Page 53 of Sweet Caroline
I can’t fight the way that wink sends a tendril of heat straight to my center.
“But, this time,” he pushes up from the table and reaches for my hand, “you’re in my world.”
An accidental Aladdin moment.
I hesitate for a beat before I take it, then let him lead me out of the tiny restaurant.
“So this is your world, huh?” I ask as we emerge from the narrow alleyway and spill onto the sidewalk. A strong breezesends my dress whipping at my thighs, and I tuck my scarf around my neck.
“Come on, Caroline. You’d never have gone to some hole-in-the-wall spot like that. Too sketchy. But if you know what to ask for…” He gives me a look—a silentI told you so. “So fucking delicious, right?”
“It really was… very delicious.”
He narrows his eyes and repeats, “Sofuckingdelicious. C’mon. Say it with me. So…”
“So…”
“Fucking…”
A laugh bursts out of me. “Miles, oh my goodness.”
“First it wasdang it, nowoh my goodness?” His brows quirk together. “You don’t swear, do you?”
I scrunch my nose in apology. “Not often, no. Not unless I’m pretty… worked up, I guess.”
His eyes slip down to my lips before he seems to catch himself and snaps them back up. “’Kay, well, you’re gonna have to elbow me in the ribs or something when I do, ’cause I don’t even hear it come out of my mouth.”
“It doesn’t bother me. Honest.”
He watches me for a moment. “It’s cathartic, you know.”
“What, swearing?”
“Damn fucking right.” He grins and I can’t help but mirror his delight.God, his eyes have no business crinkling at the corners like that.
“So, you think I need tocathart, or what?”
“Maybe.” He looks like he’s got more to say, but something’s holding him back.
“Oh, right.” I nod, folding my arms over my chest. “You think you have a pretty good read on me at this point, huh?”
He lifts a shoulder, noncommittal. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Alright, and what has your spidey-sense figured out?” I tilt my head in amusement.
He stuffs his hands into his pockets, hesitating a moment before he speaks. “Well, if I had to guess, I’d say you’ve been working really hard for a long time to keep other people happy.”
My smile falters.
“Maybe your parents,” he adds. “Maybe that asshole, Fletcher.”
I frown, the truth laid out so plainly that it takes me by surprise.
“And I’d guess,” he continues, watching me carefully, “you’re sick of no one asking whatyouwant. Maybe you’re not even sure, yourself, what that is.”
My eyes fall away from his, losing focus.
“Caroline.” In my blurred peripheral vision, Miles’ feet move closer. “Caroline. Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to— Ah, fuck.”
