Page 15 of The Perfect Secret

She chewed on her bottom lip. It tasted of him—minty. He was right. Their kiss was hot, bone-melting bliss. His imprint still seared her mouth, her body still tingled from want, her heart still flip-flopped in her chest.

He reached across the table, clasped her hand in his and squeezed. “Don’t be embarrassed.”

Instead, she’d be turned on, all night if necessary.

He squeezed her hand again and with a nod, she leaned forward. “How’s your leg?”

He dropped her hand, clenched his jaw, and stopped massaging his leg. “It’s good to sit.” His lips, to which she wasdeveloping an attachment, formed each word with care, as if he spoke a foreign language.

“Yes, it is. All our walking made me tired and hungry.”

The restaurant was lovely. The dining room was decorated in pale gold with indirect lighting. Palm fronds softened the room. Large windows offered a view of the patio and the neighborhood outside. Red brick buildings glowed pink from the streetlights and the street still bustled at this time of night. Checking the reflection in the glass, she saw his shoulders loosen and his body appear less stone-like. She’d looked forward to this date too much to mess it up with an ill-timed question. Although she wanted him to know she was concerned for him, she didn’t want him to mistake it for pity.

Hannah scanned the Mediterranean offerings on the menu the waiter gave them, grateful for something ordinary to think about.

“I’ve seen excellent reviews of their fish online, by the way,” Dan said. When the waiter returned for their drink order, Dan looked up from his menu. “Do you want wine?”

“Mm, I’ll have a glass of your Riesling, please.”

“I’ll have water.”

If he didn’t order wine, maybe she shouldn’t either. “I don’t have to get—”

Dan shook his head. “Not at all. I suggested it, remember?”

The waiter left with their drink order and Dan reached for her hand. “Relax, okay?”

She nodded, focused on the texture of his skin—harder than hers, yet soft at the same time. “I loved the planetarium. Now when I look at the night sky, I’ll think of the planetarium’s diorama of the constellations.”

“I enjoyed watching your reactions. It’s always fun seeing things through other people’s eyes.”

“What did you see in mine?”

He reclined in his chair, his lips pursed. “I saw delight and wonder. You’re intelligent and appreciate beauty. You’ve got a great sense of humor, yet can be shy at times, and”—he bent forward—“you’re an amazing kisser.”

Hannah leaned back. “There’s no way you could have learned all of that from watching me at the planetarium.” Her mouth and her brain were out of sync as, in her head, she focused on the last thing he’d said. He liked her kisses. She resisted the urge to touch her lips. He was already laughing at her.

“Nope. Well, the delight and wonder are from the planetarium. The rest are my own powers of observation at different times. Although I’ll confess I spent most of the evening thinking about your lips.”

She bit hers, watching his gaze follow, before she decided to be brave. “Well, in that case, you’ll have to add messy eater to the list.”

“No more than I am. I’ll give you a pass on it.”

“Gee, thanks, you’re so kind.”

He shrugged. “What can I say?”

“Are you ready to order?” The waiter interrupted their conversation and placed Hannah’s wine in front of her. She scanned the menu again and they placed their orders.

When the waiter left, Hannah shook her head.

“What is it?”

“Role reversal,” she said. At his frown, she continued. “When I first met you, you seemed a little awkward or uncomfortable.” When he started to speak, she stopped him by holding up her hand. “No, it was sweet, different from what I’m used to. Tonight, I’m the one who’s awkward and you’re the one cracking jokes.”

He nodded. “It happens to the best of us, I think. At least I hope so.”

She raised her shoulders and made her eyes go wide. “The couple who’s awkward together…”

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