Allegiance - Chiah Wilder Page 0,22
on his lips. “Nice legs.”
She looked down to see that the side split in her dress had ridden up and parted, revealing a little too much of her thigh. Twisting on the stool, she fidgeted with the hem of the dress while cursing her choice of attire for the night.
“You look beautiful,” he told her.
“Thanks.”
The female bartender leaned against the bar and eyed them both. “Would you like something to drink?” She gave Lena a wink. “Now I know why you were early. I’d be early for him too.”
The soft rumble of his deep chuckle sounded in her ear as he dipped his head so low, his mouth lined up next to it.
“Do you want another drink?” he asked.
When he spoke, the coarse timbre of his voice sent sweet lust coiling tighter. Pulling away slightly, she shook her head no.
Tank riffled through his wallet and handed over his card to the bartender. “I’m good. We were just leaving. Put the tab on my card.”
Lena grabbed his arm, trying to stop him. “No, you don’t have to do that. I’m fully capable—”
“If he’s paying, I wouldn’t say no, girl.” The bartender cocked her head and flipped his card through her fingers. “I’m sure you deserve it.”
Before Lena could say anything else, she was running his card and handing it back to him. Tank struck her as the type who wouldn’t let a lady pay for anything, whether she was a friend or lover.
“Let’s go.”
When he took her hand, a small jolt of heat lit her all the way to her core. He weaved them through the room full of people, and before she knew it, they were in the parking lot. A light breeze carried the sweet scent of wisteria that hung from trellises circling the back patio.
“Where are we going for dinner?” she asked, gently taking her hand back.
“Saltwater. Have you been there?”
“No, but I’ve been wanting to try it. I love seafood.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Good choice.”
He laughed. “Don’t sound so surprised.”
“I’m not—I’m pleased. I hear the view is spectacular.”
“It is, but it’s better during the day or at sunset. They light up the palm trees and bushes surrounding the patio, so that’s cool. I made the reservation for inside, but there are firepits on the patio if you’d rather eat out.”
“Inside is fine. Even though it’s summer, the ocean air can get chilly.” Lena opened her clutch and dug through it, looking for the car keys.
“Are you okay with me driving?”
“I’m good with it, so long as you know how to take directions.”
She jingled the keys in her hands. “No worries. I’ll get us there in one piece. I’m surprised you agreed to me driving so easily.”
“I don’t think you’d like my ride. It’s easier if we take yours tonight.” He pivoted on the asphalt, making a gesture for her to lead the way.
She walked in front of him and headed toward her car.
“You don’t strike me as one of these people who hoard trash in their cars,” she said.
“I’m not.” His even footsteps sounded next to her, but not so close that she felt like he was on top of her, just close enough.
“Then why wouldn’t I like it? Too old? Too ugly?” She giggled. “Maybe it’s too loud. Although, you don’t seem like the type of guy who’d go in for much color.”
They came up on her burgundy SUV. Hitting the key fob, the headlights blinked. She looked over at him, trying to read his expression under the diluted yellow parking lot light.
“None of those things.” He eyed her car. “People say you can learn a lot about a person by their driving ability. Are you a road rage driver or a grandma?”
“Nice change of subject.”
“Shit, I hoped you wouldn’t pick up on it.” He deadpanned as she walked toward her side of the SUV. “So you’re not just a pretty face.”
“Damn straight.”
“I’d already figured that out fifteen minutes after I met you.”
She slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine to her Kia Sorento before putting on her seat belt. She pretended to give him the evil eye until he slid his on and held up his hands as if to say “Ta-da.”
Turning out of the parking lot, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “To answer your question, my driving is probably somewhere in-between road rager and granny, depending on what kind of mood I’m in. I’ve never gotten a speeding ticket, but then, I didn’t