Page 37 of Worth the Risk

Finally, after another stare-off, he smirks and says, “Touché.”

“Touché,” I repeat.

Reaching across the table, he picks up my hand, kisses it, and rubs his thumb over the back of it. And just like that, our little spat is over.

Releasing my hand, he scans the menu, and I do the same.

“Good evening. I’m Helen. Are you ready to order?” she asks as she places our drinks in front of us.

Oh my God. He didn’t.

He had our waiter switched to a woman.

I can only hope my antics didn’t get the poor guy fired.

Geez.

Leo looks at me, I nod, and we place our orders before she leaves with our menus.

“Please tell me you didn’t have our first waiter fired,” I say as soon as she is out of earshot.

“I didn’t have our waiter fired,” he repeats with a smirk.

“I’m being serious, Leo. I couldn’t live with myself if you fired him because of me.”

Taking my hand again, he links our fingers. “I didn’t fire him, Kylie. However, I made damn sure he won’t have another chance to make eyes at you again,” he says with no remorse.

The night goes smoothly after that. We eat an amazing dinner, and the conversation flows nicely. He speaks about his father and sister and growing up in New York, where he lives with his father and Sophie for now.

He plans to move once he’s in New York again. He’s close to his sister and father. He never mentions his mother, and the fact that he is tight-lipped about her warns me not to ask. From his not mentioning her and there being no recent pictures of her when I was internet-stalking him, I have a feeling she’s no longer in his life. I don’t want to bring it up as it could be a sore spot for him. I would be lying, though, if I said I wasn’t curious about her.

After he tells me about his dad, I explain my closeness with my mom and Manda and share special memories of my father and grandfather. I also talk about more of Manda’s antics over the years, and he laughs, calling her a riot.

Most times I agree, except when she is threatening his balls.

“So, she became more protective of you after your ex-boyfriend. Why was that?”

“James was great in the beginning. Mom liked him, but Manda only tolerated him.” I tell him about James, Beth, the rumors, and Beth being pregnant.

I’m surprised at how unaffected I am sharing this with him. There’s not a tinge of the hurt James caused me when I first found out.

Leo, on the other hand, looks displeased.

“What a fucking prick. How could he have you and be sticking his dick in someone else?” he says, and then something crosses his mind. “James… the guy who I got in a fight with the night we met?”

Embarrassed but on a roll with my honesty, I explain what went down that night. “When I met you, I felt an instant attraction. Sierra saw it and said I should kiss you.”

Leo smirks. “I like Sierra. She gave you some good advice, Sunshine.”

I love when he calls me that.

“Yes, she did,” I agree and giggle.

Best advice ever.

I tell Leo about how I caught James and Beth upstairs and how we had words. “When I came downstairs and saw you, I kissed you. Alcohol gave me some courage.”

“And I was payback?” he asks, clearly bothered.

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