Page 51 of The Dating Dare

“This is getting better and better. You were studying to become a winemaker?”

“Yes, yes. The irony runs deep.” Tara smiled at Seth, who was much more relaxed than he was a few minutes ago. “But I realized pretty quickly that what I wanted to do was become a master sommelier, so I shifted the focus of my courses to follow that path. I loved it.”

“When did you realize that viticulture and enology wasn’t the right major for you?” He was sitting crossed-legged on his side of the bed facing her, eager to hear the rest of her story.

“My college boyfriend decided that for me,” she said quietly, nagging shame digging its claws into her. She’d let him decide for her.

“What?” he said in a measured voice.

“Jason said I was wasting my time because it was almost impossible for women to become master sommeliers. He implied I certainly wouldn’t be able to become one.”How dare he?she roared inside her head, still blindingly angry after all these years. Some of that anger was directed at herself for being too afraid to stand up to him. “He chastised me for not thinking of my immigrant parents, who worked so hard to give me a good life, and told me to choose a nice, stable career for them. He convinced me that graphic design was a fitting job for someone like me.”

“Tara,” Seth said, a wealth of empathy resonating in the single word.

“I was so much in love, and so damn young. I believed everything he said was because he loved me and wanted the best for me. I suddenly felt guilty about not thinking about my parents. I felt foolish for pursuing a pipe dream when I had them to think of.”

“God, Tara. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I know you loved him, but your ex was an arrogant, misogynistic asshole. He had no right to say any of that belittling shit to you. They were all lies.” He reached out and smoothed her hair behind her ear. “Never doubt that you’re a good person, and you can do whatever you set out to do.”

Emotion choked her, and the back of her eyes prickled with impending tears. “Well, my adventures in enology weren’t a complete waste. The lessons on body, scent, and flavor apply to beer as well. I think my background in wine has given me a leg up for brewing and aging beer to give it different nuances and layers.”

He seemed conflicted for a moment, as though he wanted to ask more about her relationship with Jason, but also to let her move on to safer topics. To her relief, he chose the latter. “I can see that. Your brews are amazing.”

“See. Everything in life has meaning. You just need to find out what it is.”

Seth muttered under his breath. She couldn’t quite catch it. Something about breaking someone’s jaw. She tucked her chin to hide her smile, appreciating his anger on her behalf. It was sweet.

She thought that a lot. That Seth was sweet. It happened so gradually that she had no idea how much her opinion of him had changed. She would never have thought that the cocky, superficial playboy could be so sweet. Maybe it was because he wasn’t who she’d thought hewas. He was more. Her heart picked up speed, and her mind asked too many questions at once.No.She didn’t want to think about that.

He was looking at her with an inscrutable expression, and she decided she didn’t want to know what he was thinking either.

“So are you really going to be a Boy Scout and just sleep tonight?” she blurted.

“The last couple weeks of being near you but not having you was more than I can handle. I want you so much, I don’t think I could be gentle. I don’t want to risk hurting your ankle more.” The heat in his eyes and the rough regret in his voice shot straight to her vagina.

“You can’t say sexy things like that and not put out.” She flopped back onto her pillows and grabbed the front of her shirt, fanning herself briskly. “Why is it so fucking hot in here?”

Seth lay down next to her, chuckling low in his chest. The vibrations reverberated in her stomach, making all the butterflies take flight. He leaned in close and ran the back of his fingers down her bare leg. “Are you feeling frustrated?”

“Yes, dammit. I’m unbearably frustrated, and I want you to make love to menow.”

“May I suggest a compromise that we both will be happy with?” His clever hand traveled toward her inner thigh. “Let me elevate your leg for you.”

“It’s already elevated to high hell.” Then her eyes widened as Seth lifted her injured leg by her calf and methodically removed a pillow at a time. Her breath came in small puffs. “What are you doing?”

“Elevating your leg,” he cooed as he hiked her leg over his shoulder, crouching low near the bottom of the bed. “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes,” she squeaked. “Very.”

He turned his head and kissed the inside of her thigh, one side then the next. He’d shaved his accidental beard, and she appreciatedthe smoothness of his cheeks. “I’m going to make you feel good now. Okay?”

“Okay.” Then she added, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” His voice was a gruff rumble, and the heat of his breath licked at her center.

She let her head flop back onto her pillow, hot and cold at once. He was going to kill her. She was going to die.But, hey. There are worse ways to go.

Seth leaned back in the office chair and stared blankly at the ceiling. The lighting in the small office at the back of the restaurant was rather dim. Maybe he should’ve had some extra recessed lighting put in yesterday when the electricians were installing them in the dining hall.Nah.That probably would’ve been overkill. He should just let the interior decorator know the office needed a desk lamp.

As his brain prattled away, he realized how exhausted he was. He hadn’t slept in four days. In Mammoth, sleep proved elusive after watching Tara fall apart like a goddess against his mouth. And since they got back, it had been torturous not to see her while she rested her ankle at home. Three days of their disappearing time together was spent apart, and he felt the loss acutely. Maybe he should’ve snuck in through her bedroom window to see her.Ha!But he wanted to see her so desperately that he wasn’t above playing the role of a lovesick teenager.

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