Kiss by Kiss (Riggins Brothers #3) - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,14
to make her see herself how I do. Checking my mirrors, I signal to pull over and park on the side of the street. Putting the SUV in Park, I take off my seat belt and turn to face her. “I know we don’t know each other really well, but let me tell you something about me. What you see is what you get. I’m not going to blow smoke up your ass to try and manipulate you. You’re gorgeous. I don’t know who has convinced you otherwise, but I’d like to introduce him to my fist. So, we have a rule.”
“A rule?” she asks.
“Yes, a rule. When you’re with me, none of that ‘why me’ bullshit. You’re here sitting next to me because I want you to be. I want to get to know you, and today is how we start that process. Nothing more and nothing less. Got it?”
“Do I get to make rules too?” she sasses back.
“Name it.” I love that she’s being bold. That she’s inserting herself into whatever this is between us. I don’t like the thought of her being passive about me, about us, or hell, about anything.
“I-I’ll get back to you,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest.
I silently curse the coat that’s hiding her breasts from me. “When you think of one, you let me know.” With that, I pull back onto the street and head toward a small diner on the edge of town. Norma’s is a staple, and only locals really know about it. They also have the best home-cooked food in town. It’s a place my family and I used to frequent a lot growing up, and I want to share that with her.
“I didn’t even know this place existed,” she says as I pull into the parking lot.
“That’s the best part. Stay there. I’ll get your door.”
“I’m capable,” she tells me.
“Rule number two, I get to treat you the way you deserve to be treated. I’ll get your door,” I say again, pulling my keys from the ignition and rushing to her door.
Chapter 6
Aurora
“That was delicious, thank you,” I tell Grant, pushing my plate of half-eaten pancakes away from me.
“You barely ate any of it. Are you not hungry?” There’s genuine concern in his voice, which is not something I’m used to. Not from a man, that is.
How do I tell him that it’s my insecurities and the past evil in my mind that keeps me from letting loose and enjoying our breakfast together? “I’m full.” I smile big, hoping he believes me. It’s not a lie. I’m satisfied, but I could have eaten the entire thing easily.
“Well, I guess it’s a good thing we’re going to have a good lunch as well.”
“Lunch? We’re still sitting in front of breakfast, and you’re already thinking about lunch?” I ask. I’m not judging him, just surprised.
“That’s because lunch is the second part of our date.” His grin lights up his handsome face.
“What are we doing in-between breakfast and lunch?” I ask cautiously.
“We have a little time to kill. I was thinking I could drive you by my place, so you know how to get there.”
“And I need to know this because?”
“Because you and I are going to be spending a lot of time together, and you’re going to need to know how to get to me when I’m not with you or at the office.”
“You act like that’s the only two places you’re going to be.” I laugh.
“Well, I do go to the gym with my younger brothers. The older two don’t join us very often now that they’re married or almost married. The only other place I frequent is my parents’, and you’ll see their place later today.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Of course, it is.” His confidence in this decision is resolute.
“We’ll see,” I say, not committing. I have no idea why he’s so adamant that I go to this dinner with his family. But it’s not something that appeals to me. I’m not in the mood to be judged.
“Ready?” he asks when the waitress brings back his change. He tosses a twenty on the table, and my eyes bulge out of my head. “I can afford it, and they work hard.” He shrugs as if leaving a twenty-dollar tip for a bill that wasn’t even thirty dollars is normal. Maybe it is for him. I have no idea what his financial status is.
“Yes,” I answer as he offers me his hand to help me slide