Page 67 of Kiss Me Forever

The seductive hint in his voice sent delicious tendrils of heat through my body. I knew we had a physical connection. Hell, we didn’t just have sparks together—those were damn fireworks. But getting to know each other was a different story altogether. What if we didn’t click?

We arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes later and were seated outdoors at a table close to beautiful red rosebushes. The scent was dense in the air.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Luke asked.

"These roses, they're a particular type. Mom and I used to make jam out of them when I was a kid. In the summer, we spent a whole weekend doing it, and then we had jam for about a year. My aunt kept up the tradition after they passed away."

"How’s your aunt?" he asked. “Is the tutoring working out?”

I loved that he remembered.

"Yes, but she’s still struggling financially. It’s like she can’t catch a break, and she’s such a good person. After my parents passed away, she didn’t hesitate to take me to live with her, even though she was single. I think I told you that, but I only found out once I graduated that she remortgaged her house to send me to a private school. She really is selfless, and my dream is to pay off her mortgage one day. If I win the competition, that’s what I’ll do with the money. I just want to see that moment when she knows she no longer owes anything to the bank."

Luke's eyes softened. "That’s a very thoughtful thing to do. You're a great niece."

"I will be as soon as I pay that mortgage.”

"The fact that youwantto speaks volumes."

A server approached us, holding a notepad. "Good evening, and thank you for dining with us tonight. I hope you had time to decide what you’d like for dinner. What can I get for you, miss?"

"Hi, Tom," Luke said, obviously seeing the server’s name on his lapel pin. “We’re happy to be here. Unfortunately, we haven't looked at the menu yet." I smirked, knowing exactly what I wanted. Then Luke added, "The lady did, but I didn't."

"May I get you started on drinks, then?"

"That sounds perfect. Megan, do you know what you want?"

I nodded. "I’ll have some white wine, please."

"Bring us a bottle of Maxwell chardonnay," Luke told him.

"Of course," the waiter said, then walked away.

"See, that's why I like to do this beforehand," I said under my breath as Luke opened the menu. While he studied it, I looked around.

I loved the vibe of this place. It was elegant but not uptight. The yard was large, and there were some old trees around the edge of the property. I made a mental note to come back during daylight to see it better. The building adjacent to this one had a bar with a dance floor and music, and I hoped Luke would want to spend time there later on. I was in the mood to dance with this beautiful man.

When the waiter came back, I ordered shrimp in lemon sauce with polenta as an appetizer and veal with rice as the main course. For dessert, I chose the cheesecake topped with caramel and pecans. I couldn't wait.

After I ordered, Luke said, "I'll have the same."

"Okay, excellent choices."

After the waiter left, I wiggled my eyebrows. "So, you've studied the menu for five minutes and decided to copy me."

"You studied it for longer, I bet."

"Yes, I did."

"So, you know better than I. Besides, it all sounded delicious.”

“Especially that dessert, huh?"

"Yes, but that's not going to be my only dessert for the night."

It took me a second to realize what he meant. I was sure I had a full-body blush going on. My cheeks were warm, and so was my neck. I felt a lot of heat between my legs too.

The waiter arrived with our wine a few seconds later, pouring it carefully. After he left, we clinked glasses, and Luke said, "To a great evening... and night."

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