AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The waiter carefully set our drinks in front of us.
“Do you know why not? I’m taking notes.”
“You always do. And no, I’m not sure. Maybe it’s the workload. Maybe it’s my shining personality.”
Cici giggled into her wineglass, taking a sip before she answered me. “I push people away.”
I nodded. “I’ve done that before. Many times in fact.”
“And yet you wanted this date really, really bad.”
“Notthatbad.”
Those dark-blue eyes danced with mine. “Pretty bad. You begged.”
“Fine, I begged. Maybe I just felt like I saw something in you, more than all the outside stuff that appealed to me. Is that so awful?” I boldly kept her gaze.
“It’s not. Not at all.” Cici took another sip. “Honestly, it’s really refreshing to talk to someone so frankly about all of this.
“Transparency is kind of my policy. In all things,” I admitted.
“Transparency.” She seemed to mull the word over. Then her lovely face split into a wide smile. “I like it.
“If you like that, you’re going to lose it over my policy regarding promptness.”
Cici’s head tipped back, laughter rippling through her body. “I can’t wait to hear it. But first, crab cakes?”
“Whatever you want.”
Her eyes were hot on mine. I pressed a palm against my stomach, feeling the jump in my muscles. It was hard to not get excited, especially when she looked at me like that.
***
Cici
Dinner was perfect. The food was top-notch, the buttery tang of the wine lovely, but it was the company that really sealed the deal. Brady was a different animal entirely.
I could see the rigidity of him at times. But he hadn’t been kidding when he’d talked about how he was transparent all the time. He didn’t dodge my questions. In fact, he seemed to welcome my questions and teasing.
More than once he returned my remarks with clever rebuttals, sending us into a dinner that lasted far into the night.
After the waiter started giving us meaningful looks, Brady requested the bill. I watched him, surprised by how much I just enjoyed that. The way he held the heavy pen in his hands. How he rolled that full bottom lip with his teeth as he signed his name.
Like I said. Wickedly attractive.
Worry twisted at my gut. This guy would be so easy to fall for. To fall apart for. And I couldn’t do that.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Liar. You’re panicking about how much you like me, aren’t you?” Brady sent me a cocky grin.
I could feel the blood leave my face. “Wha—? How?”
Brady’s handsome face went blank too. “Cici, I’m sorry. I was only teasing.” He leaned forward. “You were panicking though? You don’t need to worry. I’m happy to take things slow. There’s no rush from me.”
“I know. I just…” I gulped, suddenly feeling light-headed. “Oh gosh, is it hot in here?”
