You're The One (Very Irresistible Bachelors #1) - Layla Hagen Page 0,44
also couldn’t let the opportunity for teasing pass when she looked at S in the animal index.
“Any chance you’re researching sharks?” I asked casually. She glared at me. “Admit it, you want to check if they’re harmless or not. You don’t trust me?”
“You’ve proven a bit untrustworthy as of late,” she said just as casually, flipping another page. Shit. I couldn’t argue with that.
I followed through with my resolution only for a few hours. But when Josie emerged from the bedroom dressed for dinner, I knew I didn’t have a chance of sticking to my own rules tonight.
She was wearing a light pink dress in a flowy fabric that reached all the way to the floor. From the front, it looked inconspicuous, with a halter neck, no cleavage. But her back was uncovered, and the dress dipped so low that I could almost see her crack.
“Josie.” Yes, I knew it had sounded like a growl, but goddamn, I just couldn’t do better at the moment. “You look... stunning.”
She smoothed her hands down her waist, laughing. “I’m even a bit tan already. You were right about the sunscreen. Even so, my skin itched a bit after the shower. The after-sun lotion helped. Should we go?”
“Yes.” Because if I was alone with her for long, I didn’t know what I would do.
“Welcome, we have a special table for you tonight,” the server informed us when we stepped in the outdoor restaurant. We’d decided on trying out local cuisine tonight. I’d called the concierge to reserve a table, and when the man had asked if I wanted the extra package for honeymooners, I couldn’t resist saying yes. The package included a secluded table in a special gazebo, adorned with twinkle lights.
I wanted the best for Josie. Unless I coerced her to come on another trip while we were married, she wouldn’t fly here again.
The hostess winked at me, saying, “The best table, as you requested.”
So much for this staying a secret.
Josie looked at me with wide eyes once we were alone. “You requested this?”
“Thought you’d like it.”
“Thanks,” she muttered, returning to studying the menu. “My God, I want to order everything.”
“So, do it.”
“Ha! I’ve already had too many empty calories from the cocktails on the beach.”
She’d given up on the coconut water after that first sip and ended up drinking caipirinha with me.
“Josie, stop. You’re beautiful. If you were any more beautiful, I’d have an even harder time resisting you.”
She lowered her menu, looking straight at me.
“What? Don’t tell me you didn’t notice until today,” I said.
She pointed a finger at me. “Stop this.”
“What?”
“You know what.”
She was calling me out on my flirting. I should take a step back, reevaluate. Instead, I kept pushing.
“You’re my wife. If I want to compliment you, I will.”
“And you said I’m getting more daring. You’re no better.”
“What are you going to do about it, wife?”
She licked her lips, shaking her head. “You just wait. I’ll cook up a revenge plan.”
“Here’s the thing. I don’t think you will.”
“Know me so well, do you? What do you think I want?”
“I think you want me to push and push until you have no choice but to give in.”
Josie exhaled sharply before biting her lower lip.
I wanted her to give me a sign that she wanted this too. That she had just as much trouble navigating this as I did.
When she lowered her eyes back to the menu, I had my answer. I’d asked her last night to keep me in check, to be the responsible one out of the two of us, yet I was already changing the rules.
I didn’t have a chance to keep pushing right now, because a waitress came to take our order. We started small, with appetizers and sparkling water, but before long, it became a food festival.
We spoke about the wedding and about our families.
“Ryker couldn’t believe I was the first one to get married.”
She grinned. “If I were a betting woman, I wouldn’t have bet on you either.”
“Neither would I.”
She tilted her head, studying me. “Why not?”
I frowned, taking a sip of water to buy time. I’d never given this much conscious thought.
“I don’t know. I think it’s just easier. Making that vow, trusting someone, making them happy for their entire life... that’s a lot of expectations.”
And when expectations weren’t met, everything went downhill. My parents had loved each other. I knew that for a fact, because until I was ten, I’d never heard them fight. They were always affectionate with each other.