Page 36 of King of Deception

“Don’t feel too bad. They always bribed me with ice cream afterward.”

Biting my lower lip, I teased her, “Were you a chubby kid?”

“Never!” her eyes grew wide. “I had my daily runs.”

“And now?”

“I run to catch the elevator,” she replied with a glint in her eyes, an effortless giggle rippling from between her lips.

Our evening was filled with smiles, laughter, and light banter. Having forgotten all about my lie, I felt my feet sinking deeper and deeper in awe of that smart, driven, stylish, beautiful woman. Funny, modest, and easy to talk to, Ella clearly didn’t have the slightest idea about her effect on me. I was falling with no net to catch me.

When the bill arrived, she quickly reached and snatched it before I could even look at it.

I was petrified. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Welcome to the twenty-first century.” She opened her wallet and pulled out a card. “We missed you here.”

Leaning over, I stretched my arm to grab it, and she moved it back over her head. “Ella, c’mon. Do you really want this to be the way we remember our first date?”

Biting her lower lip, she gestured to beckon the waitress. “Someone’s hoping for a second.”

The waitress approached, tossing a dirty look in my direction. Smiling, I shook my head and looked away. Placing my elbows on the table, I hid my mouth behind both fists.

I had to admit—at least to myself—that I admired her independence and, equally, her generosity. But I knew I had to think of a way to set things straight if I truly wanted more dates with her.

We stepped out of the restaurant with me waving awkwardly to the disapproving hostess.

Along the way to her building, we didn’t exchange any words. Instead, it was a comfortable sort of silence. As we approached her place, I looked down at the bangle on her right hand, next to my left. Touching it, I let my fingers graze hers.

“Too soon,” she gave me a suggestive look.

“Yeah? What’s the order here? Teach me.”

Giggling, she held up her fingers. “C’mon, rookie! It’s bed,” she continued to laugh, counting, “date… first kiss… restraining order…”

“Just stop.” We halted our steps in front of her doorway, and I leaned over, pushing her chin up with two fingers.

Her lips were sweeter than anything I had ever tasted—even better than that night, as unbelievable as it might sound.

eleven

Going Steady

Ella Rose

I’m in!

I texted Abel in response to his suggestion to meet at the park for ice cream the next day. I must have had a stupid grin on my face because Alex batted his lashes as soon as I looked up. “Another date with Adonis?”

“No?” I jeered before eating a forkful of my fruit salad.

“Then why so giddy?”

Slowly blinking, I realized that I didn’t know what to call our little weekday strolls. I finally shrugged, “We go for ice cream, that’s all.”

“No wonder,” his sassy eyebrow lift made me self-conscious.

“Don’t you dare!”

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