Page 37 of Heart Thief

“How about Chinatown? Have you been yet?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“It’s one of my favorite places to explore. We’ll grab dim sum while we’re there.”

“What’s dim sum?”

“Say what?”

“What’s dim sum?” I ask again.

He releases air between his lips. “We can’t be friends now.”

I do like he did earlier. I cup my hands to my chest and say, “Please, please, please?”

“You talked me into it.”

I mock sigh with relief.

He sends me his sexy half smile. “Dim sum is the best food in the world. You’ll love it.”

I’m skeptical. “I don’t want to eat anything weird.”

“This is not aSurvivorchallenge. It’s lunch. Dim sum isn’t weird. It’s a variety of steamed buns, rice noodle rolls, and dumplings, all served in steamer baskets. You choose what you want from a cart and everyone at the table eats family style. You haven’t lived until you’ve tried it.”

“I guess I haven’t lived then.”

“Nope. Not until now.”

He makes me feel like I haven’t lived until I met him. Something about his enthusiasm for life, his way of living on his own terms, his casual, relaxed lifestyle.

“Okay, I’ll ride off into the sunset with you. But when it comes to dim sum, I make no promises.”

“Deal.” He holds out his hand so we can shake on it.

I watch our hands clasp together as if it’s happening in slow motion. He holds my hand in his long after we shake.

My eyes travel up to meet his as I wonder what’s happening. A chill wanders through me, from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.

Zane frowns and releases my hand. “Aw man, I’m so mad.”

“What? Why?”

“I forgot the new socks Debra gave me. I need them. I don’t even know where to buy them.”

We laugh and the sound wafts up to the sky, getting lost in the night air.

I run my fingers through my long hair and mimic him. “Aw man, I’m so mad.”

That merits a smile. “Pray tell.”

“I forgot to braid my hair for the trip home. It’s a rat’s nest.” I pull my brush out of my purse and attempt to tackle the mess.

Zane grabs the brush. “Hey, I got it. Turn around.”

Our eyes meet again, and I hesitate for a few seconds. Having Zane brush my hair somehow feels highly intimate. “You want to... brush my hair for me?”

“I’ll be gentle, I promise.”

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