Page 37 of What I've Tasted of Desire

He giggled and set his fork down. I was grinning so hard it almost hurt.

God, he is perfect. Sweet, funny… that smile!

The waitress brought the check and I handed her my credit card as my phone began to ring. It was the hotel. “Do you mind waiting for my card so I can take this?”

Alex nodded, and I excused myself from the table.

“Hello?”

After making my request, I hung up with the concierge. They hadn’t been able to get the roses that I had wanted because the florist wasn't open until later, but they said the candles and the massage oil shouldn’t be an issue. He assured me they would be brought up and left in my room within the hour.

As I hung up, Alex made his way outside, the bright sunlight illuminating him like an angel.

“Hey, cutie,” I greeted him. “All set?”

He nodded and handed me back my card. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“B-breakfast.”

“I should be thankingyoufor the company.”

I might not have had a grasp on too many things in life, but I sure was getting the hang of making Alex smile. I’m sure that astrophysicists trained at MIT couldn’t be any prouder of their accomplishments. He seemed to like my corny jokes and small flirtations. Or, at the very least, he was sweet enough to pretend he did.

We meandered around downtown, stopping and looking at the displays in the windows and goofing off. Being with Alex was so easy… so laid back and comfortable.

As we passed by a small bookstore, I paused. “Mind if we stop in here for a minute? There’s a book I’m looking for, and they might have it.”

“Sure,” he replied, “I’ll never say no to a bookstore.”

I held the door and we walked in. Alex stopped at a small display of paperbacks as I approached the store attendant behind the register.

“HI! I’m wondering if you might have a certain book. Can I give you the title?”

The girl glanced up from the book she was reading, and her eyes widened as she raked them over me standing in front of her.

“Oh, absolutely, I’d be more than happy to help.”

I immediately recognized her over-eager tone and the bashful smile she donned. I got it a lot from women.

“What’s the name of the book…How To Be the Hottest Guy in the Room?”

Actually, you little tart, Alex is the hottest guy currently in this room…. But what would you and your silly vagina know?

I was used to females flirting with me, and sometimes it was fun to engage in a little innocent repartee. But doing it in front of Alex made me feel gross. I suddenly wished we hadn’t even come in here.

Alex suddenly appeared next to me, as if by magic, and laced his fingers with mine without saying a word. I was surprised, but eternally grateful.

The girl’s face fell, and she asked me for the title of the book I was searching for, her tone drastically different.

I pulled my phone out and looked at the note I’d made after Alex had told me his favorite book during our hot chocolate date last night. I’d already read it several times, but I didn’t want Alex to know that.

“The Hitman’s Guideby Alice Winters.”

I watched Alex look over at me in surprise, and then smiled.

Checkmate.

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