Page 29 of Wild Love

"I'm sure you can. I'll get you a bike and a helmet." I'd already ordered them, and it was due to arrive any day.

"I can pay you back."

I sat down and opened my container of Thai food. "I didn't get anything too spicy."

Scarlett opened the chicken Pad Thai and dug in. I loved a woman who wasn't afraid to eat in front of a man. Not that I'd gone on many dates, but I'd been paired with women at variouscharity events. They were always on their best behavior, picking at their salad. I never knew if I was seeing the real person beneath the makeup, flashy dresses, and designer shoes.

She looked up at me, then touched her lips, drawing my attention to them. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was appreciating a woman who likes to eat."

She looked down at her container of food. "I eat when I'm hungry. When I'm acting, I tend to forget."

"I'd still like to see you in action."

She pursed her lips. "So you keep saying."

"Maybe I can drop by that kid's class you're teaching," I suggested lightly.

Scarlett lowered her fork and shook her head. "Please don't. It's nerve-racking enough."

I stilled. "Scarlett St. Claire is scared of a few kids?"

She pointed her fork at me. "Repeat that, and you'll regret it."

I chuckled. "What are you afraid of?"

She poked her fork in the noodles, probably hunting for the chicken. "That I won't be good enough? That I won't have anything to teach them. I don't have anything interesting to say."

"Are you boring when you're acting and singing on stage?" I asked, forcing myself to focus on my food and not her. If I wasn't careful, she was going to figure out that I found everything about her fascinating. I'd never been with someone who was creative.

Scarlett was contemplative for a few seconds. "It's hard to judge yourself, but most people say that I'm engaging on stage."

I touched her thigh. "See? You'll do fine. Just transfer that to the class."

"You want me to act with the kids?" Scarlett asked, not even mentioning the fact that my hand was on her thigh. The warmth seeped through my skin, and I wanted to move it higher, see if she was hotter between her legs.

I shrugged. "Why not? Fake it till you make it."

Her forehead wrinkled. "I don't know."

"What do you love about your job?"

"I love that everything fades away when I'm on that stage. I'm another person. One who gets to sing and dance for a living. I'm so energized afterward."

She was so animated talking about her job. I could only imagine how she was on the stage. It was a sight I knew I had to see.

Unfortunately, our local theater had been closed for years. Would she ever settle down in one place, or did she prefer to travel?

We finished our food and pushed it away.

Scarlett looked over at the pool and hot tub. "I kind of want to get in the hot tub. But I didn't bring a suit."

"Wear your bra and panties." There was something about saying those words to Scarlett. It felt naughty.

Her face flush, she said cheekily, "I think I will."

I stood to clean up our trash while she wandered over to the hot tub, turning the jets and lights on. Then she reached for her shirt, and I had to look away. I didn't need more skin to feed my nightly visions of her.

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