Page 113 of Mine to Love

On Friday, when she slides me my receipt, her cheeks turn a bright pink, which is unusual for Reese. She doesn’t embarrass easily, and the only time I ever see color on her face was in the heat of passion.

“Have a nice evening, Mr. Pierce.” Is that a little sass in her voice today?

“The same to you, Miss Elliot.”

It isn’t until I’m in my car and toss the receipt into the center console that I notice a handwritten note on it.

Dinner tonight? 6:00 Lotus Garden

I can’t help the goofy grin I wear the rest of the day. I cut my last meeting short, and zip home to change, not wanting to be in my stuffy work clothes for our date. My parents and Cami come dashing to the entryway hearing my thunderous feet on the steps to see if I’m okay.

“Gotta date. Gotta go.”

“Tell Reese I said hi,” Cami shouts at my retreating back.

Dressed in jeans and a thin sweater, clothes I have only recently become comfortable in, I speed across town to the Chinese restaurant Reese suggested. Her car is already there in the half-full lot. It’s near freezing temperatures and I’d completely forgotten to grab a coat, so set on my date with Reese.

My heart thuds in my chest as I yank open the doors to the restaurant and see her talking with the hostess. “Sorry I’m late,” I pant.

“You’re not late.” She turns and stills, her eyes raking in my body.

Damn. If she doesn’t stop looking at me like this, I’ll never make it through dinner.

“No coat? It’s freezing outside.”

“I forgot.”

She narrows her eyes at me then follows the hostess through the restaurant. It gives me the opportunity to catch my breath and to check out her backside. Dressed casually in jeans, knee-high boots, and a zipped-up coat, she’s the sexiest woman in the world.

I’m dying to hold her hand. To be on the receiving end of her smile. To hear her laughter. To taste her kisses. If all I get tonight is a smile, I’ll be okay with that. Baby steps. As long as we’re moving in the right direction, my heart is happy.

When we reach our table, the hostess sets our menus on the table and leaves. Reese unzips her coat, and a weird sort of gurgling moaning gasping sound escapes my throat.

Wearing a deep purple sweater that falls to the side revealing a bare shoulder, I struggle to roll my tongue off the floor. Her top is designed that way, to show her neck and skin. It’s a shoulder, damnit, not a boob. Not her legs. Not even her ass. A shoulder shouldn’t cause such a stir behind my zipper.

“You look...” I swallow my lust. “Gorgeous.”

“Oh. Thank you.” Reese smiles shyly at me before sliding into the booth.

Yeah, this isn’t going to work. My gaze fixates on her shoulder and then she does the worst possible thing she could do. She gathers her beautiful long hair in one hand and moves it to the other side so not even her auburn locks hide the length of her neck.

I close my eyes and squeeze my hands together in my lap.

“Are you okay?”

I don’t dare open my eyes, afraid of what I’ll see. Afraid of what I’ll reveal. Our relationship is fragile. She already thinks I’ve been using her for sex. I can’t blow it so soon.

“Unprepared. I’ll be okay.” After a few deep breaths, I lift my gaze to hers.

“Unprepared for dinner?”

“For you. For your beauty. Sorry. I said I’d hold back. I’m trying. It’s hard.”

“How hard.” Reese props her elbows on the table and rests her chin over her folded hands. Her shiny pink lips curve into a mischievous smile.

“I can’t.” I close my eyes again and rest my head against the back of the booth. “I’m trying. I promised you I’d try.” If I don’t look at her maybe the ache between my legs will go away. The one in my chest won’t fade though. Ever.

“We’ve had lunch and even drinks and appetizers. What’s so hard about tonight, Logan?”

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