Page 77 of Forbidden Kisses
"I'm driving, so no drinks, but thank you," Duncan replied smoothly.
I stepped inside the living room, loudly announcing, "I'm ready. Let's go."
Julia and Christine both stared at me. "Okay, this is the fastest you've ever gotten ready for a date.” Christine grinned at Duncan. “I think that's a good sign, Duncan. Means she couldn't wait to go out."
"Or," Julia said, "she couldn't wait to get him away from us."
I pointed at each of them in turn. "You're both right." Then I looked at Duncan. "Ready to go?"
He didn't reply, just lowered his gaze slowly, then glanced back up.
Holy shit.I felt tingles all over my body.
"Let's go." His voice was a bit rougher now.
I sent an air-kiss to Julia and Christine. The latter winked at us in a manner that reminded me of Knox.
Duncan put a hand on my back. Usually, he put it at the small of my back, but now he placed his fingers higher, right at the point where the dress ended and my bare back started. I straightened up instantly, as if an electric charge had shot through me.
The second we stepped outside, he said, "You smell amazing. Youlookamazing."
"Thank you."
He opened the car door for me, and I sat down. He looked away quickly as he closed it.
What was that? Why didn't he want to look at me?
He got in the car and drove away immediately, without even glancing at me.
"Duncan?" I asked.
"Hmm?" That one syllable was loaded.
"Everything okay? Are you upset?" My stomach tightened at the thought. What did I do to make him upset?
"Why would you think that?"
"Because you're not looking at me."
He groaned. "Riley, you’re so damn beautiful tonight that I'm not even sure how I'll get through our date without mauling you. For now, my goal is just to get to us there."
I swallowed hard.Wow, okay."I hope my roommates didn't drive you too crazy," I said to change the subject. "I heard something about shots when I came out."
He chuckled. "Don't worry. They're young. I get it."
His words didn't quite sit well with me, but I didn't know why. What he was saying was true. And he didn't say it with contempt. But then again, I was young too. The way he said it made it sound like he thought it was a problem—that we were in two separate worlds.
This wasn’t the first time I’d thought as much, that we were at different points in our lives. But I thought we’d moved past that and matched up well.
We arrived at the restaurant twenty minutes later. It was in the Gaslamp Quarter on top of a redbrick building.
"Let’s see what the fuss is about. It's one of the best places in town," he said proudly.
"You've never been here before?"
He shrugged. "Nope, but I've asked around. I wanted to impress you."
I leaned into him. "You've impressed me already. Don't you know that?"
