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I looked toward the door knowing he’d be out soon, or the food would arrive. “Even if I wanted to. I can’t. He said I still love you to someone, which doesn’t sound anything like something he’d say to his mother. Which means he’s at the very least emotionally involved with someone. I’m not going there.”
“Maybe you misheard. You should ask him.”
“I should let him think I was spying on his conversation by bringing it up.” I shook my head. “What am I even saying? I just met him, and he’ll be gone in a day or two.”
“You said he’s from Clinestown. Which is practically up the road from home. You could very well see him again.”
“In a few months. I’m here in New York, assuming I stay for that long.”
“Sigh. You are making this more complicated. If he makes a move, ask him. You’re good at reading the bullshit meter.”
“I’ll think about it. Anyway, I have to go. Our food is going to arrive soon, and I promised Mom I’d call.”
Mom’s phone went to voicemail. She was probably napping. I left her a message and sat on the sofa. I closed my eyes for a second or at least I thought I did.
I woke up when I heard voices, but that isn’t what shocked me fully awake. Liam stood at the open door with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist as the waiter arranged the food on the table. Then, the waiter was gone, and I did my best to keep my jaw off the floor. The man was ripped. Was there such thing as an eight pack?
His eyes dropped to his towel. “Sorry. When they kept knocking, I thought maybe you were in the other bathroom.”
“Umm…” Words, Natalie. Use words. “I nodded off. I was more tired than I thought,” I babbled, grateful I’d yet to drool.
“I should probably get dressed.”
Bobbing my head was a good thing considering I was having a hard time thinking.
“Go ahead and eat what you want. I’ll be back.”
Still bobbing like a bobblehead. What the heck was wrong with me? You’d think I’d never been around a good-looking guy in my life. I had. And generally speaking, if they didn’t have a girlfriend, they were jerks. The good ones were always taken.
I wanted to ignore my stomach, but the growling sounds that filled the room made it impossible. I eased over to the table and lifted one of the stainless-steel domes. The aroma that wafted up to me was intoxicating. I shifted the chair so I could sit, unable to deny my hunger a second longer.
Only my luck would have it so I’d practically unhinged my jaw to take a huge bite when he showed up, dressed, unfortunately.
“Looks good,” he said.
It was too late to stop eating. My molars had already touched down on the bun. If I pulled it out, there would be teeth sized marks there. I went all in and chomped down like an all you can eat champ.
I murmured something inconsequential because there was a party in my mouth. Maybe I was still standing out in front of the hospital, in a frostbite haze. How did a burger taste so good? A burger was a burger everywhere wasn’t it? My taste buds were doing the cha-cha as my brain tried to process.
“That good?”
I looked up as I felt ketchup, or whatever condiments were on this heavenly creation, at the corners of my mouth. I used two fingers to wipe at the edges before nodding like a crazed woman.
“I thought so based on the sounds you were making,” he added.
Tomato probably couldn’t describe the color of my cheeks based on the heat I felt there. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was cute and is a good recommendation for the burger.” He lifted the dome and took a fry first. I would have watched him if that wasn’t so creepy. My focus did shift to him again when he picked up one of the wine bottles. “Nice. I didn’t order these. Want some?”
“Sure.” Last thing I needed was to get drunk around this man. But one glass wouldn’t hurt and maybe it would calm my nerves.
He reached for the glasses and I took note of his worn jeans that hugged his ass nicely as he shifted to reach the bottle opener. I totally needed to forget about his ass. I wasn’t ever this horny. I’d never sexualized a man in this way. Jody, yes. Me, no. I’d admired good-looking guys, but I never pictured myself naked with them.
“Here you go,” he said, handing me a full glass.
Crap, I’d been in a daze, I hadn’t noticed his return. I took it eagerly and had a sip. I wasn’t a wine expert, but it worked with the burger. Fancy. Who knew?
It wasn’t long before all the food was gone and so was all the wine.
