“She taught me everything when I was young, and I just grew up on that knowledge. Now I make up a lot of my own recipes and do things my way. But she started it all.”
“Did she work in a bakery?”
“No. She just knows her away around the kitchen.”
“Very cool.” He finished his plate and left it on the table. He wiped it clean and finished his wine. “I’m pretty limited in my abilities. But I know how to order take out.”
“That’s a good skill to have.”
He smiled slightly.
“Will you excuse me?” I rose from the chair and set my napkin on the table.
“Sure.” He watched me walk away, his eyes drilling into my back.
After I did my business in the bathroom I touched up my make up. My heart was racing because I really liked him. He had nice lips and a perfect body. But he was an interesting person too. He had a good balance of various qualities. And he was older. I liked older men. They were more mature than the guys I met at school.
And he was scorching hot.
After I gathered my bearings and headed back to the table, I saw Hawke talking to a woman. She looked his age, and she was pretty. She wore a tight dress with nude heels. Her hair was done in a classy way.
The closer I got, the more irritated I became. Judging the way she was leaning close toward him and flashing him flirtatious smiles, she was either hitting on him or already knew him romantically.
I didn’t care, but it was pretty trashy to go after a guy who was clearly on a date. There were rules for that, especially between women.
When I reached the table, Hawke spoke. “It was nice seeing you, Jessica.” Hawke didn’t seem irritated she was there, but he didn’t seem particularly happy either.
She eyed me up and down quickly. The disappointment on her face told me she didn’t like me one bit even though I hadn’t said a word. “Call me.” She flipped her hair and walked away.
The fact Hawke didn’t introduce me told me he didn’t want to. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay.” I sat down and crossed my legs.
Hawk didn’t mention his friend or how he knew her.
And I didn’t ask.
The check sat at the edge of the table, and it was clear Hawk had already paid it. “I asked you out. Remember?”
That usual look of amusement came into his eyes. “I guess I’m traditional in some ways.”
“Well, I owe you next time.” I shouldn’t assume there would be a next time but it slipped out. It wasn’t common for me to find a guy I really liked. Hawke and I had a connection, and I knew it could go further if we took the time to cultivate it. But I had no idea if that feeling was mutual.
“We’ll see.” His eyes didn’t give his thoughts away like usual. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.”
We left the restaurant and walked outside to the sidewalk. Hawke hadn’t made a move to touch me, and I hadn’t either. I already asked him out so I wasn’t going to make the first move.
As we headed to his truck down the street, his arm moved around my waist and he pulled me closer to him. His torso was hard like a slab of concrete, and he felt warm like a personal heater. His scent washed over me and I wanted that smell to be ingrained in my sheets.
I gave him a flirtatious look that said I liked his hold. His large hand fit completely around my hip. His fingers squeezed me slightly, giving me a spike of adrenaline.
“I had a great time tonight.”
“Me too.”
He opened the passenger door to his truck but kept his eyes on me. His lips were dangerously close to mine. It seemed like he might kiss me but he was still unsure about it.
Without thinking, I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. The second we touched I felt my lips burn. His full and soft lips felt right against mine. I made the move, but he took control the second we were combined. He gave me purposeful kisses, breathing into my mouth as he did it.
Yum.
He slowly pulled away then rubbed his nose against mine. “Ready to go somewhere quiet?” Then he waited for me to get into the seat.
My hormones were doing all the talking. “Yes.” I didn’t want the kiss to end but I knew standing on the sidewalk wasn’t