Page 10 of Shake Your Love
Sitting across from him at the nicest steak house in town, I am having the best night ever. We’ve talked about movies, music, how he had a rough upbringing compared to my pampered one. I have been totally besotted all night with him—but I can tell he doubts this thing between us.
Pierce has nothing to doubt—he is the most charming, sweet, attentive, handsome man I have ever known. During dinner he has held my hand, our fingers laced tightly on the table, he has never taken his eyes off me, and I am totally spoiled by his attention. It might be my first real date, but even with little to compare it to, I consider it the best date ever.
“Pierce,” I whisper his name, loving the way his eyes flash whenever I say it. “This is the best first date ever. My firstrealdate. How will you top this? It has been perfect.”
Bowing his head a little, his cheeks flush as he smiles. Gosh, he is just the cutest thing ever. Being with him makes me feel so good. I am drawn to him in a way I have never felt with anyone before. I can’t think of anywhere else, or anyone else, I rather be than here, with him.
“Will I be getting another date?”
His dark blue eyes meet mine as I nod. His hand tightens on mine on the table. My breathing picks up as his tongue drags across his full bottom lip. I imagine him licking my mouth that same way, the way he does each time he kisses me. As if he loves how my mouth tastes.
“Were you going to ask me for another date, honey?”
His eyes light up as he nods. “Never had a second date with someone before. Guess I ought to start thinking about how totop tonight, huh?”
Laughing with him, I nod. I would not care where he took me or what we did, I just want to see him again. I want to talk to him, to laugh with him, to be close to him, the way we have tonight. Just thinking of the date ending and us going our separate ways at the apartment makes me a little sad.
“Here you go, folks. No rush on that, have a good night you two.”
Glancing up at the waiter, I smile. It has been a wonderful night with good wine, delicious food, and the best guy ever as company. I start to tell him how I loved the meal but think he could make it better, when I notice he seems panicked. Giving his hand a squeeze, I try to calm him down.
“Honey, what is wrong?” I wonder gently, cocking my head at him.
Pierce is pale, his eyes downcast, a whispered string of curses I can barely hear falling from his lips. Dropping my hand, he stands, patting his pockets in search of something. He even goes to the ground, lifting up the tablecloth and peering beneath the table.
“No, no, no. This cannot be happening. I cannot believe this. I am so stupid, Paige. I am so sorry. I....I was...see, the thing is I... earlier tonight.”
Standing, I go to him, immediately wanting to comfort him. To calm whatever chaos is going on in his head. He sighs as I press close, his strong arm going tight around my waist.
“Talk to me,” I whisper gently, brushing my lips over his jaw.
“Babe, I don’t have anything to pay for dinner. I was so damn nervous for tonight. To take you out somewhere nice, to do our first date right. I changed my jacket because Brenden...well, my best friend, he was there, he was...doesn’tmatter. My wallet is at home. I am so freaking stupid!”
“Oh, honey, calm down,” I husk, cupping his face in my hands so he has to meet my gaze. “Let’s not talk about ourselves that way, huh? It is the eighties, honey, I am a strong, independent woman. Who said you had to pay our way tonight? Let me do it. Don’t let it ruin the night.”
Touching his forehead to mine as he takes a deep breath, he shakes his head. I pull him closer, not caring that the entire swanky restaurant is getting a show. Let them watch us, what do I care? All I care about is him knowing it changes nothing, that it does not matter to me one bit.
“I am the man, baby,” he rasps against my mouth. “I asked you out tonight. I planned it...I should be the one to pay. I don’t have much to give you, Paige. I figured I could give you at least a nice night out. I screwed up. How could I do something so stupid on our first date?”
“Ah, you just said it, didn’t you? Our first date. Not our last. Next time it will be on you. Tonight, it can be on me. I promise it is no big deal.”
Sighing with a nod, he agrees. I can tell it bothers him which just proves how good of a guy he is. If he did not care, if he were trying to be slick or something, it would show. He does care. It is bothering him much more than it ought to that I am going to have to cover tonight. I meant what I said to him a moment ago.
It is the eighties, baby, a woman can pay the check too.
“Come on, take me home,” I urge with a playful waggle of my brows. I grin as his arm tightens on me, a little growl rumbling from his chest.
“Don’t gotta ask me twice, baby,” he purrs, brushing his mouth over mine as I toss some cash on the table.
Holding my hand, he leads me back out to the truck he borrowed from his best friend. While I think it is adorable hethought he had to impress me tonight, I would not have minded a night out in his beat-up van. He had no need to get a flashier car or take me to the nicest place in town tonight.
He has no idea I am a sure thing—I want Pierce if he wants me.
“What’re you thinking about over there?”
He wonders softly as we head back home, my hand still tightly laced with his on my lap. Flushing because I cannot tell him what I was just thinking, I bounce a shoulder. With him watching me, I change my mind. I want to tell him what I was thinking. That I am a sure thing—his if he wants.
“Our night is not over, is it?” I wonder, biting my lip as a Heart song fills the cab of the truck with a soundtrack to my shyness.
