Page 4 of Say it Ain’t So
Rylan certainly was handsome, there was no denying that. I hadn’t even taken two steps from where we met, and he’d already swept me off my feet. And here I was, letting him take me to the restaurant that was my top choice after researching for this stupid trip. I’d wanted to come here for so many years, only for JaCinda to shut down my first and only chance. And here he was, making my dreams come true. This man I had only just met.
It was unbelievable.
“So, Joss, tell me about yourself.”
I couldn’t stop myself from comparing him to Peter, who’d been more and more vicious to me every day, while Rylan was a breath of fresh air. The way he walked by the street on the sidewalk, keeping me on the inside and keeping me safe. The way he kept his hand on my lower back as he guided me into the cab to bring us here. When he curled himself around our table, like doing so could bring him closer to me.
His legs were spread wide. His broad shoulders curled inward as he cracked open the lobster tail and pulled out a hunk of meat. My mouth watered, and I wasn’t sure if it was for the lobster or for Rylan.
I eyed him as he cut the meat in two, putting part on my plate and jabbing a big hunk of steak off in return.
Surf and turf.
His idea, not mine.
“What do you want to know?” I wasn’t trying to be coy, but he was still a stranger. I dabbed a bit of lobster in the butter between us and stuck it in my mouth.
Immediately, Rylan grabbed the napkin off his lap, wiping away the dribble of butter on my chin before I even realized it was there. My skin flushed, and it felt like we were still out on the scorching hot sidewalk rather than this air-conditioned room.
“Favorite color?” His smile seemed to knock me off-kilter. I couldn’t help but smile back.
“Purple.” I tucked my hair behind my ear. “What about you?”
“Green.” He bit a bite of steak off his fork and chewed. “Favorite food?”
“Chocolate covered strawberries.”
“Really?” He leaned forward, only to grab his beer and take a swig, his gaze never wavering from mine. “You know, they sell boxes of them in the—”
“The gift shop of our hotel? I know! I’ve been trying to resist.”
“Why resist?”
It was my turn to take a much-needed drink. It felt like the alcohol went straight to my head. “Whew. This daiquiri is strong.” After another sip, when Rylan still sat waiting for my answer, I finally found the courage to give it to him. “I’d probably eat the whole box.”
“Yeah? Nothing wrong with that.”
Lowering my attention to my plate, I shrugged. “I don’t need all of them. Peter always—” My gaze snapped to my hand on the table. Rylan had covered it with his. My bottom lip wobbled, and I took a breath to compose myself. “Peter always gets mad when I eat too many sweets. He says I’m going to get fat.”
“Peter’s a douche bag.”
A surprised laugh sprung from my chest. I looked up and found Rylan beaming. “He is.”
“Such a douche bag. I’ll tell you what.” Rylan leaned closer, his voice quiet, like this was a secret he didn’t want anyone to overhear. I leaned in, too, and a shiver raced through me as he brushed my hair off my neck, fingers trailing over my flushed skin. “I’ll buy you some. You and me? We can eat the whole damn box in the privacy of my room. No one will see. No one will know.”
Flames burst through me. I wanted to strip my dress over my head and throw the remnants of my icy drink on my body.
“It’ll taste delicious,” he whispered, breath grazing my skin.
I nodded. I mean, really, what else could I do? The man had stolen all sense straight from my head. Because I was considering it. No, that’s not right. I wasn’t considering it; I was all for it.
Swallowing the saliva that had flooded my mouth, I gave him a shaky smile and tried to change the subject. “What’s yours?”
He traced along my jaw with his fingers, giving my chin a light pinch before he grinned like a madman. “Donuts.” He sat up and stabbed the last piece of lobster on his plate, shoving it in his mouth.
I tossed back the last of my daiquiri—damn, it was strong—and asked, “Donuts? What kind?”
“Every single kind.”
