Page 26 of Imperfect Player

“Evil. They’re fucking evil and I will not be associated with one.”

My hand covers my mouth to hide my laughter.

Ethan smiles broadly. “You have a great laugh.”

I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks. “Thank you.”

I resist the urge to compliment his smile, gorgeous as it is. Just enough teeth, full of mischief, sexy as hell. Instead, I begin to eat again.

“What kind of dog?”

“German shepherd.”

“Tough dog.”

“Smart dog. Only dog that could put up with my shit.”

“What’s his name?”

“Why do you assume it’s a he?”

“You don’t seem like the kind of guy that would let a female spend the night, let alone live with him.”

Ethan laughs again. It’s a great laugh. One that reverberates through my body and penetrates my soul.

“Would you care for some dessert?” the waiter asks when we’ve finished eating.

Ethan sweeps his tongue over his lips suggestively. “Chocolate cake. Two forks.”

“Why are you ordering me dessert?”

“Us. I ordered us dessert. Can’t blame a guy for wanting to prolong his time with a gorgeous woman.”

“Maybe not, but you can fault him for ordering the wrong dessert.” I turn to the waiter. “I’ll have the cheesecake.”

“Cheesecake?” He sneers at my selection.

“What do you have against cheesecake?”

“Nothing. Come on, though. Who seriously picks cheesecake over chocolate cake?”

“Clearly, I did.”

“You’re lucky I like you, or I might have just gotten up and walked away.”

Dinner finished, Ethan rises from his seat and steps behind me, pulling out my chair for me.

“I had a great time tonight,” he says.

“I did too,” I agree.

Not that I thought that I wouldn’t enjoy his company; I already had at the Advantage event last week. But when he rests his hand on the small of my back as we exit the restaurant, I question just how much I enjoy his company. My skin itches with desire, my body begins to hum.

If the reaction I’m having to this gentle, friendly touch is any indication, I may be starting to like him way too much.

Outside in the fresh air of the night, I’m able to breathe and shrug off the feeling his touch has imprinted on me.

I pull out my phone to order an Uber.

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