“Those are fighting words, sir,” I warn before we both dissolve into laughter.
Just like that, a timer goes off, and Noah gives me a disappointed look as he stands.
I wave goodbye, wiggling my fingers to him. “Have fun on your dates!”
He smirks as he shakes his head and moves down the table to the front. Shane slides into his place. He gives me a dazzling smile that only does a little something for me before wiggling his eyebrows.
“Thank God, I thought he’d never leave.”
I roll my eyes and laugh. “Shut up and ask the questions.”
Shane wiggles his eyebrows. “Right away, Mommy. Alright, what is your favorite position?”
As soon as the question leaves his lips, he leans in curiously, dramatically batting his eyelashes like he can’t wait to hear what I have to say.
Sinking my teeth into my lower lip, I let out a laugh that’s only part discomfort because what a fucking awkward question to ask when I have a camera six inches away from my face.
“Reverse cowgirl,” I mutter.
“Oh really?” Shane asks, his eyes tracing over me like he’s envisioning me in that position right now.
“You enjoying the mental visual?” I ask.
“Absolutely. An ass like that deserves to be stared at,” he says and bites his knuckle dramatically.
I give his shoulder a playful shove, and he falls into laughter. I will say that is something I like about Shane. He’s easy to get along with. He comes on strong, and he can be a lot, but it’s all in good fun. He’s a good guy, at least at face value. And, you know, his face value is pretty too.
“What about you? Let me guess, missionary?” I tease.
“Hell no. I’m a modern-day man. I love to let my woman take control. Use me, abuse me, tie me up. I’m down for anything.”
I lift a challenging eyebrow as I rest my elbows on the table. Shane matches my move, his eyes flicking down to my mouth. Does this guy seriously think that’s the perfect segue to making out? He’s insane.
“Something tells me your answer has a lot less to do with being a modern man and a lot more with not wanting to put in any work.”
Shane leans back in his chair, clutching his chest dramatically. “Babygirl, you’ve got me all wrong. I’ll be happy to prove it to you later.”
The alarm goes off, and Shane reaches for my hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it as he sends me a wink. “Until later, cowgirl.”
I can’t help but laugh at his ridiculousness as he moves down the table and Andrew comes to sit in front of me. He’s polite and greets me with a kind smile, but as he reads the question, I catch his eyes drifting down the table, where Cora is talking with Dallas. She’s smiling politely, but I notice the worried looks she sends to Andrew.
Oh, she’s got it bad for him. I don’t think she has anything to worry about, though. With the lack of attention he’s paying the rest of the girls, I’d say she’s just fine.
Several speed dates pass and a few things are solidified for me. I really fucking like Noah. Not just because half these guys are conceited asshats, but because we can actually talk. We laugh, and we can communicate for longer than two minutes without his eyes going to my tits or spacing off altogether.
Thankfully, we’re nearly done with speed dating when the last guy slides into the seat in front of me. I’ve been dreading it from the moment I noticed he was only a few girls down. Based on the look he’s rocking, I’d say we’re on the same page.
Landon folds his tattooed arms over his chest, his blank face staring a hole into mine as we just sit here. I wait for him to read the card like all the other guys have before, but no, he stays silent. Finally, I have enough of his attitude and snap, “Are you going to ask the goddamn question or sit there like a prick?”
He doesn’t react, doesn’t give a single hint that he’s capable of processing any emotions. For several seconds, we continue sitting in silence, and I swear my head is about to explode when his gaze barely flicks down at the card before he speaks.
“What’s the thing that you fear most?”
Lily flashes in my head instantly, and my heart hurts at the reminder of her.
God, I miss her.
If I’d known I wouldn’t be allowed any communication at all, I never would have come. I need to find a way to get a letter out to her, an email, fucking anything. I can’t have her thinking I’m ghosting her by choice.
