Page 21 of Sexy Dare (The Sexy 1)

Rosa, an attractive older woman with dark hair, smiled at Faith. “Oh, what a pretty young lady. You finally brought a girl here to meet us!” She grasped Faith’s cheeks and held her face in her hands. “So nice to have you here.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you,” Faith said, finally getting a word in. She shot Jason an amused glance, and he was pleased she wasn’t put off by Rosa’s friendliness.

He deliberately never brought women here. Rosa, who had taken an instant liking to him in part due to the fact that he was Gabe’s cousin, and she loved Gabe and his family, would assume there was more going on than just a dinner. And Jason didn’t want any woman he was with making that assumption as well. It spoke volumes that he didn’t have a problem with Faith here now.

“Come,” Gino said. “I have your special table and nobody’s sitting there.” He led them to a small corner in the back that Jason knew well.

“Sometimes I come here and sit in the corner and work,” Jason explained. “This table is quiet.”

“And you never bring women here. Interesting,” Faith said under her breath.

Jason grinned as he held out her chair. She was going to grill him about his love life, he could see it coming. And he didn’t mind answering. She already knew his mother hadn’t met women in his life. Faith had a strong inkling as to what he was about. She just didn’t know why he kept his emotions bottled up tight. If she asked, he would admit to some things, but not to all.

After ordering fried zucchini and a bottle of Pinot Grigio wine, Jason leaned back in his seat and studied Faith. After a long day at work, she was still as pretty as he’d found her this morning when she walked out of her room, a smile on her face. He loved how she easily wore the Sweet Treats tee shirt, never worried about being dressed down, always comfortable in her own skin.

“So, how was your day?” he asked with an amused grin on his face.

She mock glared at him. “Are you looking to discuss that kiss?” she asked, surprising him that she broached the subject first.

Score one for her, he thought. Maybe he hadn’t given her enough credit. “Only if you had issues with it.”

“Issues like what? It was so good I want to do it again?”

Her admission both shocked and aroused him.

Her eyes opened wide at the words that had escaped. “And I haven’t even had a glass of wine as an excuse for being so honest,” she muttered with a shake of her head.

“Good thing I want to do it again, too,” he said, deadly serious. He reached across the table and grasped her hand, his thumb running across her skin.

He let the silence surround them for a few moments before speaking again. “I admit I didn’t plan for you, but you’re here, you’re in my life, and not only am I going to protect you, I’m going to have you,” he said, his words as serious as the growing feelings that kept taking him off guard. “Any argument?” he asked.

She swallowed hard. “No.”

“Good.” Satisfaction rushed through him. He’d felt the power in that kiss and knew they were destined to do it again … and again. He wanted his mouth and tongue on other parts of her body, tasting the innate sweetness that was Faith.

“Wine!” Gino said, coming up to the table and uncorking the bottle. He poured some for Jason to taste.

He enjoyed the flavor and nodded. The older man filled each glass. The restaurant was starting to fill up, and he was glad they’d made it here in time to snag his favorite, more isolated table.

“Would it be okay if I brought out the house special?” Gino asked. “My Rosa would love to treat you and she cooked it with love.”

Faith smiled at the older man. “That would be fine with me,” she said.

“Me, too.”

Gino strode off and Faith met his gaze. “So tell me, Jason Dare, what is your situation with women? You haven’t wanted to introduce any to your mother, and these people are like close friends and they’ve never met one of your dates. I know you’re not gay. What are you hiding?” Faith tucked her hands beneath her chin, grinning as she put him on the spot.

He’d been prepared for this question, and he chose the easiest issue in his past to admit to. “My father’s a bigamist. Or as close to being a bigamist as one can get without marrying both women at the same time.”

He hated talking about Robert Dare. The man had raised Jason and his siblings, had been there for them, and he’d thought they had a great family … only to discover the truth.

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