Page 34 of Resisting the Grump

I swallowed.

He stole a glance at my lips. “And only a scoundrel lets a woman wonder if he wants her.”

E I G H T E E N

- Oliver -

“I thought those people were going to ask for your autograph,” Avery said, her heels setting an unhurried pace.

“Which people?”

“The couple that kept looking over at you from two tables away.”

I tried to picture them but came up short.

“Did you really not notice them?”

I really hadn’t. Dinner had been such a blur. I remember the meal being nice, but watching Avery enjoy it had been the main event for me. The way her perfect lips stretched around her dessert spoon. The way her eyes widened when she tried her first bite of steak. She’d been such a charming, enthusiastic date, it was like I’d never had the pleasure of taking a woman out before. I doubt I would’ve noticed if the place was deserted. My chest tightened at the realization.

“I was convinced they’d come over for how much they were whispering about you.”

“I don’t get approached very often,” I admitted, linking her arm. “It’s one of the perks of having a dubious reputation.”

“I see,” she said. “Do you think people are worried you’ll fly off the handle if they disturb you?”

“No. In this case, they were likely speculating how a brute like me scored the company of a beautiful woman like you. And since it would be rude of them to ask in so many words, they kept to themselves.”

She smiled but didn’t look over at me.

“Plus, part of the reason I’m a regular there is because no one hassles me.”

“I see.”

“Now if we’d been out with Rachael Ray or someone who’s renowned for being pleasant, interruptions would’ve certainly ruined our meal.”

She arched a brow towards me. “Really.”

I nodded. “We had coffee last time she was in town, and it was ridiculous. She can’t go anywhere without getting thronged by declarations of love and demands for selfies.”

“Sure you’re not jealous?”

I shot her a look. “Quite sure. I like my privacy and prefer to keep a low profile. So many celebrities claim they crave privacy but panic if they’re not on the front page of the tabloids. I can’t imagine a less peaceful existence. People assume that I like to make a scene because of my public persona, but I’m not an attention seeker in real life.”

“I suppose the way you picked up the tab is proof of that,” she said. “Neat trick, by the way.”

I inhaled the cool evening air, trying not to spoil the moment by getting caught up in thoughts of kissing her goodnight.

“You didn’t have to sneak behind my back and pay like that,” she said. “I would’ve happily gone Dutch.”

I balked at her. “You didn’t really think I was going to let you pay for that meal?”

“I thought you might let me offer?”

“Nonsense. Why should you waste your breath when there are far more interesting ways I could make you breathless?”

She pressed her lips together.

“Besides, I want it to be perfectly clear from the start that I’m not after you for your money.”

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