Page 28 of The Best Book Boyfriend
Chapter 12
Luke
IthinkIwason the verge of losing her for a minute there. Her book recommendations have had me thinking about Kara a fair bit this week. Of things I’d like to do with her, to her. It’s like the libido switch inside me has been flipped back on. It’s not just the books though, there’s something about her I’m so drawn to. No, not something,everything.
Everything about her is exciting, but the absolute last thing I want to do is rush things or scare her off. And she’s been really clear that she’s sworn off men, which I completely understand given what happened with her ex. I suppose I just want to get to know her better, even if she feels like she doesn’t know herself right now.
“Who’s going first?” she asks, pulling her blanket a little higher up. I can tell she’s feeling cautious and I should probably start, set the tone.
“I’ll go. Do you…” Maybe this was a bad idea. Now I’m struggling to think of interesting questions that won’t make me sound like a sleazeball. “Do you believe in love at first sight?”
“Hm,” she glazes over a little and I let her find her words. “I like to think it’s possible. In reality, I was with my ex for such a long time that I’ve never been in alooking for loveheadspace, if that makes sense? Like, I already had love.”
She shifts, tucking her legs further underneath her and smooths the blanket over her lap. “It feels like maybe it’s something that just happens in books? What about you? I don’t think you strike me as a ‘believes in fairytales’ guy.”
I hate what this bastard has done to her. I imagine men eye her up wherever she goes, and he’s made her so miserable she can’t even see it. “Heather and I were friends since we were kids, so it’s hard to say when we fell for each other, we were always just a part of each other’s lives. I guess for me there was never anybody else to have eyes for.”
“That’s really sweet.” She pauses for a moment to consider her next question. “Do you care more about looks or personality?”
“I don’t think I could be attracted to a beautiful person with a shit personality for very long.”
“Good answer. Your turn.”
“Tell me about your favourite Book Boyfriend.”
“Easy,” she laughs. “Matthew Braverman inLove To Loathe You.”
“What do you like about him?”
“I mean, he’s super sexy, ambitious, extremely good in bed.” She pauses to bite her lower lip, clearly lost in some memory from the book. I know what my next book will be. “But I think what I really like about him is that he cares about the heroine, Briony, so much that even though she thinks he’s her enemy, he does all these things behind the scenes to protect her.”
“He sounds like a good guy. What does he do that makes him so good in bed?” She lets out a long slow sigh that gives me goosebumps on the back of my neck.
“Um. There’s this scene where they’re accidentally locked in his office together at a Christmas party. They get drunk on whisky from his desk drawer and... hey! You totally skipped my turn to ask.”
Damn, I wanted to see where that was going.“Oh, you’re gonna leave me hanging?”
“No spoilers! You should just read it.”
“I will. OK, your turn.”
“What’s your ideal first date?” she asks.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had a first date. You?”
“I don’t know either. Books have probably given me an unrealistic expectation of what a first date would be like. I just think somewhere you can get to know each other a bit better. It doesn’t have to be fancy or extravagant. Do you think you’re a sex on the first date kind of guy?”Jesus.
“Again, I have absolutely no idea. I’d need to have a date first to find out.”
She seems deep in thought, swirling her wine around her glass and I can’t take my eyes off of her, waiting for her next question even though I know it’s my turn. “Is this a date?”There we go.
“Do you want it to be a date?” I bite back my smile.
“I’ve never had a first date either.”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“You avoided it first!” she points accusingly, and I want to grab that finger and pull her into my arms, but I won’t step over her boundaries.
