Page 45 of The Rules of Playing with Fire

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Hands off her, really? So territorial.”

His face quickly turned to me with eyes that displayed as much incredulity as embarrassment. “Fucker told you!”

“Better. He showed me.”

“I’m going to kill him.”

“Grant said he can see why you like me. He also said I was too good for you,” I said to incite him further.

“Of course he’d say that.”

I laughed, but something occurred to me. “Grant and you are so alike. Have you dated the same woman before? Is that why you sent him that text?”

“Dated is a strong term. We both dabble, but yes, we have. Why?”

“I’m trying to figure out if it was a not her text or a not yet text.”

He threw a quick glance at me. “This is what Grant meant. You’re too smart for either of us.”

“That wasn’t an answer to my question, Mihir.”

“I realize that.”

The dreaded monster of fear was already growing inside me, fear of falling for his charm, the doubt if I would be able to get away intact.

But before I could panic, he said, “Now, where do you want to go? Grab a coffee, a bite? Maybe a late lunch? We have plenty of time before your flight.”

I didn’t answer.

“Sona?” His deep, throaty voice caused my heart to take a tumble. “Where do you want to eat?”

“Maybe someplace quiet?”

He thought for a moment. “Do you like tacos?”

“I love tacos.”

“Have you had Tex-Mex before?”

“I don’t think so.”

“You’ll love it,” he declared as he turned into a spacious parking lot of a taqueria.

I picked the shrimp and chicken Tinga while he got the carnitas and al pastor. They were the most flavorful tacos I’d ever tasted.

“There’s another place in Plano I love. We should go there the next time you are here.”

“Easy, playboy! You might have another playmate the next time I’m here,” I teased, licking off a spot of the cilantro cream sauce off my finger.

I caught him watching me. I might have temporarily calmed the monster of fear, but there was another baring its fangs now. Desire. I wanted him. More of him. A lot more.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, glancing at my furrowed forehead.

I shook my head and dug into the last of my tacos.

Well, if it was going to end anyway, I should enjoy him as much as I can. This was a line of thought I could really go with. He was, after all, a fantastic lover. When was I ever going to meet another man like him? Never, that was the right answer. Never.

---