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My roommate scanned me from head to toe before she beamed a smile at me. “You’re perfect.”
“Are you positive?” I asked, feeling uncharacteristically unsure of myself.
“Yup, Cole isn’t going to know what hit him when he sees you.” Just as she got to her feet, there was a knock on the door. “I’ll get it. You hold back a second and make your grand entrance once he’s inside the apartment so I can see the look on his face when he spots you in those jeans. They show off your butt in the very best way possible.”
Her compliment was just the boost I needed to get back to my confident self as I padded into the living after she greeted my date and let him in. And Cole’s reaction was exactly as she had described, his intense blue eyes darkening as his gaze slid from my sparkly top that was snug around my boobs all the way down to the strappy heels that showed off my glossy red pedicure. “Fuck, it shouldn’t be possible, but you look even more gorgeous than I remembered, lass.”
“Lass,” Ivy echoed, fanning herself with her hand.
I totally understood her reaction because every time I heard him use that nickname for me, I felt as though my panties were about to spontaneously combust.
Moving to stand in front of Cole, I murmured, “I’m glad you’re in jeans too. I was worried I wouldn’t be dressed up enough for wherever you’re taking me, and I’d stick out.”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do about sticking out.” Twirling a lock of my hair around his finger, he shook his head. “You’re too fucking gorgeous for anybody to miss, no matter how big the crowd.”
“I’m not sure about that, but I’m glad I somehow managed to capture your attention last night.”
He slid his hand down to grasp mine. “And held it every second since then.”
Ivy made big eyes at me as Cole led me out of our apartment. After he helped me into his car, we headed to an amazing French brasserie that I’d always wanted to try, but the price tag was too high for my bank account when I could eat dinner out at least three times for the same cost. Or twenty if we got a slice and a drink at the pizza place around the corner from our apartment.
I didn’t go out to expensive restaurants often. However, the spot Cole had chosen was pricey but not too fancy. And as an added plus, we had a lot of privacy in our corner booth.
While the server was getting us the bottle of champagne Cole ordered, he turned to me and asked, “What looks good to you?”
I was super tempted by the onion soup, but I didn’t want to ruin my breath in case he wanted to give me another amazing kiss tonight. “Maybe the chicken paillard?”
His blue eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled at me. “Why do I have the feeling something else caught your eye?”
“Umm.” I bit my bottom lip. “Probably because onion soup gratinée is one of my favorites?”
“Order it, lass. I want you to have whatever you desire.” He stretched his arm over the back of the booth, pulling me close as he rasped, “I’ll order it too, and I have plenty of mints in the car. No need to worry. I’m gonna get my good night kiss, no matter what you eat.”
“Okay.” My breath caught in my throat at the sensual promise in his gaze.
“In fact, I think I should kiss you right now, just to be sure.”
My yes was whispered into his mouth as he captured mine in a deep kiss. Wrapping my hair in his fist, he tilted my head back for better access, and I was sorely tempted to climb on his lap when the server gently set the ice bucket with the champagne on our table.
I swiped my tongue against my bottom lip to capture his masculine taste when he pulled away from me. “Oops.”
Cole’s answering chuckle sent a delicious shiver down my spine, and I was hyperaware of the heat from his body as we placed our order. As promised, he ordered the soup too, so I didn’t have to worry about stinky breath later. Not that it would have mattered anyway because all I could taste by the end of our meal was the berries, meringue, and lemon mascarpone mousse from the pavlova I had for dessert.
Patting my stomach, I let out a satisfied sigh. “Wow, the food was incredible.”
“Best meal I’ve had in a long time,” Cole agreed, pushing his empty plate toward the middle of the table. “And not just because the food was fucking awesome.”
“Oh yeah?” I tilted my head back to smile at him.
“Yeah, the company was even better.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and playfully asked, “Are you sure it’s been a while since you dated? Because you’re really, really good at this.”
“Only because it’s you, lass.” Cupping my chin, he brushed his thumb against my cheekbone. “You bring out the best in me.”
“That makes me a very lucky girl, then.” I stared up at his gorgeous face as I confessed, “You made my first, real, grown-up date the absolute best I ever could’ve imagined.”
“Fuck, lass. You can’t say shit like that to me when we’re in public.” He shifted in his seat, and my eyes dropped to the large bulge in his pants. “I’m always turned on when you’re near, but knowing I’ve gotten to enjoy another of your firsts with you makes me hard as a steel pipe.”
