Page 12 of Falling for Red
He chuckles softly. “Nothing about this is suffering.”
Both of our blue eyes are locked on each other.Captain America is blistering hot.It’s effortless hotness even though there’s effort in everything. The way his shaggy blond hair perfectly falls, the way his shirt fits just right. Annoyingly hot.
“I like that you don’t have a buzz cut,” I say with a little smirk. “Feeling rebellious after leaving the military?”
“Were you asking about me?”
“Aaron shared a couple things about you with me.”
“Just a couple?”
I bite my lip, loving the way he is looking at me. He’s barely broken eye contact since we’ve sat down, and the intensity behind his eyes, it’s smoldering.
“After four years of being forced to have short hair, I’m good.” He runs his hands through his hair. If he’s trying to show off his biceps with that move, it’s working.Is that a tattoo peeking through the sleeve of his polo?“Who knows when it will start falling out, so why not?”
He easily shrugs, and I need to steer my thoughts away from what could happen after dinner, so I ask, “What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done in the last year?”
The confidence slips from his face for a moment, and that shouldn’t make me smile. “Our department did a calendar fundraiser … I was August.”
I burst out laughing, imagining him shirtless, posing with a fire hose or something cheesy. “Show me!” I demand, extending my hand playfully.
He shakes his head. “No phones on dates.”
“No phones on dates?” I mimic him.
“I like to stay present. There are too many distractions these days, and when I’m on a date, that’s my sole focus.”
He’s genuine and sincere.Why did I just bite my lip?“What other rules do you have about dating?”
“I don’t have more than two drinks on a date. And I always pay.” He looks down at the table for a moment.
“What?”
“And, nothing more than a kiss on the first date.”
“How very gentlemanly of you,” I quip, resting my chin in my hand. I equally appreciate it and hate it. No sexy firefighter time tonight. Got it. But a part of me admires the restraint. Maybe he’s different from the guys I’ve been with before—guys who rush into things without a second thought.
“It’s just ... I like to take things slow.”
Jake’s lip bite. Am I blushing?Where’s my drink?I’m definitely sweating.
“Take things slow?” I flirt back.
Anna sets the drink in front of me, and I flinch. I was wrapped up in that flirty fucking moment. I hate how attracted I am to this guy. I grab for my drink, staring down at it, needing to regain my composure.
“Ready to order?” Anna asks, blissfully unaware of the heated moment she just stepped into.
Jake gestures toward me.
“Gnocchi bolognese,” I order.
“Pork chop milanese,” Jake says, turning back to me with warm eyes. “What do you think about starting with carpaccio?” I nod. “And carpaccio, please.”
He says both dishes correctly.The plot thickens with Jake. There’s more to him than his looks.I kind of wish he was just surface level and boring.That’s easier. But now, I’m intrigued. Anna leaves, and I turn my attention back to him.
“Your pronunciation was impressive.”
“Is that a compliment without any snark?” he asks, raising an eyebrow before sipping his drink.
