Page 49 of Take My Hand

As we sat at the table, I couldn’t stop looking at Zak. Who would have thought that eating a burger was sexy? Maybe it was the way he licked burger sauce from his fingers that made me all hot and bothered. Or how he sucked hard on the straw of his coke. Whatever it was, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

“This is so rude,” Zak said, wiping his hands on his serviette. “You not eating while I stuff my face.”

“It’s fine.” I shook my head, unable to take my eyes off his fingers. There was ketchup on one of them, and I was almost tempted to grab his hand and lick it off myself. “I’m enjoying my milkshake.”

“I know, but it’s not much of a date watching me eat.”

My stomach knotted. “A date?” I asked tentatively.

He grinned and then his tongue snaked out and licked off the ketchup, leaving me disappointed.

“Yeah, what did you think it was?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.” Zak raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so maybe I’m a bit dense.”

“You’re not dense. Maybe just a bit slow.”

When my mouth dropped open, he started laughing and grabbed my hand, pulling it closer to him. He threaded our fingers and rubbed his thumb up and down mine, every single stroke sending my temperature higher and my nerves spikier.

“I really like you, Maddy.” His bright blue eyes twinkled as he leaned across the table. “Do you want to be on a date with me?”

My throat felt dry, and my lips stuck to my teeth as I smiled. “Yes.”

He laughed, throwing his head back, showing his Adam’s apple, and there was something about it that made me feel all tingly.

“You don’t sound very sure.”

“No, honestly, I am. Do you? Do you want to be on a date with me?”

He sighed and shook his head, frustrated. “Of course I do. I asked you didn’t I?” He leaned further across the table and whispered, “I’ve been wanting to ask you for ages.”

“You have?” I wiped my spare hand on my jeans, trying to ignore the nervous roll of my stomach.

“Haven’t you realised? Didn’t you notice how I kept staring over at you?”

I shook my head, aware that my mouth was gaping. “No. I mean, I did wonder at Emma’s house but wasn’t sure.”

“And when I nearly kissed you at my house? Didn’t that prove it to you?” He gave me a sexy smirk. “Was it that bad?”

“No.” I cringed at my eagerness, wondering whether he thought I was lame.

His smile seemed to say that he didn’t, and when he took my other hand, I was sure that he didn’t. When he reached over to kiss me quickly on the lips, I knew that he didn’t.

“You taste of chocolate.” Slowly pulling back from me, his gaze was firmly on my lips. “It’s nice.”

“T-thanks.”

“So,” he said, letting go of one of my hands, “where do you fancy going next?”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged.

“Not that there’s much for seventeen-year-olds to do around here.”

“I bet you wish you’d never moved here, don’t you?”

Zak frowned. “No, because I wouldn’t have met you if I hadn’t, would I?” He grinned. “I like it here. I like how easy it is and the fact that no one is rushing around, stressed out.”

“I think my dad might argue that one with you.”

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