Except we were just at lunch. There was no need to make up a lie about our reason for being here. So why did he?
Our lips pressed together and over the cheese dip, and I vowed to come up with a better cover story next time. Tingles zipped through my body as we held the kiss. Dane rubbed the pad of his thumb against my cheek.
This is fake, Delaney. Don’t get excited.
My body did not listen. The beating of my heart picked up as my toes curled against my sandals. Dane had to have the hottest lips in South Carolina.
“Okay, I got it,” the waitress said.
We pulled apart. I ran my tongue over my top lip, trying to wipe some of him away.
He grinned at me.
I frowned at him.
Yes, definitely fake. There was nothing redeeming about a smug man. Even if he had the muscles of a god.
The waitress handed Dane’s phone back to him, and we turned away, ordering more food.
Besides, no way would I fall for the SEAL. He wasn’t my type. Not in the slightest. I went for stable men. Not the ones who ran off looking for danger. I liked calm guys, like accountants. Plus, I’d always have someone to do my taxes.
“What are you thinking about?” Dane asked.
I smirked. “My taxes.”
“We share a kiss like that, and you’re visualizing taxes?”
Ha! Obviously, he’d enjoyed our kiss as much as I did, but I couldn’t let him see it affected me. “It’s almost tax season. A girl needs to be prepared.”
“Delaney, it’s October.” He tossed his credit card onto the table.
Whoa, someone seemed cranky. I tapped the table by his card. “Save that receipt for the per diem. You might also need it for your taxes.”
“I have complete control over my taxes, thanks.”
Yup, he was super cranky.
To distract myself—and so he wouldn’t catch me gloating—I grabbed my phone and opened a web browser. Research always helped in situations like this. The last page I’d visited had been William’s history of Charleston website. I scrolled through it again to see if I’d missed anything.
He had a great way of telling a story while weaving in facts about the city. William could have written a book if he had wanted long-form.
Maybe I should write a book. What would I write about? Pirates? Sexy SEALs who saved random women as they ran from ghosts?
“Wait,” I said out loud without realizing it as I skimmed a piece of his page without fully seeing it. I read it again to be sure before handing Dane my phone. “Look at this.”
“Is it another kid wearing a black hoodie?” he asked as he accepted my phone.
I immediately regretted giving it to him. What if Elenore texted me asking how it was going with the hot SEAL? Shit, this is why you didn’t give your phone to people! Also, why you shouldn’t talk about hot SEALs with your BFF before you take a case with one.
“Ha. Ha. No, now give it back if you’re going to be that way,” I said, reaching for the phone while trying not to panic.
He didn’t. “At least tell me what I’m looking at.”
“Well, give it to me and I can,” I said, holding my hand out further to grab it. Panic caused my chest to constrict. She might be texting me right now. Oh, shit.
He handed the phone back.
I blew out a breath as I returned it safely to my side of the table, but the anxiety didn’t immediately go away.
