His smirk grows wider. “This is the treatment you deserve, and if it wins me points in the end, then I’m all for it. But I wanted to take the time to do something nice for you. You’ve certainly earned it, and I get the feeling that nights like these are going to be rare, so I want to make the most of it.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Difference between a boy and man.”
I laugh at the remark. “So, you keep saying. I’m guessing it’s good that you’re older than me then. You have all of that experience you can bring to the table.”
“That I do. I’m going to ruin you for other men, just you wait.”
My sex throbs at the thought of him ruining me. I have so many visions right now of how he could so easily ruin me. By bending me over this table and taking me, fucking me while we watch the sun set. Or taking me back to his car so that I can ride him again. I know he feels a certain way about not having me in a bed for the first time, but I don’t care. Any time that I get to spend with him, I’ll take, and any place he wants to take me, I’m game.
“You should probably look at your menu. She’ll be back soon,” he says, nodding in the direction of where I can see our waitress serving the other tables she’s working.
“I guess I should.” The words come out in a whisper, but I’m sure he heard me. I pick up the menu, and I can feel his eyes on me the whole time. “Shouldn’t you be deciding what you want?”
He shrugs as my eyes meet his. “I’ve already got that planned out.”
“Do you always plan everything?” I challenge.
He shakes his head, laughing lightly. “No, I don’t. That night at the club wasn’t something I planned. It just happened. Like a happy accident.”
I wink at him in way of response and go back to reviewing the menu. “What are you having?” I know that I should be looking at things that complement the wine. Red meat wouldn’t go well with the wine he chose.
“I think I’m getting the scallop and mushroom risotto.”
“Ugh, I hate mushrooms. They’re a fungus. How can you eat them?”
He laughs at me. “I don’t think of them that way. If they’re prepared right, they can taste rather good, and I’m sure here, they’ll be great.”
I nod, reviewing the pastas. “The player in me knows that today is my cheat day, and I don’t have to worry about having pasta or carb loading for anything. But man, do I want that seafood linguine.”
“Then you should get it. I’m sure it’s delicious.”
I close my menu and put it down.
Erin must take it as her cue to come over. “Are we ready to order?”
“Yes, please,” Jase tells her. “The lady will have the seafood linguine, and I’ll take the scallop and mushroom risotto, please.”
“Excellent choices. Can I get you an appetizer?” She looks from Jase to me, but I gesture for him to answer.
Jase watches me for a moment. “I think we’ll go with an order of the oysters, please.”
“I’ll put this right in for you. Your oysters will be out shortly.”
“Might as well do this night right,” he says when she walks away.
“Looking to make sure that I either fall into your bed, or that you can actually get it up?” My hand flies up to cover my mouth. Jase laughs along with me. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. Here you are planning this perfect evening and I’m saying things like that. I guess you can dress me up, but you can’t take me anywhere.”
“Oh, I can take you to so many places. And I love the way you think and the things that fly out of your mouth. If you’re worried about acting a certain way with me because we’re here, then sod off. Because I took Cassie to dinner, not a facade.”
I nod, sipping on my wine. “You are just so unexpected.”
“So, I’ve been told.”
I go to ask him what he means by that, but Erin is back, placing our oysters in front of us. I decide to let that piece of the conversation die for now.
“Okay, so I’ve never tried oysters before,” I tell him. “You’re going to have to show me how to do this.”