Page 23 of Zone Protection

He has a smug smile. “Are these the questions you ask all your dates?”

I lift a shoulder. “No. I just made them up.”

He laughs out loud. “So, they were just special for me?”

“I wanted to learn more about you, and those are what came to mind.”

“You’re an interesting one. I have to keep my eye on you.”

When Archie gets his card back from the waiter, he puts it back into his wallet. “You ready to go then?”

I nod and place my napkin on the table next to the bowl. I start to get up, but Archie comes around the table before I do and holds out his hand to help me up. Not that I need help, but it’s kinda cute.

He keeps my hand in his as we walk out. I look around the restaurant and notice people watching us leave. This must happen to him a lot.

When we walk out of the restaurant, I move next to him, and we walk toward my car. “This is me.”

I turn to face him and rest my back against the driver’s door. We’re still holding hands, and I haven’t let go yet.

He comes in closer and brings his other arm to rest against the top of the car over my shoulder. Our faces are a breath apart.

“Emma, I gotta tell you. That little skirt thing you’re wearing is fucking hot.” The heat in his eyes makes me believe him.

“Oh, yeah?” I say breathily.

There’s something so sexy about the way Archie says exactly what he’s thinking, when he’s thinking it.

No games.

Just pure honesty.

He leans in closer. “Definitely. Are you gonna let me give youa kiss good night? You know, since this was our first date and all.”

I pull my head back and look at him. “Is that what this was? Our first date? Hmm … not sure I’d count this as a date, but I’ll let you kiss me.”

With no hesitation, he releases my hand and cups my face with both of his hands. When his lips cover mine, I can’t keep my moan from slipping out. He was the last person I kissed, and I gotta say, my memory was accurate.

The kiss starts slow. He’s teasing the seam of my lips with his tongue, and I gladly open for him. I meet his tongue stroke for stroke. My hands move to his waist, and I grab on to the bottom of his shirt. When our mouths open just a bit more, he deepens the kiss. This time, he groans.

Needing to feel his body, I pull him in closer to me. I let my hands drift up his chest, then around his neck, and slide my hands into his hair. With his body against mine, I can feel his erection poking into my belly. The burst of heat that rips through me makes me hold him tighter.

He pulls back, breathing heavy. “Darlin’, I’m about two seconds away from picking you up and fucking you against this car. Not that I don’t want that—because believe me, I do—but we’re in a parking lot at a restaurant. I want to ask you to come home with me, but I really don’t think that’s what you need right now. You should probably get home and get some rest. Do you want me to follow you home?”

I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. “Yeah, I should probably get home. I need to do some reading and get to bed early. I have an eight thirty a.m. class.”

“Why on earth would you pick a class that early in the mornin’?” He chuckles.

I look up at him and shrug. “I’m an early riser, and it just fit with my course schedule and golf.”

His hands are still holding my face, and his thumb swipes my cheek softly. “You’re so pretty. I can’t wait to spend moretime with you, Emma Tucker.” He leans in and kisses me gently on the lips.

When he pulls back, he releases me and steps back. He reaches down and adjusts his erection. “Hate wearing boxers. So restrictive.”

I shake my head and smile. “Night, Archie. Thanks for dinner.”

I turn and open my door. He grabs of the top of the door, holding it open while I get in.

Once I’m buckled, he bends down slightly. “Text me when you get home?”

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