Page 51 of Allure

But I am hugely grateful that he isn’t saying anything about the fact that I mentioned my father died.

I don’t want his sympathy over that.

It seems like I don't have to worry about that because as I study his face, his strong jawline, and his Roman nose, his expression alters slightly to be hungry again.

Hungry for me.

I lick my lips before biting my lower one, glancing down at the table before peering up at him to see that he’s captivated by me or at least is willing to appear that way. All of his anger and frustration from earlier is gone, but if he keeps looking at me like that, he’s soon going to become a very different kind of frustrated.

I fidget in my seat slightly. Between my legs is starting to itch like mad, and I don’t want to be the one to scratch it.

I suck in a breath. What the hell are we doing? This is just a meal. That’s all. Nothing more.

Maybe more.

“A dollar for your thoughts,” he finally murmurs.

“Inflation’s a bitch,” I joke.

He chuckles but dips his head to let me know he’s waiting for an answer.

“I was just wondering if you ordered the most expensive steak on the menu,” I lie smoothly.

Declan slowly nods. “I might’ve. No one is going to take as good care of yourself as you yourself, right?”

“Spoken like someone who has had to raise himself.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say my parents raised me, no, but I didn’t have to learn how to cook.”

"So, how did you learn how to grill a steak?"

"I was bored, so I asked the cook to teach me. I've picked up a few things here and there over the years. It's been… illuminating."

“Already a well-rounded man, huh?”

“I don’t know if I would go that far. I have my weaknesses, my vices.”

“Hmm. And they are?”

He laughs and lifts his soda as if to make a toast. “I would need to be drinking something a lot stronger than this in order for me to divulge that.”

“Is that so? Maybe we should stop at the liquor store before we head back to campus.”

“Oh, yeah? And who is going to be purchasing this liquor?”

"You," I say point-blankly.

“Because I would risk my internship and my father’s wrath for that.”

“Considering I’m still waiting for my credit cards to come in the mail to replace the stolen ones…”

Declan laughs outright, throwing back his head and looking so damn masculine and sexy. “So you came here with the intention of having me pay for you.”

“I was perfectly willing to ask you to accept an IOU,” I protest.

There’s that smoldering, alluring, hungry look again. “Are you sure you want to give me an IOU?”

“For money? Of course.”

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