Page 538 of Rock Me All Night
I drop my voice to a whisper. "Where do you come from?"
His posture stiffens. "Lived in a shitty neighborhood when I was a kid. Inland empire. Riverside. It's nicer now. Back then it was meth central. We had drug dealers next door. I know how to defend myself."
"Oh. I'm from suburban Long Island. We don't have much crime. We don't have much besides chain restaurants and Westfield Mall."
"There a non suburban Long Island?" he teases.
"Haven't you readThe Great Gatsby? We have The Hamptons. Technically, Queens and Brooklyn are in Long Island."
His lips curl into a smile. "Guy who didn't go to college can't have read a classic piece of American Literature?"
"No, I just mean—" My cheeks flush. "Have you read it?"
He nods. "It's noHunger Games."
I laugh and lead him up the stairs, through the door, into my tiny studio apartment.
There's about two feet between the kitchenette and my twin bed and another two between my bed and the desk.
He shuts and locks the door. "You like Thai food?"
"Never had it. I'll eat anything but I'm allergic to peanuts."
He nods. "I know a place that's good with modifications if you want to try it."
"Okay…"
He moves close enough to run his fingertips over my shoulders. He pulls out his cell then stares into my eyes. "Trust me. I've got this."
I trust him a lot more than I should, what with us meeting twenty-four hours ago. I nod a yes.
"What do you like?" he asks.
"Vegetables."
He laughs. "Really?"
"Yeah. They're good. Red peppers are my favorite."
His cheeks crinkle as his deep, throaty laugh fills the room.
"What the hell is funny about red peppers?" I ask.
"Nothing. Just never met someone who loved vegetables."
"Let me guess. You have a manly love of red meat?" I tease.
"Wouldn't turn it down." He smiles. "Prefer shellfish."
"Expensive tastes."
He nods and motionsone minute.Then he's on the phone, ordering delivery. It's nearly midnight but it's not a problem. We'll have our food in half an hour.
Thirty minutes with Pete. And there's my bed. It's a perfect situation, really.
But I can't sleep with him until I've made up my mind about this.
I'm not ready to decide. I reach for anything else I can discuss. "Do you really have expensive tastes?"
