Page 9 of His Alone

The arrival of a refill stopped me before I could figure out how to ask. James declined the offer of dessert and looked to me with raised eyebrows.

“I ate a little at the party, but if you’re still hungry and you like cheesecake, I would strongly suggest it.”

I nodded and finished off my plate while we waited for my dessert to arrive. James sipped his coffee and watched me, making me blush yet again.

“Will you stop that?”

“Stop what?”

“Watching me.”

James cocked his head to the side and grinned. After a long moment of staring straight into my eyes, he shrugged and said, “Nope.”

“No?” I gaped, grateful that I didn’t have a mouthful of food because my jaw literally dropped. “Why not?”

“I like watching you.”

“I… I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“Good.” When I glared at him, he elaborated. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered. Your cheeks get all pink and your eyes go wide… it’s adorable.”

“Well, you…” I trailed off, unable to shake the nervous fluttering in my stomach. With a small laugh, I said, “You must find me ‘cute’ a lot then. You fluster me very easily.”

“I know. I like it.” He took another sip of his coffee, his eyes hooding over as he continued to watch me. He seemed to wait until I calmed before he said, “But I don’t generally think ‘cute’ when I look at you. ‘Beautiful’ comes to mind more frequently. Tonight though, I’d go with gorgeous.”

I swore my heart stopped beating. He was smiling again, but it wasn’t one of amusement at my reaction. No, this was an easy, gentle smile that gave me no reason to think he was playing with me. He was totally serious.

Again—heart-stopping. Or at least skipping several beats.

“I—”

“Your cheesecake, miss. Enjoy! Is there anything else I can get you two?”

James waved his hand through the air, never taking his eyes from me.

“The check, please. No rush.”

“Sure thing, Dr. Reynolds.”

The waitress trotted away and I cursed the entire staff of the restaurant for their poor timing. Or maybe it was good timing because I honestly had no idea what was about to come spilling out of my mouth after his last confession.

We talked very little while I ate my cheesecake and finished the little coffee we had left. I excused myself to the ladies’ room while he paid the check, taking a moment to stand in front of the mirror and stare at myself as I tried in vain to figure out how the rest of the night was going to go.

He said it wasn’t a date, so would he even try to get me to go home with him? Was he that kind of man? Regardless of how I already felt, I still barely knew him. Was I really ready to go home with him if he asked me to?

I needed to decide now. If I waited, I didn’t think I’d have the strength to deny him. Despite my brain warning me against it, my heart and body wanted him desperately. Deep down, I knew I had to say no. I wouldn’t be able to stop overthinking things if I said yes. I’d ruin the whole experience with my doubts and the thought of possibly regretting it made me queasy.

I was sure of my decision when I exited the bathroom, but I still prayed that he wouldn’t bring it up. That he’d stick to the ‘not a date’ line of thinking and skip the whole awkward conversation.

We got back into the Mercedes and he cranked the heat up the moment the doors were shut. I swallowed around the lump in my throat while I buckled my seatbelt, watching in my peripheral while he glanced between me and his phone.

“Where am I taking you?”

Oh, God.

“I can’t! I’m sorry. I-I’m not ready yet. I—Tonight was great and all, but I—”

“Piper.”

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