Page 6 of Romancing the Rude Guy

And sex!

Warm color blooms on my cheeks and I fight the urge to glance around to see who might be watching me and perhaps reading the guilty blush on my face.

It’s been over a year since I’ve had a partner and while I can take care of my needs on my own, I miss the closeness that comes from a relationship. That’s why a one-night stand doesn’t interest me. Sure, my itch might get scratched, but I want more than that.

Poor Mark, I’m expecting a lot from him. But if this doesn’t work out, I’m going to do it. I’m going to join that dating site and actually get out of my house and go on dates.

Deep down, I’m really hoping this works out and Mark is not only tall and charming but is sexy and handsome… and why not go for it all- he’ll have a big dick that he knows how to use and fall madly and passionately in love with me.

A loud, angry male voice interrupts my warm and happy thoughts and I look around the restaurant in search of the disruption. I see many other diners craning their heads and doing the same.

As the voice snarls something else, I can’t help wincing in sympathy for whoever is on the receiving end of that jerk’s rant. I can’t make out any actual words, but the nastiness in that surly voice is enough to let me know I don’t want to meet up with the voice’s owner, that’s for sure!

Digging my phone out of my little bag, my shoulders slump. My date is late. Not a good sign.

I’m shoving my phone back in my bag and wondering how long to sit here and wait on him when the smiling hostess from early comes striding toward the table. Only she’s no longer smiling, and her pace is closer to speed walking than the leisurely one she glided at before.

Her lips are in a strained, pinched line when she stops in front of my table, her hands a blur of motion as she clasps and unclasps them. “I’m so sorry Miss, there’s been a mistake.”

My smile wobbles and falls as my stomach sinks. I’ve been stood up.

“Your date is waiting for you at a table up front,” the hostess says.

“Oh,” I breathe. My brows scrunch down. That’s odd, but whatever, he’s here, that’s what matters. I grab my bag and follow along behind her as she hurriedly weaves through the packed dining area.

As the hostess leads the way through the restaurant, my gaze is drawn to a lone man at a table in the very front of the dining area. He’s older than I am, that is apparent, but he’s also ruggedly handsome, with sharp defined features and thick dark hair and even darker eyes. My stomach does a slow dip as a flutter of attraction beats within me.

At the same time that I’m taking in his attractive features, I can’t help noticing that he’s not even bothering to stand at my approach or pull out a chair for me.

Some of my giddiness fades. I don’t like rudeness and bad manners.

“Alice?” he inquires in a deep voice that leaves my mouth dry and my pulse picking up.

“Yes, and you must be Mark,” I say, pulling out my chair and sitting even as my brain slowly realizes that he’s not sitting in a chair like the one I am. He’s in a wheelchair.

“Marcus,” he corrects with a slight edge to his voice.

I’m glad I’m sitting because suddenly I’m no longer feeling butterflies in my stomach at meeting my handsome date. Something like horror fills me as it dawns on me that this is the owner of the loud and angry voice I heard just a few minutes ago.

My date is not only disabled, he’s also rude.

CHAPTER THREE

ALICE

What in the world was grammy thinking?!

This is like some horrible joke.

I can’t help eyeing the entrance not far from our table. I could make a hasty excuse and be out the door before this date can even start.

A wild giggle bubbles up in my throat as I think about all the foolish qualities in a man that I hoped my date would possess.

We can never go dancing. If he’s in a wheelchair full-time, I’m always going to be taller than him. The only thing that he has is good looks. His smile of greeting made me positively melt.

But that’s gone now as he frowns over at me.

“Sorry, Marcus, of course,” I say, willing my tense body to relax.

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