Page 32 of With a Broken Wing
“You look nice. I realized… I didn’t…Shit,why am I so nervous now?” The way she stumbled over her words, landing her sentence in a fit of laughter, went straight to my cock. I was in a typical black suit, something she’d seen me in countless times.
I leaned in over her shoulder, grabbing the handle of the door and pausing before I pulled it open for her. “You’re nervous because I turn you on.” She gasped, and I chuckled against her before pulling the door open and gesturing for her to step through. “Are you going to go? We do have a reservation to get to.”
The way she half hesitated made me think she’d stumble over herself, but she gracefully hurried through the door and down the marble stairs to the sidewalk. I settled in next to her, walking between her and the curb. There was an almost sparkle to her eyes when she looked around at the excitement of the French Quarter.
People played music on every corner and couples grasping onto each other danced their way through large groups. Doors to the bars were open, and her eyes lingered on a palm reading sign.
Andy was nearly skipping by the time we’d made it the couple of blocks to the restaurant. Her ability to turn any emotion into excitement was contagious, and I found myself smiling as we walked in. The restaurant was dim, with elegant chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Mahogany paneling and antique mirrors lined the walls, and the wood floors nearly shimmered beneath Andy’s heels.
The building sat on the street corner, and with so many windows, you got a view no matter where you sat. I bribed the petite hostess to give us a table off to the side with the best view. Andy had never been to New Orleans, so I was going to show her New Orleans—starting with watching the daytime crowd fade into the night life through windows that had seen years of history.
Shortly after being seated, we had drinks in hand. She swirled the red wine around her glass, following the movement with her hazel eyes.
“Thank you for accompanying me. I’m sure Erin appreciates the vacation time, and you’ve handled her tasks very well.”
She rolled her eyes, bringing the glass to her full lips. “You said this trip was an easy one, and I appreciate the money. So thank you for trusting me?” It came out as more of a question, and the way her nerves radiated off her made me laugh. It was almost instant the way she went from skipping and grinning to fidgeting in her seat and chewing the inside of her lip. I laughed, a real one, that caused her eyes to shoot open.
“I know I’m hard on you, sunshine, but you don’t need to worry.” Relief washed over her features. Andy was the type of girl who needed the validation. I took a swig of the wine in my glass and set it down.
I hated small talk, and really, I could sit in silence with the woman across from me. She looked so peaceful staring into the swirling liquid in her glass, a half-satisfied smile resting on her lips. It was almost like she sat here alone, in her own little world.What would it be like in that world?
“Okay, you’re being too quiet,” she snapped. The hand swirling her glass came to a sudden stop, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Let’s play a game.”
My eyebrow lifted on instinct, and I looked around to remind myself we were still in a high-scale restaurant. “A game? What kind of game?”
“Truth or dare.”
“You’re kidding. Do you realize where we are?” I gestured to the room, pointing out men and women in suits and gowns who were buying meals that probably equaled half her monthly rent.
“If you’re too scared, just say that.” She did nothing to disguise the taunt in her stare. “We can go back to sitting here while you stare at me if you prefer.” Her shrug was a statement.Either way, she wins, and she knows it.“Truth or dare,” she said without waiting for me to agree.
I sighed. “Truth.”
“Sissy,” she mumbled under her breath.
“Behave, sunshine. Now ask the damn question.” I grumbled and took a long swig of wine, waiting while she theatrically ran her finger across her chin as if she was deep in thought.
“Okay, okay. What is your biggest fear?”
My biggest fear?I didn’t think she would want to hear about my fear of sudden crippling debt, as unrealistic as it would be. “Spiders. I fucking hate them.” She giggled and the sound made my cock twitch. “Is that funny?”
“A little bit,” she said. “You just seem so… unbreakable. To think a tiny little spider could sendtheDemetri Carlisle running is a funny thought.”
“I didn’t say I run from them. If you would have a better answer, I’d love to hear it.”
She took a sip of her wine, and I followed with my eyes as she licked a drop from her lip. “Not how the game works. It’s my turn.”
“Fine. Truth or dare?”
It took her a moment to decide before sitting up in her chair and smirking. “Dare.”
I assumed she would pick truth, answer an easy question, and move on to teasing me again. Suddenly my mind went blank. What could I dare her to do in the middle of a crowded restaurant full of people who would not find any games amusing?
“Go to the bathroom and take your panties off. Bring them back with you and give them to me as proof.”
Her jaw dropped for only a second before a mischievous gleam lit up her eyes. Tossing her hair off her shoulder and standing from her seat, she sauntered towards the restroom. As I watched her, I tried to be subtle and squeezed the slowly growing erection in my pants. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to us, even if I would gladly throw Andy on top of this table and make her scream until her voice was hoarse.
She looked pleased with herself when she sat down, tilting her head to the side as if to prompt my question, but before I could ask her if she had done it, she lifted her hand about a foot above the table and dropped the thin lacy fabric onto the center. Quickly snatching them from the table before anyone could see them, I stuck them in the front pocket of my coat.
