Page 36 of Going All In

“What?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe.

“Uh. Cold. Aren’t you going to be cold?”

She laughed. “Nice to see you too, boyfriend,” she teased. “I have a little jacket that goes with the dress and a warmer coat for over that. It’s February in San Francisco, not Miami.”

“Oh good.” Jesus. His words were wooden. Figure your shit out, man.

“Come in. I’m almost ready. Want something to drink?” she asked before she turned and walked back into the apartment.

It was a sin how her dress lovingly cupped her ass. Yeah. That was a thing, and it was messing with his head.

“I’m good. We should head out soon. Reservation is in thirty minutes,” he said, sticking close to the door as she disappeared into a room down the hall.

“Okay. Let’s do this,” she said, sounding slightly skittish as she adjusted a short jacket sweater thing over her dress.

He wanted to see her skin on display again. Shoulders he couldn’t wait to nibble on.

No.

She leaned near him, grabbing the coat next to the door and slipped it on, fluffing her hair over the collar. He almost lowered his head to get closer as her slightly spicy scent washed over him.

This night was going to be torture.

He ushered her into the Uber and settled in his seat. Torture.

Thirty minutes later, they were led to their table in a cozy alcove off to the side of the restaurant.

“I’m surprised you didn’t want to sit in the center of the room,” she said after the waiter had left with their drink order.

“Would you rather sit at a different table?”

“God no. I just thought you’d want more eyes on us,” she said with a stilted laugh.

“I can go one night without being the center of attention,” he said.

“Can you?” she teased.

“Besides, we can be way more romantic in this little corner. Maybe I’ll move my chair next to you and nuzzle your neck. Kiss that spot under your jaw that turns you on. And snap a few selfies of us for Instagram.” He noticed her indrawn breath, and it took everything he had to not follow through with his suggestions.

“Oh look, our drinks,” she said brightly when the waiter placed a glass of white wine in front of her. “And how could you know what spots turn me on?”

“Trust me. I know.”

“There’s that cockiness again,” she said, shaking her head. The waiter returned to take their orders.

After the waiter left, Jake reached across the table and traced his finger over her hand. She shivered under his touch, so he kept up his torment until she pulled away.

“So that was a really great game the other night. Five to one,” she said, fidgeting with her wineglass.

They’d gone out after the game, but she’d left C&B early that night because she had a nine a.m. class the next day.

“Yeah, and we talked about the game that night. You trying to change the subject?”

“Isn’t this just weird? I mean, tonight?” she asked, waving her hand over the table.

“Why? We’re a couple having dinner on Valentine’s Day.”

“Yeah. But we’re not a real couple. And this is our first time out, just the two of us,” she said, taking a sip of wine while her eyes darted around the room, not focusing on him.

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