Page 22 of Wild Tides
She locked eyes with me, her red lips taking my offering. She swallowed daintily and smiled, eyes flashing with something more than an innocent hunger for food. “I’m in heaven.”
I was in hell. Hyperaware of her every move, I grew harder with every soft moan of appreciation. Each breathy sigh of contentment. It became difficult to focus on what I was eating. It may as well have been a burger from a fast-food joint for all the attention I put into enjoying my dinner.
The staff had cleared our table to prepare for the dessert course when the twenty-something couple I’d noticed earlier approached, hovering as if too embarrassed to come closer without an invitation.
I nodded at the younger man. He stepped forward. “Thank you, sir. That was kind of you to pick up our bill.” He wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, hugging her close. “It’s our anniversary, and you’ve helped make our night special.”
“You’re welcome. Congratulations.”
“It’d be even more special,” he added with a hint of nervousness, “if you’d autograph something for us. You are Lee Murphy, the author, aren’t you?”
Slowly, I nodded. On island, locals knew me from way back and didn’t care how many books I’d sold. It threw me when I was recognized in public.
“I asked our server for a menu and a pen. Will you sign it for us?”
“Sure.” My voice was rusty with embarrassment. Vi’s lips twitched, and I relaxed. She didn’t seem to mind that I was the center of attention.
I asked the couple’s names and signed the menu, wishing them a good night. The man shook my hand and wrapped an arm around his date, ushering her out of the restaurant.
“That was very sweet,” Violet said, her eyes soft in the candlelight.
It made me uncomfortable, being recognized in public, but I tried to shrug off the exposed feeling. “What was your favorite dish?”
Her mouth twitched, like she’d caught on to my obvious change of subject, but she went with it, extolling the virtues of the lamb. I was too full for dessert, and I had a feeling Violet had to be full too, but that didn’t stop us from demolishing the sesame cookies and green tea gelato.
The bag of leftovers we carried to the car made it look like we’d ordered takeout, but I didn’t mind. Everything was delicious, and sharing the experience with Violet made it special.
“You’ve spoiled me,” Violet sighed happily as she relaxed in the driver’s seat, admiring the restaurant one last time.
“That’s the idea.”
“Keep it up, and I’m never moving home,” she warned.
“That’s the idea…” I said it under my breath, but she still seemed to hear.
“What did you say?” She cast me a sidelong glance.
“Nothing,” I said innocently.
Chapter 12 – Violet
If Lee thought he was being subtle, he needed lessons. Then again, maybe it was a good thing I could read him so easily. He liked to play into the inscrutable author stereotype, but inside? Big ol’ softy. The couple at dinner was adorable. Young and in love. The envy had almost choked me, but I’d beat it down. How could I be envious of anyone else when Lee had taken me out on the closest thing I’d had to a date on island in years?
He’d even dressed for the occasion, styling his hair and trimming his beard. From somewhere, he’d unearthed a pair of black slacks and a button-down shirt, then ironed them. No small feat in his boot.
He could call it a thank you, but the way he stared at me over dinner made the time I spent primping and doing my makeup worth it. Lee might not be ready to admit his feelings for me, but he wasn’t that good of an actor. He was finally seeing me as a woman. Not just Drew and Zach’s sister.
Part of me wanted to capitalize on the new awareness between us. Drive the point home before he spooked and backed away. But at the end of the day? I didn’t want a man so weak that he’d yield to pressure from my brothers. If he wanted me, then dammit, he had to act. I wouldn’t do it all for him.
I deserved to be wanted. Desired. And if he didn’t want me enough to risk a little small-town gossip, then he wasn’t worth my time.
Except part of me whispered he was. His suggestion that we order everything on the menu, just because he knew it’d make me happy was peak Lee. For all the times he was absent-minded or late because he was working on his next novel, when the man showed up, heshowed up. He went hard. I bit back the urge to snicker. Writing. Running. SAR missions. Everything he did, he did with passion and total commitment.
“Do you need anything?” I asked when we got home.
He held my gaze, disappointing me when he said, “Not tonight.”
“Thanks for dinner.”
