Page 38 of Show Me How
Ignoring him, I round the opposite side of the desk and sit in the chair. My knees are pressed flush together, the space between us not as generous as I thought it would be.
“What happens at the end of a workday? Do I need to learn how to clean up after a tattoo or anything?”
“No, you don’t need to do that yet. You’ve done enough for today, don’t you think?”
“Not really. I spent most of the day listening to Bryce’s instructions and fiddling around with the calendar.”
“I like my station set up and taken down a very specific way. I’m not ready to teach anyone else how to do that for me yet,” he says.
“That’s okay.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s upset you now?”
“Why do you care so much? Shouldn’t you be hurrying with your cleanup so you can go to dinner?”
My eyes go wide at the attitude in my tone. Shade’s eyes twinkle as he shifts closer to me, his body casting a shadow over my legs.
“Are you hungry, Millie? Is that why you’re so bothered?”
“You think I’m hangry?” I ask, fighting off a laugh.
“Would you prefer I think you’re jealous that I have plans tonight instead?”
“No. I have dinner plans too.”
His brow lifts. “Oh? With who?”
“Myself.”
“In that case, I’m the jealous one.”
With a huff, I turn the chair so I face the desk. “I didn’t take you for the jealous type.”
I squeak when he grabs the back of the chair and pulls me right back to face him. Slowly, he lowers his hands to the armrests and bends over me, dropping his voice to a rasped murmur.
“You don’t know me well enough. Let’s change that.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Is that a serious question?”
I blink, the sight of him so close to me a bit overwhelming. I’ve never been in this position with a man like Shade before. Someone this larger than life but who seems genuinely interested in hearing me speak and learning the things that I have a hard time sharing with other people. He has this way of getting to me so easily that it makes him dangerous.
“I would hate to keep you from your plans,” I say.
“Even if they include you?”
“What do you mean?”
“My dinner plans are with you. Unless you’re going to turn me down.”
I ignore the heat rising up my throat. “Usually, you’re supposed to ask a woman if she wants to have dinner with you instead of assuming she does.”
“I was hopeful. Especially after last night.”
My breath catches. “I don’t?—”
He drags the rough pad of his thumb over my elbow. I lose my train of thought, lowering my gaze to where he’s touching me so brazenly.
