Page 36 of Lessons in Love
She laughs freely. “I don’t know why I sent that pic. Just being goofy.”
“You can be goofy with me anytime.”
The waitress comes to the table and we order two beers while I continue staring at her. My favorite pink, several shades lighter than this silky little top she’s wearing, colors her cheeks. “You’re making me paranoid. Do I look that bad?”
“No. You look amazing. I like this outfit on you. Shows off the goods.”
That makes her laugh. “Well the goods got no love from Lowry this week. I think I’m going to have to practice lesson one on him.”
Flirting?“No. If that outfit doesn’t get his attention, flirting won’t do jack shit.”
“I noticed one of the personal assistants was wearing those red-soled shoes. What do you think about them?”
Christian Louboutin knows what a man finds sexy and seeing those red heels draped over your shoulders or at the base of long legs . . . “Don’t waste your money. Guys don’t care about that stuff.” It almost pains me to lie to her this time. Her legs with those fuck me heels on would be an incredible sight to behold.
“Oh, okay. I just thought?—”
“Well don’t think about him. Like I said, he’s not worth your time.” My words are crushing, evidenced from the downfall of the corners of her mouth, but I can’t seem to back this train up. Easy and uncomplicated have definitely vanished along with my patience.
“What’s wrong, Hardy? You seem irritated.”
“I’m fine.” I drink some of my beer, insanely jealous of her efforts for this asshole lawyer. Looking her over again, was it me? Did I tell her to change the other day or is this her own doing? “What did the guys in your department think of your outfit?”
“Some didn’t say anything. A few said I looked nice. Others hightailed to the bathroom every time they saw me. I ended up reapplying deodorant twice and spraying my perfume throughout the day they had me so paranoid that I stank.”
Her innocence is revealed again and a belly laugh escapes me. “You’re not smelly. Trust me on this.” They’re totally jerking off on the job. At least my work is in a bar. These horny sad sacks can’t hold their shit together around her and they work in the Financial District.
She doesn’t even realize how the world sees her. That makes me laugh harder, not in a laughing at her kind of way but that she has no clue that these guys are vomiting the snake because she’s so hot.
Maybe I don’t need to get all caught up in jealousy just yet. There’s still a chance with her. As long as they keep seeing her as a geeky girl who’s into numbers and dresses in boxy suits, I’m golden. That will give me enough time to make her see that I’m more than a shallow prick with divine sex skills. There’s a guy and a heart behind this handsome mug. If only she’d take a good long hard look. She’d see I’m more than the parts that make me up.
I’m a whole man who has given up his life’s creed to be with her.
Chapter Twelve
Once I laid down my emotional weapons and set aside my jealousy, I was enjoying my time with Virginia. Outside of Brooklyn—my place and the bar—I was seeing her in a new way. She is full of energy, hyped up on some copier incident at work, and moaning orgasmically over the best pastrami sandwich she’s ever had. In case you are curious, it can be found at Katz’s Deli according to her. I tell her I’ll take her to Ben’s Best back in Brooklyn. She’ll never look back after that.
I’m hoping in more ways than one.
We order another round. She adds fish and chips. “All of this food talk has made me hungry.”
I’ve been trying to figure out what it is about her that I’m falling so in . . . like, and lust with when it comes to her. “What do you like to do for fun?” I wink at her. “Other than spend time with me.”
Reaching for a rubber band she has around her wrist, she takes it and pulls her hair into one of those knots hot chicks wear everywhere these days. I like her hair down, but with it looking so messy on top like she just woke up or maybe even had sex is kind of hot.
“Hardy? Helloooo.”
Fast little hands waving frantically in front of my face bring me back to reality. Reality? Is this my new reality? Staring at a woman who clearly wants me sexually but wants nothing to do with me beyond that. Well, that’s an exaggeration. She’s here and our friendship is growing so I can’t saynothingto do with me. She’s just not reciprocating what I want with her seems closer to the truth. “Yeah?”
“You asked me what I like to do for fun. Did you not hear what I said?”
“Sorry.” I rub my temples quickly before hunching down and giving her my complete attention. “What do you like to do?”
“I said,” she starts, matching my body language, “you.”
“Me what?”
“Are you really going to make me say it twice? It was hard enough the first time.”
