Page 41 of Deception and New Direction

Her eyes widened and then leaned to look over my shoulder before she ducked her head into my chest. “OhmyGod, he just waved from the front door.Hetotally saw that.”

“Good,”Ireplied. “Maybenow he’ll finally lay off you about datingArcher.”

She leaned her head back to look at me and smiled. “Actually, if he knows it bothers you, he’ll keep it up for that reason alone.”

“Of course he would,”Igrumbled, shaking my head. “Alright, get in the car beforeIgive him a real show.”

She complied, butIdidn’t miss the heat that popped into her eyes at my comment.Goodto know she still had those lustful thoughts after last night.

“We’re going out to dinner,”Isaid asIbacked out of the driveway. “Thatconversation withRonaldwas a lot to take in, soIdon’t want to add to your plate by having you cook.Andfor the safety of both of us,Ishouldn’t cook either.”

She snorted and just shook her head, butIsaw the little grin on her face, which made it all worth it.Ireached over and grabbed her hand, resting them intertwined on her leg, whileIdrove with my left hand.Shedidn’t pull back, soItook that as a good sign.

15

RUTHIE

We pulled into a steakhouse, which was a bit nicer thanIwas expecting, and that made me nervous.Itwasn’t thatIfelt out of place because of howIwas dressed—you could always go to a southern-style steakhouse in jeans and never be out of place.Itmade me nervous because it felt like a date.

We sat down and ordered our drinks beforeIperused the menu, sinceIhad never been here before.

“What sounds good?”Jackasked me.

He probably expected me to pick a salad or something dainty, but that wasn’t whoIwas.

“Definitely steak.Justtrying to figure out which side to go with—asparagus because it’s healthy, or loaded baked potato because it sounds better.”

He chuckled. “Whatcut of steak is your favorite?”

“Probably ribeye.It’sa little fatty but worth it—kind of like me,”Isaid then quickly held up my hand before he could interrupt. “Stop.Iknow you’re going to sayI’mnot fat, because all guys say that.Itwas a little self-deprecating humor,Jack.I’mnot body-shaming myself, thoughIdo miss being able to go to the gym and do kickboxing class or run after work—neither of whichIhave been able to do since getting my cast.”

Knowing he would still step in to say something, because that was the type of guy he was,Idecided to change the subject. “What’sthe weirdest thing you’ve googled lately?”

“Can a greyhound dog eat an entire stick of butter and still live a normal life?”Jackresponded looking sheepish.

I gasped. “Dashate an entire stick of butter?”

“More like two-thirds, but according to the internet, he will be fine,”Jackresponded, his head slightly downturned, as if embarrassedDashate something bad under his watch.

I didn’t get too upset about it becauseDashate weird things all the time—sticks, pinecones, dandelions.Therewas nothing off-limits to my weird dog.

“What about you?”Jackasked. “Whatthe weirdest thing you’ve googled lately?”

“Can stress make you grow taller?Ifeel like short people would want to know that.”Igrinned, making it obvious that the short person was me.

He laughed but didn’t say anything, soIasked a new question—a more challenging one. “What’sa secret you’d never admit on a first date?”

He leaned forward, his elbows on the table as he thought about how to answer that. “Ican kill a man with my bare hands in less than eight seconds.”

I knew he was in the military and that he had even beenSpecialForces, soIknew he could be deadly when needed, butIhadn’t realized he could kill someone so fast.

Our server came to take our order beforeJackreturned to ask me the same question. “Yourturn.Secretyou’d never admit on a date.”

“I sleep with my dog and cuddle him,”Itold him.

He shook his head at me. “That’slame and not a big deal at all.Somethingelse.Somethingyou wouldn’t want a man to know.Aman you were highly interested in and would be mortified if he knew.”

I swallowed, knowing exactly whatIwould say but not sure ifIwantedJackto know this.Ithought about it and decided,Screwit. “Ihave three differentB.O.B.s, andIuse them frequently.”

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