He leaned forward, his bulky body and chest on display through his tight button-down shirt. “In my profile, I said I don’t have one and wasn’t interested in having any.”

I hadn’t noticed, but I’d only accepted this date hoping to get Beckett off my mind. I hadn’t looked too closely at Dominic’s profile. Clearly, I should have.

After my almost kiss with Beckett, I decided I must have reacted that way because it had been a long time since my last date. And today, I was trying to rectify that. It didn’t help that the object of my fascination and way too many erotic dreams was sitting just a few tables from us. The heat in his eyes told me he hadn’t forgotten that night either.

“And inmyprofile, it said I was a teacher,” I responded and crossed my arms over my chest. It didn’t miss my attention that Dominic’s gaze stayed there longer than necessary.

I cleared my throat.

“Right. A teacher, but I guess I didn’t think we’d run into your students everywhere we went.” He frowned.

I’d thought he was attractive when I saw the pictures in his profile, with ice-blue eyes and dark-brown hair artfully styled with blond highlights, but with each word coming out of his mouth, he grew uglier.

“This is one date and one student.” This would also be our last date. Regardless of how handsome he was, I was not feeling any chemistry with Dominic. And how could he not like Zoey? She was adorable. That fact alone told me he and I weren’t right for each other.

He leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his vodka soda.

“So what about my profile interested you then?” At this point, what had caught his attention if he hadn’t read my most basic information?

He set his glass down and swayed toward me. “Your beauty captivated me and reminded me of a model I’d seen in a magazine years ago.” He slid his gaze up and down my body. I shivered in disgust—the complete opposite of the desire that raced through me when Beckett had done the same earlier.

Dominic must have confused my shudder for one of desire. He ran a finger over the back of my hand. “She was gorgeous. Like you.”

I jerked my hand away and tucked it under the table. I’d had enough of him touching me. All of it was a little excessive. Suddenly his words hit me. “A model?”

“Yeah, it was about eight to ten years ago. She had a spread in a swimsuit magazine. I’d swear you two could be sisters.” He peered closer at me.

“I’m pretty sure that’s impossible.” Revulsion turned my stomach. I thought I’d left that life far behind me—a life where beauty was the only thing that mattered.

“Yeah, I guess it was a long shot. You don’t look exactly like her. She was smaller than you.”

What. A. Fucking. Asshole.

I raised my hand to catch our waitress’s attention.

“How can I help you?” she asked once she arrived.

“You can help by getting our check, please.”

Dominic cocked his eyebrow in surprise. “What?”

“Oh, is everything all right? You haven’t ordered dinner yet.” She nervously glanced at the two of us. “If there’s something I can improve upon, please let me know.”

I smiled at her, aware I was gritting my teeth in anger. “Unless you can change my date’s personality, then there’s nothing much you can do.”

Dominic’s gaze swung towards mine. Anger etched across his face. “Are you kidding me? You’re ending this date?”

I assumed Dominic had never had this happen, and I felt privileged to be the one to initiate him. Women did not need to allow disrespectful behavior on a date. There was no rule saying we had to stay until the end. “Yes, I am. You are rude, a total asshole, and have no idea how to treat a woman.”

He stood and tossed his napkin on the table. “You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”

“Right. Because I find your behavior deplorable, I'm a bitch. Good luck with your next date.” I lifted my glass and sipped the rest of my wine.

Dominic stomped away.

“Guess I’ll just take the check then,” I sighed. I didn’t enjoy confrontation.

“Sure. I’ll be right back.” She glanced at Dominic’s retreating back. “Looks like you dodged a bullet with that one.”