Page 10 of Recklessly You
I’m not the type to talk about my personal life with anyone, especially a woman who wants more than friendship. Especially when she’s scrutinizing me seductively. I return my attention to the blonde who has my blood pumping recklessly. My fingers tighten around my glass as the guy she is with moves closer to her. Red-hot anger burns inside me, and I shake with rage I never knew existed. I have to control myself and shut it down.
CHAPTER 4
SOPHIE
It’s been a couple of days since my last date, with the brut guy. He should have scared me off casual dating for good, but I convinced myself to give it another shot. Maybe Kirk just wasn’t my type. When I step out of my red Mustang and spot Milo, tonight’s date, I’m glad I didn’t give up. He leans against his white Kia, a long brown trench coat wrapping around his tall frame. His smooth olive skin stretches over high cheekbones when he grins—and he’s cute. He waves at me.
“I’m rooting for you, Milo,” I say under my breath.
He’s texted me a couple of times. He’s from Chicago, and he moved to California to help his grandma, who recently had knee surgery. He seems sweet. I traipse toward him, and the bitterly cold breeze makes me shiver. The aroma of burgers fills the air. My stomach grumbles. I asked him to meet me here at Go Burger, one of my favorite restaurants—a classic burger joint.
“Hey, beautiful.” His chocolate eyes take in my appearance. With a lick of his lips, he leans over to kiss my cheek.
The smell hits me.Mothballs. Fucking mothballs.
“Hi, Milo. Nice to finally meet you,” I say, massaging my temples.
Why do I get these stinky guys? I’m positive it’s his coat. He smells like my grandmother’s old cedar chest. My grandma would always put mothballs in her cedar chest. The smell’s not great, but it isn’t as strong as Brut, so I can handle it.
“Shall we go inside? I’m starving.” Without hesitation, he places the palm of his hand on the small of my back and guides me in. He’s so close I can feel his hot breath fan my neck.
He pulls a chair out for me to sit. He carefully slips out of his coat and folds it over the back of his chair. I stand to free myself from my heavy winter coat, but he beats me to it as his hands quickly find the zipper beneath my chin and helps to glide it down. I give him points for being a gentleman.
The waitress comes and takes our order.
“I’ll have the bacon classic and an extra side of pickles, please,” I say.
She nods and looks at Milo then takes his order.
I throw my head back in laughter when Milo tells me he watched a marathon ofThe Golden Girlswith his grandmother. Don’t get me wrong, I loveThe Golden Girls,and I love Betty White. I laugh so hard because Milo is not a fan ofThe Golden Girls, and I can imagine him bored for hour after hour of Golden Girl fun.
I stop laughing when a hard, muscular body passes right by me. The masculine scent of his body wash sends a tingle right to my core.
Holy guacamole.
He carries himself with a commanding air of self-confidence. His powerful shoulders strain the seams of his polo shirt. He’s hot in his uniform, snug in all the right places. His tan skin is flawless, and his chiseled jaw, peppered with stubble, has me envisioning licking him all over.
Damn. I wet my lips. Those gorgeous gunmetal eyes are different. I’ve never met a man with such beautiful eyes, and with the sun shining right past him through the window, I can see the small brown specks in them. Yeah, I’m very observant when it comes to Liam Rodriguez. He’s built, and I mean built. I’m enjoying the way he’s watching me, like he’s in a trance. Sparks of jealousy hit when the woman next to him trails her fingernails down his arm.
What the hell. Does he date his coworkers? I shake my head. Why am I feeling jealous when we’ve barely exchanged words and I’ve never touched him? We made small talk at Dante’s party, and that’s all. Now that I think about it, I didn’t feel this jealousy when I caught Eric. It hurt me, of course. But this is ridiculous. I ignore the tingling and return my attention to Milo, who is watching me with a smile. He is a cutie. Maybe I’ll offer to wash his coat.
“Tell me about yourself, Sophie.”
I open my mouth to answer when he interrupts.
“I’m opening my own comic store. Oh, I’m sorry, I asked you a question and interrupted you.”
Uh, yes, you did. “No, that’s fine. Wow, amazing. Congratulations. My friend and I opened our photography studio a couple of months ago, and business is great—”
“I came to take care of my grandmother and ended up opening a store with the comic books I found in her garage.” Every time I try to get a word in, he interrupts.
The waitress hands us our food, along with my side of pickles.
I can’t help it. I keep glancing at Liam, and I catch him staring at me. He doesn’t acknowledge that we know each other, and it’s fine because we really don’t. I turn my attention back to my mothball date. I hear the desperate officer girl laughing so hard. What the hell is he telling her to make her laugh? I realize I’m strangling my burger. I will not look like a desperate thirstbucket. And I will not show signs of jealousy.
I smile at Milo. Pretending I’m interested in his comics. “Wow, that’s amazing. My nephew is an obsessed Spider-Man fan.”
He reaches for my hands and kisses my knuckles, each one. Milo’s breath hitches as his eyes go hooded. “You’re beautiful, Sophie. I’m enjoying your company.” He keeps kissing my knuckles, then he intertwines his slender fingers with mine.
