Page 10 of Perfectly Naïve
“What does that matter?” I ask, confused as to why he’s bringing any of this up, but then memories of my mom berating Henry for hanging out with Sawyer come to mind.He’s not like us, she used to tell my brother. She went out of her way to make it known she never approved of Sawyer, and I’m not surprised he’s sensitive about his work. “Money isn’t everything,” I tell him. “Are you a good person?”
“If you ask my date, no.”
“Well, bad dates aside, are you going to go out and randomly kill someone?”
“No.”
I lift a shoulder. “Okay, then. Are you happy?”
“Mostly,” he says, side-eyeing me like he’s surprised by my line of questioning, but there’s no way I’m leaving this restaurant with him thinking I’m as shallow as my mom.
“Then that’s all that matters.” I pick up a fry and bring it to his mouth. “Eat.”
“Are you baby birding me?”
Mama birds regurgitate their food, but I don’t bother correcting him. I push the fry to his lips. “Let it happen.”
“You’re so weird,” he says with a laugh as I slip the fry into his mouth, but coming from him, it doesn’t feel like an insult. He nudges me with his elbow as he chews, tipping his chin toward the fries, and I pick one up, popping it into my mouth with a smile.
The rest of dinner is so nice. The conversation between the two of us is easy. Natural. Maybe because we know each other or maybe because my future doesn’t feel like it’s at stake. All in all, the night ends way better than it started, and my little crush has turned into a massive, asteroid-sized crush. He’s funny. Caring. Easygoing. He thinks my work is amazing. My quitting my job tosettle downnever came up.
I really need to figure out how to be like this with other alphas.
Sawyer tries to pay for the food, but after a small glare from me and assurance that my mother would be paying, he lets me take care of the bill. I don’t expect him to pick up the billmydates left me with. He was nice enough to keep me company and save me from the most humiliating walk of shame ever. Besides, my mother won’t notice the charge.
“How long are you in town?” he asks as we make our way to the door.
“Indefinitely. I transferred to the lab here. London was nice, but I missed home.”
A crisp breeze slams into us as we exit the restaurant, and I squeak, wishing I had brought a coat. September is always such a weird month, weather wise. Sawyer wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his side.
My pulse speeds up, and I glance up at him in surprise.
He shakes his head. “Where’s your coat?”
“I thought a sweater would be enough. London wasn’t as cold.” I’m still adjusting to being back in Chicago.
“Where’s your car?”
“Oh, Nigel should be here soon,” I say, frowning as a chill shudders down my spine.
“Jesus, Liv, you’re freezing.” He unzips his oversized jacket with one hand and holds it open. “In.”
My throat goes dry. In there? With him? Where our bodies will press together? I shake my head. “Uh, no, that’s okay. I’m fine.”
He gives me a look that probably has his students standing at attention. “In.”
“Yes, Mr. Flynn,” I mumble, shuffling into the warmth he’s generously providing. “Oh my gosh, you’re like a toaster.” To keep from accidentally groping him, I wrap my arms around his middle.
A rumbling sound emits from his chest. Is that...is that a purr? My eyebrows slam together as I glance up at him. His jaw is clenched tight, and his face is contorted in pain. Purrs are supposed to be an alpha’s way of sharing that he’s pleased, but he appears more in pain than happy.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine,” he rasps, avoiding my gaze.
Did I misread his intentions? He told me to get in the jacket. Maybe he meant for me to face the other direction? Confused, I take a step back, but suddenly, his hand is on my hip, searing my skin.
A breath slips out of me, tingles erupt from the base of my spine, and warmth pools in my stomach near where his thumb presses into my torso. I tip my head, studying Sawyer. I’ve always liked him—and I spent most of my teenage years with an unrequited crush. He’s been there for me. He knows me better than almost anyone outside of my brother. The two of them helped me navigate high school without being too awkward. The way Sawyer is responding to me is new, though, and it gives me an idea.
