Page 85 of Outlaw Heartstrings
His head tilts to the side and he chuckles. “I’m not some random dating app dude sitting across from you, Tiny Tiger. This is me and you here. I know how the wheels turn inside that pretty head of yours. And I’m telling you, you have every right to be here tonight.”
When he says that, I feel better. Because it’s Easton, I feel safe.
I smile at him. “Thank you,” I say before lifting my water glass to my lips. “Seriously, thank you for agreeing to help me with this, even though you probably just see me as a charity case.”
“No, Alba,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re most definitely not a charity case.”
“Easton, I’m a twenty-seven year old virgin on a practice date with my high school friend who’s only doing this because he thinks I’m too naive to face the dating world. I’d say that makes me a charity case.”
“Or maybe I’m here because the idea of you on a date with any other man makes my blood boil with jealousy. Did that ever cross your mind?” A slow flush sweeps across hischeeks. “I’m not being charitable, Alba. I’m being possessive as fuck.”
I almost spit out my water. “Possessive? Please.”
Gosh—this dude is such a sweet talker.
Easton’s face goes stern and serious. “Listen to me, woman. You are beautiful. Smart. Funny. And you look hot as fuck in that little red dress. Trust me, every man in this restaurant tonight has been checking you out since the moment we walked through the door.”
I glance around. “Me?”
Yes, people have been staring this way. But I was sure they were all staring at Easton. The man is practically a celebrity, after all.
With a brush of his knuckles along my jaw, he directs my attention back to him. “Yes, you.”
I focus my eyes on his and pull in a breath. “I’m going to let myself believe you,” I say, even though I don’t see all these supposed admirers Easton’s talking about.
Looking satisfied, he grabs a fresh roll then stretches the bread basket across the table to me. “Good. Now, relax and let me enjoy you.”
We order, we eat and we talk. Besides the fact that we’re both dressed up and we’re eating expensive food by candlelight, it doesn’t feel all that different from a normal night hanging out. Easton’s just easy to talk to. Easy to laugh with.
Yet somehow, he’s more…intensetonight. He’s always leaning forward, hanging onto every word I say, staring at me like I’m the most interesting thing in the restaurant.
We get caught up in our own little world, losing track of time. By the time my attention comes back to our surroundings, almost three hours have flown by.
Easton glances over his shoulder once I’ve pushed myhalf-eaten chocolate mousse cake to the side. “Should we get out of here?”
“Definitely, yes,” I say as Mr. Drummond stomps past our table with a broom and dustpan in hand.
When our server swings by, Easton pays the bill with a generous tip. My coworker looks at me with wide eyes as she hands me a doggy bag containing our leftovers. Legs still wobbling, I stand and Easton drapes his suit jacket over my shoulders, ushering me toward the exit.
My smokin’ hot date nods at my best friend as we pass by the hostess stand. “Good night, Jules.”
She flashes that big grin again. “Enjoy the rest of your night, you two. I should probably say,don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. But I wouldn’t mean it.”
When I wave at her over my shoulder, she tosses me the most over-the-top wink and I giggle. I love Jules so much. She’s the best cheerleader a girl could ask for.
Easton pulls the door open, allowing me to exit first. As we cross the street, his palm slides down the length of my spine and I shiver with delight. His hand on my lower back is quickly becoming one of my favorite things.
“I had a really great time tonight.” I throw him a sidelong glimpse as we walk.
“I did, too,” he says, unable to keep from grinning as he gives me yet another slow once-over, from head to toe.
“Why are you smiling like that?” I ask him as I step onto the curb.
“Because every man in that restaurant wanted to take you home tonight.” He leans close, allowing his nose to graze along the column of my neck before pressing a kiss to my jaw. “But I’m the lucky fucker who actually gets to.”
32
EASTON
