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“Murphy’s? I don’t think so, Krystina. But you should go to it. Hale can drive you there, then pick you up after if you’d like.”

“Why don’t you want to come? It will be fun,” I tried to persuade him. I was curious about the strange expression on his face. “Don’t you like Murphy’s?”

“I just don’t fit in well at parties.”

“Please,” I pouted.

He frowned, then moved around the desk to grab his suit coat. “We’ll see. As for now, I’m starving. Let’s go grab some dinner.”

“Um…sure. Where do you want to go?” It was pretty clear he was trying to change the subject, and I was interested in why.

“Do you like Thai?”

As if on cue, my stomach growled at the mention of one of my favorite foods, reminding me I had skipped lunch.

All right, you get a pass this time. My hungry belly is calling to me.

“That sounds so good right now, and I haven’t had Thai in ages.”

“Then Thai it is. We’ll get takeout and bring it to my place. Then we can start on your list,” he added, flashing me a sexy lopsided smile.

“You want to start checking things off right away, do you?”

“We could jump right to the yellow highlighted things,” he suggested.

“You’re too much,” I said, shaking my head. My stomach rumbled again. “Food first, then we’ll see where the night takes us.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Miss Cole. I plan on taking you to many places tonight.”

I could only hope I was up for the challenge.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Krystina

Alexander dumped the bags of takeout on the dining room table.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to round up some utensils and plates,” he told me, heading to the kitchen.

I kicked off my shoes and went to work on emptying the contents of the Thai takeout. When I opened the container of red chicken curry, steam wafted from the entrée, causing my mouth to water. I dipped my finger into the sauce to have a taste.

“You’re still dressed,” Alexander said from behind me, causing me to jump out of my skin. I guiltily sucked the remaining sauce off my finger.

“Why wouldn’t I be?” I asked, confused at first, but then I understood his meaning. When he told me to make myself comfortable, it was really a guise for wanting me to strip. “You didn’t actually expect me to be naked while we eat, did you?”

“I said always, Krystina.”

“Sorry, Stone. A girl has to eat. I need substance before I can begin your shenanigans.”

“You agreed to try,” he pointed out.

He looked frustrated with me for not cooperating. I wasn’t confident I could bring myself to eat dinner without any clothes, naked under his scrutinizing gaze.

Oh, to hell with it.

It wasn’t like he hadn’t already seen every part of me.

“Fine,” I spat out, aggravated because I was famished. “Where should I go to prepare myself to your liking?”