Page 27 of Highest Bidder
“Okay, and for you?” She looks over at him, popping her hip.
“I’ll take the al pastor tacos. Thanks.” Instead of looking ather, his eyes immediately pin me to the spot as he passes his menu over to her.
“Okay. I’ll get that all in for you.” The waitress turns, walking away with our menus.
“So”—Myles starts,—“what do you like to do in your spare time?”
I blink in confusion. I thought he would continue pushing me with more uncomfortable topics. What surprises me is how upset I am that he isn’t continuing the conversation.
“Really? You’re going to change the subject?” Was I comfortable with the last one? No. But that doesn’t mean I want to switch topics, exactly. I’m curious why he wants to change the subject. Does he regret what he said?
He nods. “Oh, okay. I was only trying to be nice and make lighter conversation.” His shoulders shrug. “I don’t want you to go out with James. I want you to go out with me.”
My jaw drops, and I feel my eyes widen to the size of golf balls. “You what?”
“You heard me.” Myles’ eyebrow ticks, and he leans forward to put his elbows on the table. “Are you with James?”
“That’s beside the point,” I huff and wrap my hands around my hair to put it in a bun on top of my head.
“Is it?” His head tilts to the side.
“Yes.” I grab a chip and dunk it into the salsa before shoving it into my mouth.
“I don’t think it is.”
He’s holding back a smile that is begging to come out. His dimple gives him away. “Myles,” I groan.
“Hershey,” he says, giving me a stoic facade. He leans forward a little more. “I want to take you out, but I can’t do that if you’re going out with another”—he hesitates—“guy.” He growls out the last word.
My eyes dart back and forth between his blue ones while I debate what to say. He’s still wearing that old hat, backward ofcourse, causing a thick piece of hair to tumble across his forehead in a way that makes me want to reach across this table and wisp it to the side. Sliding my eyes downward, I feel an ache between my thighs as they settle on how good Myles’ broad shoulders look in that white button-up shirt. The sleeves are rolled past his forearms where his tattoos are exposed.
Taking a big breath, I meet his eyes again. “I like to horseback ride and play beach volleyball in my spare time.”Yes, I chicken out and go for the easier question. Shoot me.
He smirks. “Interesting.” Putting one finger on his chin, he says, “I go to JT’s to ride.” Leaning back in the booth, his broad chest pulls at his shirt threads.
I move the straw in my cup in circles, and the ice clinks as it follows. “I miss it. I haven’t found a place to ride since moving here. I have a horse back home, but I had to leave her at the family farm when I moved here.” I blurt.Why is he easy to open up to?
He messes with his rolled sleeve. “You can come to JT’s and ride with me. He has a few extra horses.” I swear hope blooms in his eyes.
“Oh, no.” I wave him off. “I couldn’t do that.” I turn my head and look at the other customers eating around us. I didn’t mean for him to invite me over to JT’s house. That would be awkward. Kind of like the elephant in the room right now.
“JT wouldn’t mind. He’d love to have you over. His horses need to be ridden,” he says.
“Maybe.” I look at my hands fidgeting in my lap before peering up at him through my lashes.
His cheeks raise as the corners of his mouth follow. “I’ll take it.”
I reach for a broken chip, but his hand grabs hold of mine before I can. I can feel calluses from obvious hard work. His thumb lazily strokes across my knuckles. We both look down atour hands. My small hand looks dainty in his. Jerking my hand away, I tuck a few stray hairs behind my ear.
Leaning forward on the table, he says, huskily, “I gotta know.”
My body is on pins and needles, wondering what he’s going to say. Clenching my thighs together, I take a breath and look at him.
“Are you with James?”
Gone is the playful smirk he had just moments ago. All I see is the seriousness in his face. His jaw is tight, and his gaze is firm. Like this information is what his life depends on. Like he’s holding back until he figures out this little snippet. That thought alone sends excitement through my body.
“No.”
