Page 114 of Catching Feelings

“Yeah. He told me about his scheme. Freaking Sinatra is a sneaky one.”

“Wait. What scheme? You mean the pool for who had the hottest date? Not that I was, but I’m flattered you voted for me. My winnings are paying for dinner.”

I lean forward and point at her. “Wrong on so many counts, Doc. A, you were and are, by far, the most gorgeous woman in any room. And B, you’re not paying for dinner.”

She opens her mouth to argue, no doubt, and I shake my finger at her.

“I disagree but thank you.” She takes a drink of her tea and I do the same.

The waitress comes back and I tell Rowan to order the weird pizzas she’s raved so much about. When the waitress leaves, I start to dig.

“So, tell me what you’ve been up to.” I keep my tone light, not wanting to scare her away with the intensity of my feelings. She’s gotta know time hasn’t diminished them. I’m sure she could feel how hard I was when dancing with her last weekend. I didn’t try to hide it from her, which could have backfired, but I’m pretty sure it was lust and longing I saw in her eyes as well.

“Nothing exciting. Work, work, and more work.”

“And your sister? Not that I’m checking up on her, because frankly, I don’t give a damn.” I tilt my head and smile. “My aunt used to watch that movie. What is that line from?”

“One of my favorite classic movies.Gone With the Wind. I can’t believe you’ve seen it.”

“We didn’t have cable growing up. Lynn thought it would shape us into the devil. Didn’t help Julia any.”

“Miles,” she scolds, and I laugh.

“You have to admit, Jules has a bit of the devil in her.”

“Oh, I think her older brother does as well.”

I grin unabashedly at her. “Are you flirting with me, Doc?”

“No.” She bites back her grin. “I’m stating facts.”

Her cheeks turn pink again and my cock swells with pride. “Stop distracting me. As I was saying, Auntie had all her old movies on disc, and that’s what we watched.Gone With the Wind, Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz. AndMurder She Wrote.”

“I’ve never heard of that one.”

“It was a television series during the eighties. A cute old lady in Maine solving small-town crimes. I bought her the box set one year for Christmas. That Angela Lansbury was quite the character.”

“Was she the cute old lady?”

“Yeah. We’ll have to binge it sometime.”

“That would be fun.”

Yes. I mentally fist pump the air. The waitress comes by with our pizzas.

“I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I sat down.”

“Dig in, Doc. We can go for dessert later if you’re still hungry. Unless of course you just want to lick me. I’ve heard I’m pretty damn sweet.”

Shit. I didn’t mean it as sexual, just flirty. But the image of Rowan with her tongue dragging up and down my cock is a hard one to get out of my head. She’s given me one blow job, and it’s not one I’ll ever forget.

I adjust my hardening cock and clarify. “Sweet. Charming. Sexy. You know, the whole package.” I wink at her, and she laughs. Thank Christ.

Conversation flows easily while we eat our pizza, and I have to admit, the potato Brussels sprouts one isn’t half bad. I’ve never enjoyed just talking with a woman as much as I do with Rowan.

It’s not until our plates are cleared and we’re sipping on spiced coffee that Rowan leans back and her smile falters.

“These past few months have been...” She lets out a sigh and plays with her napkin. Finally, she looks up and gives me a sad smile. “The hardest but most life-changing months of my life.”

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