Page 20 of Playing For Keeps

“Have you had dinner yet?” he asked.

“Not yet, just some snacks since lunch. You?”

“No. Would you… uh, would you like to stay for dinner? We can order something?” Technically he could have cooked, he’d gone grocery shopping, but he wasn’t mentally prepared.

“That would be great!”

She wandered over toward the living room, not waiting for him to lead the way. Farren sank down onto the couch, tucking one of her legs under the other and sampling the Prosecco. When he sat down a slight distance away, she giggled at him.

“I won’t bite. You know that, right?”

Sebastian took a page out of her book, blurting it out before he could overthink it to death. “It’s not you I’m worried about.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, her gaze roving over his body before she took another sip of her drink. “Well then. Let’s focus on food.”

He relaxed at the suggestion, pulling out his phone, and she did the same, both scrolling through their options.

“Is there anything you like, or dislike even? Any allergies?”

“No allergies, but not a huge fan of olives or jalapeños. You?” She looked up from her phone, paying attention to his answer, the screen highlighting the dusting of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

“Not really. I mean, cilantro kind of tastes like soap to me so it can ruin a meal real quick, but I’m not allergic or anything.” Sebastian shrugged, more focused on her than the task at hand.

“So, what I’m hearing is no Mexican food?”

He huffed out a chuckle and nodded, returning to his scrolling, stealing glances of her as she frowned in concentration. So damn cute. So damn detrimental to his carefully crafted life.

“There’s a Japanese place nearby that does delivery,” she suggested, and they scooted closer together to go over the menu. They placed their order: shrimp tempura roll for her, katsudon for him, and were left with a sense of “what now?”

Luckily for him, Farren seemed content to take the lead, relieving him of the mental burden of trying to make a good impression after a crazy long day at work.

“Any shows you’re watching at the moment? We could probably get an episode in before the food gets here, and then I’ll head out once we’re done eating. I know it’s been a long day for you, so I want to make sure you get to bed at a decent time!” It was said teasingly, as if she knew he struggled to sleep. He was struck by her kindness, by how she considered what he needed and seemed content to see it through.

Sebastian owed her, big time. First for his no-show at game night, and now this.

“You pick, I’m not really in the middle of anything.” It was a lie, he was four seasons deep into his Criminal Minds rewatch, but he doubted crime shows were the most romantic backdrop for dinner.

“You’re going to regret saying that,” she said, hand held out for the remote.

He deposited it into her palm with only a small amount of trepidation; whatever she had in mind would be worth getting to be with her.

“Remember you asked me to pick, okay? I don’t want to hear any complaints,” she warned as she clicked onto the show, a huge red rose and golden letters filling up the screen. He tried his best not to groan out loud. Sebastian knew the show only by reputation, but it was not something he ever would have chosen for himself.

The host came up on screen, introducing them to this season’s Bachelor. Farren settled into the couch, bringing her other leg up so she reclined against the arm, her sock-covered toes resting against the outside of his thigh. She made it seem like the most natural thing in the world, taking sips of Prosecco as they watched. Farren seemed to get very involved in the action onscreen, making little comments about each contestant’s entrance, explaining how the show worked.

Not that it would have been necessary, the host did a fine job of outlining each part of the evening to both the women and this season’s Bachelor. Halfway through the drama, in the middle of the first night’s party, the buzzer went off letting them know their food was there.

Sebastian answered and tipped the delivery person, grabbing cutlery on his way over. She helped him by splaying the food across the coffee table and pulling it closer to them. They ate and watched one woman get far too drunk, jumping into the pool in her fancy dress, the others making catty remarks behind her back. Farren assured him it wasn’t a proper season unless one of the contestants made a comment about either not being there to “make friends” or being there for the “right reasons” when referring to someone they thought wasn’t.

Had it been a drinking game, they both would have been wasted.

By the time the host announced it was the final rose for the night, the food was long-gone, Farren was curled into Sebastian’s side, and his heart was at peace. She was addictive. Her slightly spiced scent, her soft curves against the hard planes of his body, felt too right. The way she made him feel seemed like too much and not enough all at once. He breathed her in, his lips pressed to her temple.

“Thank you so much for this. Really. I appreciate it.” The words were whispered into her crown, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she snuggled against him briefly, fingers holding onto his shirt.

“Anytime, seriously.” Her body shifted. When she made a move to try and tidy up, he stilled her by pulling her into his embrace.

“Do you want me to give you a ride home?” he asked, kissing down her cheek, along the edge of her jaw.

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