Page 4 of Hungry Like A Dragon
She stared at him. “Are you suggesting we, um, go on a date?”
He shook his head and motioned at the screen door. “I’m suggesting I’ll walk you to your destination. Whether that’s your car or your house or whatever.”
“I was actually going to take a stroll around the lake.”
“Okay, well, do you want company?”
Not really. “Sure.”
He held open the door, and they were silent as they headed across the yard toward the lake, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was peaceful. Pleasant.
“Why are you so quiet all the time?” she asked. Apparently she didn’t like peaceful and pleasant.
He shrugged with his hands stuffed into his pockets. “Not much to say.”
“Everybody has something to say.”
“Not much anyone else cares to hear then.”
“Try me.”
They’d reached the lake and began walking the perimeter, heading toward the woods on the other side. The schoolhouse was to their right. The kids were outside, a handful running around, playing what looked like a game of tag, while the rest climbed monkey bars and soared high on the swings or tossed basketballs at hoops that had been set up on the west side of the stone building.
It’s been far too long since I’ve been carefree and happy.
She glanced sideways at Noah. Petra didn’t have a lot of experience with dating, for a couple of reasons, but mostly because she’d avoided it in favor of focusing on learning everything she could about the reeve’s responsibilities. She’d always assumed she’d get the position when Uncle Blake died, and then, once she was settled in the role, she’d start looking for a mate.
Yeah, that’s clearly not going to happen now.
“It’s to avoid getting hurt,” Noah said.
“Huh? I mean, sorry, what?”
“The reason I don’t talk much.”
“Oh,” Petra said, nodding. “Of course it is. Love sucks. There are tons of songs about it, books dedicated to it, poetry dripping with it.”
“Pragmatic much?”
She shrugged. “It’s the truth. Better to focus on sex without emotions.”
“You pointed out earlier that you weren’t happy with your sex partners.”
“Not all of them. Some of them have been good.”
“But not great?”
“Are we seriously having this conversation? I admit, I figured if you ever started talking this much, it would be about food.”
He grinned. The way it transformed his face took her breath away. The man was beautiful while he worked, and downright gorgeous when he was laidback and relaxed.
“Food and sex are definitely compatible,” he said.
Whoa. Her inner muscles clenched. Did the man like a little kink? That shouldn’t turn her on like this.
Why not?her dragon asked.
Yeah, why not? “Um…are you seeing anyone, Noah?”
