Page 74 of A Taste of Trouble

“It's true, though. Brian is a math genius, Miles is a computer savant, and Tony has a Master's in engineering. I arrange parties and date pretty girls.” He pushed his food around on his plate.

“I think you do more than that. I've seen what you're capable of with my own eyes. Right in those round frames at the gallery.” She could identify with his self-doubt. She battled it every day.

“Thanks.”

This vulnerability was a new side to him. An unexpected one.

He had so many layers. She wondered how long it would take to peel them all away. And the weirdest part, she wouldn't mind sticking around, for as long as it took. She would hang on until she knew every quirk, every memory, every nuance to his character.

“I know how you feel, though. Patti's the smart one. She's a University professor, for goodness s

ake. And Austin is good with words. But I'm no less smart. Just in a different way.”

She let her shoulders drop. All these years, she'd hidden herself away from the opposite sex, not wanting anything to do with love or a relationship. Then in swoops Jake Miller to change everything. She was on a date, for cupcake's sake. And it hadn't been the inquisition she had been expecting. It was easy and fun and…

“It's not that bad, is it?” His voice knocked her out of her thoughts.

“Sorry?” It was bad enough she didn't talk. The least she could do was listen when he did.

“The date?” he asked. “It's not that bad, is it?”

It never failed to amaze her, and scare her at the same time, the way he seemed to know what was going on in her head. “That's actually what I was just thinking about.”

“I could tell you were thinking about something. Your face gets very serious.”

“Sorry. I tend to do that.” Her friends were used to her zoning out. Probably the effects of being alone with her own thoughts for so long.

“So?” He waited patiently for her answer.

“It's nothing like I expected. Way better.”

By the smile on his face, he seemed pleased with her confession.

“I think this is actually the first real date I've ever been on.” She cringed. Had she just revealed that information?

“You're how old?”

She laughed. “I know, but I don't think pub night or a campus party can really be considered a date. I've never really wanted to. I don't see the point of staring across the table at a complete stranger trying to think of things to talk about.”

“If we're being honest, this is probably my first real date, too. At least my first real date where getting into a woman's pants isn't my only motivation.”

“You don't want to get into my pants?”

“I fully intend to get into your pants, but this dinner isn't the…” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “The payment, so to speak, for having sex with you.”

Liv shook her head and laughed.

“Going on a date makes getting the sex a little easier,” he added.

“You're such a romantic.”

But she knew he was. Maybe he believed that he had to sleep with a lot of crazies in order to find his princess.

He pushed around the food on his plate with his fork. “Since we're being honest, I guess I should be totally honest.”

Liv's stomach tightened. She braced herself for the worst.

He took in a deep breath and said, “I'm not as much of a player as you might think.”

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