Page 43 of The Kiss Connection

“What’s so funny?” Both hands are on the steering wheel, and he cocks his head slightly; there’s anger, or maybe it’s frustration simmering just beneath the surface.

The tension is thick between us.

“You thinking you’re in control. It’s … cute,” I say, mocking him up.

If he so much as treats me disrespectfully, I’m out of here. I have my phone as well as a credit card. I can grab a cab or ride share. I don’t have to wait for him to take me home.

I feign annoyance and glance out the window as we pull up out front of valet for the restaurant where he stood me up, Truffle & Thyme.

My stomach does that dance that makes me queasy.

Well, fuck.

“Is this some kind of a joke?”

The valet attendant comes around to open my door, and I’m blasted with a cold chill. For a moment, it feels good, keeps me grounded, because I’m nauseous as hell.

Glancing back toward Myles, I can’t help but wonder if he’s about to drop off my ass and leave me on the curb.

Seems like something he’d do.

Myles steps out of the vehicle, and I have no choice but to follow. He comes around to my side, offering me his arm, leading me inside the restaurant. His hand moves from my arm to my lower back and then falls away as we stand by the hostess.

He can’t get too close. Wouldn’t want him to catch feelings for me.

He doesn’t even have to give her his name, she recognizes him. She grabs two menus and gestures for us to follow. The ambience is quiet, low lighting, and incredibly romantic. She leads us away from the front door, which I’m incredibly grateful for, but takes us toward a seat beside one of the windows.

“Your table,” she says.

Myles pulls back a chair, waiting for me to sit before scooting me in and sitting across from me. The waitress hands me my menu and waits for Myles to sit before handing him one.

How much of this is intentional, the two of us seated by the window? Had that been a special request with the reservation? He’d mentioned his publicist while we were in the car. Is he trying to gain outsiders’ attention, get a few photos for publicity?

We’re left alone, the two of us, while we wait for the waitress to greet us. I’m almost happy to be alone with him. The chatter from the other tables is a bit distracting, the restaurant lively and bustling with patrons.

“Have you ever eaten here before?” Myles asks.

I glare at him over the menu.

“I take that as a no,” he says, pressing his lips together. “The mahi is really good. As is the filet mignon.”

“Noted.” There are very few prices on the menu. The fish shows market as does the steak.

The waitress comes to our table, brings us water, and Myles orders several appetizers. “Is there anything you want?”

“Is that all for you?” I try to hold back the surprise that he ordered crab cakes, bacon wrapped shrimp, and scallops for himself.

“I mean, I’m willing to share a shrimp with you, but the crab cakes are all mine.”

I snort and roll my eyes. “May as well double the order, of all three,” I say, pinning him with my stare.

He raises an eyebrow. “So, you did come with an appetite.”

“I’ll get right on that,” the waitress says. “Any wine tonight or other beverages?”

Myles shakes his head. “No alcohol. Do you want something else, virgin?” he asks, smirking at me.

If he’s asking if I’ve never had sex, I ignore him. “Lemonade would be good. You mentioned you have fresh squeezed?”