The Man Ban - Nicola Marsh Page 0,20

for a second before stepping back and tugging her hands free. He released her, but his chest burned where her palms had been, like she’d branded him.

“What was that?” A tiny frown grooved her brows, and she stared at him with uncertainty, like she couldn’t figure him out.

“A prelude to dessert.”

17

Harper had instituted a man ban for a reason. Several reasons, actually, starting with too many bad dates before her first real relationship, and ending with Colin dumping her because she’d revealed herself to him.

She didn’t like being single, which meant when a guy asked her out, she accepted. Friends of friends, guys she’d met at work while in the catering industry, even a few blind dates. Some of those dates had turned into relationships, but none had lasted beyond a few months, when she’d realize that while the guys may have potential they weren’t “the one,” and as her twenties ticked by, she became more discerning.

That’s why Colin ending it had devastated her.

He was a chef at an inner-city restaurant determined to work his way up. They’d had a lot in common, from their love of thriller novels to a three Tim Tam limit while watching Seinfeld reruns. He’d been cute rather than handsome, with his reddish hair and easy smile, but he’d been sweet and sensitive, which is why she’d finally trusted him with the truth about her vitiligo.

Sadly, the first time he’d seen her without makeup in their relationship ended up being one of the last, because a day later he ended it. By piping “I’m sorry” in cream cheese frosting on a carrot cake he’d brought home from the restaurant. She hadn’t been able to glance at carrot cake since.

Though she hadn’t let him off that easily. Fuming, she’d shown up at the restaurant where he worked at the end of his shift, and waited until he’d almost reached his car before confronting him. The idiot had actually shied away from her, like he thought vitiligo was contagious or something. She’d demanded he tell her why he’d ended their relationship, and he’d mumbled something about not having genuine feelings for her and wanting to focus on his career.

She rarely swore, but yelling, “Fuck you,” and seeing the dweeb flinch had been the closure she needed; that and flinging his stupid carrot cake at his windshield. That had been a particularly satisfying exclamation point on twelve wasted months with a jerk who didn’t deserve her.

Being on her own for the last year had been cathartic. She’d proved to herself she didn’t need a man in her life. Being single was fine and her job more than fulfilling.

Of course, her prolonged man ban could possibly explain her ridiculous infatuation with Manny, the gorgeous guy sitting across from her and eating with such gusto she wanted to sweep the table clear and lie in front of him so he could feast on her.

“Quit staring at me,” he said, swiping a piece of naan through the rich malai kofta. “You’ll ruin my appetite.”

“Considering you’ve managed to stuff your face with two onion pakoras, two potato bondas, a lamb samosa, and three pieces of chicken tikka before these mains arrived, that’s highly doubtful.”

“I can’t help it. Your bossiness made me ravenous.” He smirked as he stared at her mouth. “For more than food, in case you were wondering.”

She bit back a laugh, enjoying his flirting way too much. “I’m not. Now eat your dinner.”

“Still issuing orders, I see,” he said, grinning at her before popping the naan wrapped around a kofta into his mouth.

She did the same, savoring the explosion of flavor that made her taste buds dance. She loved the vegetarian koftas, a mix of potato, carrot, peas, and sweet corn, mashed together with paneer and formed into balls. The spicy gravy coating the koftas held hints of cumin, cilantro, turmeric, and garam masala, and the entire combination made her want to lick her plate.

She must’ve made an appreciative sound because when she glanced up from her plate Manny was staring at her like he wanted to drag her across the table and devour her.

Heat flushed her cheeks. Probably from the chili liberally used in the dish. Her excuse, she was sticking to it. “Now who’s staring?”

“Do you know how incredibly sexy it is to see a woman with a healthy appetite?”

His low tone sent a ripple of desire through her. Damn it, she needed to deflect, to get this evening back on track to being a simple thank-you dinner,