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Tyler arched a brow at her. She nodded. “I hear the shrimp is excellent.”
“Shrimp and ribs,” he corrected, and pointed to a nearby table where a server delivered plates piled high with skewers of barbecue shrimp and racks of baby back ribs. “Surf and turf, Bluelick style.”
Her gorgeous mouth fell open. “Oh my God. I can’t eat that much.”
“You were hungry when I picked you up. You must be downright starving after our ride.”
Her eyes cut to his and she shifted in her seat. The tiny move told him she remembered every aspect of their ride, in intimate detail. He remembered the flash of black silk beneath her skirt. Continuing in a deliberately seductive drawl, he said, “I want to make sure we completely satisfy your appetite.”
The waiter coughed and cleared his throat. “Two shrimp and ribs?”
Tyler nodded. The young man smiled politely and departed.
Ellie squirmed again and then glanced at Tyler.
He leaned in, close enough to smell her perfume. “Tell me, Doc, how’s the underwear working out for you?”
She twirled the stem of her wineglass between restless fingers and stared out at the river. “They’re very, um, distracting.”
“I think that’s part of the thrill. If it’s any consolation, they’ve been distracting me ever since you mentioned them.”
The soft light played over the curve of her cheek and wove midnight highlights in the dark curtain of her hair. He gave in to the urge to sweep it back from her face, so he could see her eyes.
“I have to say, I’m flattered you dressed up for me, so to speak.”
“Well, I’m no Lou Ann. I need all the enhancements.”
He scooted his chair closer. She jerked in surprise when he slid his hand under the tablecloth and over her knees. “You do not,” he said softly.
She resorted to quoting the authorities. “The book I ordered included very specific information about the proper attire for this kind of thing.”
“The book?” Determined to prove her wrong, he insinuated his hand between her knees.
“What are you doing?” Her voice came out slightly pitchy.
“Making a point.” He eased his hand under her knee and ran it slowly along her calf, lifting her leg in the process. “You’re expanding your horizons, remember? Answer the question. What book?”
“I ordered a how-to guide so I could figure out what I needed to learn and, you know…” She trailed off when he curled his fingers around her delicate ankle and removed her strappy high-heeled sandal. “…study, so I’d be prepared.”
“Let me get this straight. You decide you want more action and adventure in your sex life, so first thing you do is buy a book and study up? Does that strike you as ironic?” He ran his thumb slowly along her arch, applying just enough pressure to make her moan.
“It’s…logical,” she finally managed.
“Logical, huh?” Keep a straight face, he ordered himself, but his lips twitched.
“Jeez, Tyler, don’t hurt yourself. Go ahead and laugh, but I honestly don’t see what’s so funny. If I want to improve at something, I learn as much as I can about the topic and then put what I’ve learned into practice. Why approach this any differently?”
Her irritation, as much as her linear reasoning, unleashed the laugh he’d struggled to hold back. She tried to tug her foot free, but he held on.
“Simmer down, Doc. I’m about to show you why.” With that, he placed her foot in the V between his legs, so there was no way she could miss the highly compelling evidence supporting his argument. “You do this to me just the way you are. No fancy underwear or how-to book needed.”
Her eyes widened, and then, yes, there it was. She blushed.
“I’m sure it’s just the wine and candlelight. Or tea and candlelight, in your case.” Although she tried to joke, her toes curled into him, torturing him with the small exploration.
He wrapped his hand around the top of her foot, holding here there. “It’s not the candlelight.” He squeezed her foot and swept his thumb over her ankle. “I’d love to know why it’s so tough to believe you alone might do the job. Why you think you need lessons on driving a man wild? Enlighten me, Doc.”
Chapter Six
