Page 88 of Mark & Don't Tell

Magical. Romantic. Perfect.

The waiter drops off the menus and our waters before slipping away to take care of other customers. We might be at a restaurant right on the beach, but the starched uniforms, white tablecloths, and decor all scream money. This isn’t a place for people who’ve been at the beach. This is a place for those who want to see the beach without getting covered in sand.

I look over the food options, searching for the cheapest one, but their prices aren’t listed. Frowning, I lay it on the table. Maybe a salad? The kind with only leafy greens, protein not included. That’s probably at least twenty dollars. God, I hate restaurants like this. They always make me feel so unworthy.

“What are you getting?” I ask Lincoln.

“I’m thinking about the prime rib.”

Keeping a smile on my face, I nod like it’s a natural choice while I panic on the inside. That’s going to be expensive and if we get anything besides water...yeah. This date isn’t going to be cheap. I glance around the restaurant, noting that all the other customers, while dressed casually, are practically dripping in money. Expensive jeans. Diamonds. Designer purses. This is a typical night for them. I bet some of them have no idea what it’s like to have to decide between rent and groceries. Shaking my head, I focus on my date and find Lincoln studying me.

“You’re worried about money.”

“What do you mean?” I ask with a soft laugh.

“The little line between your eyebrows. The way you clocked the most expensive things in the room.” He frowns. “You did it on our first date too—worried about what to order.”

I press my lips together. What does he want me to say? Yeah, I’m concerned. I’m not exactly swimming in money here. My apartment building should make the difference in our living situations more than clear.

“Sorry,” he says with a sigh. “Sometimes I can’t help reading people, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay,” I murmur.

“For tonight, though, don’t worry about how much this is going to cost, okay? Eat what you want.”

Nodding, I eye the menu again, gaze lingering on the ribeye. Those are always expensive too. I really don’t want a salad. “The ribeye sounds good,” I say, pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Lincoln smiles, and the teaser rumbles softly against my clit. “It sounds delicious.”

I suck in a sharp breath.

“Good evening,” the server says. “Have you had a chance to look over the menu?”

Sending a pleading look at Lincoln, I beg him to make it stop. He holds my gaze with a devious smirk, the teaser vibrating harder as he orders for both of us, not even sparing the waiter a look.

“Lincoln,” I rasp once the server disappears and the vibrations stop.

“Hmm?” He arches an eyebrow, playing innocent.

“I don’t know that I can handle this.”

“You will.” The teaser rumbles to life again on the lowest setting.

I swallow. Is he going to do this to me all night? Edge me while we eat, maybe making me come in a room full of people? “I need a distraction,” I tell him. “How did you know I was worried about money?”

“Body language. You can tell a lot if you know what to look for.”

The tempo of the pulsing increases, and I slip my hands under the table, fisting them and using the bite of my nails against my palms to ground me through the teasing.

“The table on the right,” he says softly, leaning in and turning off the teaser.

I exhale in relief. “What about them?”

“They’re on a first date, but she’s leaning away and angled toward the window. She’s closing herself off to him. He doesn’t realize it, because the fool is leaning in.”

Glancing at the couple, I note everything he said is true. “Guess they won’t be going on a second one.”

“Probably not.” Lincoln turns on the teaser again, this time, immediately taking it to the highest setting.

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