AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No need.” The waitress grinned, looking between us. “I’ll put your order in.” She rushed off, leaving me alone with Cyrus.
“I hope you’re fine with what I ordered us,” he said, his eyes dropping to our joined hands. His calloused thumb brushed back and forth over the base of my palm.
Pulling my phone out of my small clutch, I placed it on the table and began typing with my free hand.
Me: Thank you for taking me out. I’m having a very good time. I can’t ever repay you for this.
His phone dinged as soon as I hit send. He pulled it out of his inner pocket and placed it on the table between us. “You don’t have to thank me, pet.”
Me: I do. Most guys wouldn’t do this.
“What?” He frowned. “Take you out on a date?”
I nodded.
“I’m not a romantic kind of guy but for you, Ainsley, I will be.” His eyes burned into mine at his confession.
Me: Why?
“I’m not sure yet but when I figure it out, you’ll be the first to know.” He pulled his hand from mine and sat back in the booth.I like you but I also know you’re guarded to protect yourself,he signed.
I want to be less guarded.I met his gaze.With you.
“It’ll happen. We’re only just getting to know each other, babe. Can’t expect to spill all of our dirty secrets just yet.”
I laughed lightly.
“Tell me one thing about yourself. One thing you wouldn’t normally tell someone on the first date. I’ll go first.” He thought a moment.
Wouldn’t this be our second date since we had breakfast together already? And you also spent the night at my place...
A slow grin spread on his face. “That’s true actually. Okay, pretend this is our first date then.” He chuckled. “I enjoy getting into fights.”
I already knew that.
His chuckle deepened. “I couldn’t think of anything else.”
I kneed a guy in the balls once because he backed me into a corner, and I didn’t know what else to do.Why the hell did I just tell him that?
The smile fell from Cyrus’s face. “You should have kicked him in the knees, pet. He would have gone down much quicker. Surprisingly, a lot of guys can handle the pain of being kneed in the groin.”
I swallowed hard at the intensity rolling off of him. Pulling the paper napkin off the table, I started picking it apart piece by piece. The little bits of the soft paper, rained down over my dress and fell to the floor beneath me.
The spot beside me dipped suddenly.
My head snapped up, finding Cyrus sitting directly beside me. His body was turned toward me, almost like he was insisting on giving me his full attention.
I’m sorry,he signed, his long fingers moving with each word he spoke.I didn’t mean to upset you.
I placed the napkin on the table and brushed off my lap before grabbing his hands. I brought them to my mouth, kissing his fingers. It was a bold move on my part, one that I never expected to do, but I wanted him to know that he never needed to apologize. Not for the noise in my head, not for the anxiety rushing through me. None of it was his fault. At all.
His eyes darkened.
I was vaguely aware of the waitress bringing over our milkshakes and pie.
Cyrus murmured his thanks but never took his eyes off of me.
Clearing my throat, I dropped his hands and dished us a piece of pie each.
