I have anything the rest of them don’t.
“Dating more than one man is a big change for me,” I tell him, not addressing his comment directly because I don’t know how. “Actually, dating anyone seriously is a change since I stopped going out with men from my church. I appreciate all of you helping me get comfortable with it.”