Page 33 of Heat & Deceit
Fire licks at my cheeks.Just stop talking, Nova. You’re making a bad date a thousand times worse. Do not encourage him, and for the love of god, don’t make any more comments about his cock.
“Don’t be shy now.”
I press my lips together and glare at him, but that only seems to please him.
“I mean that I need someone who can challenge me. Who isn’t afraid to play and banter.”
“Oh. Hi there,” the server says, her tone amused. “I see you two made yourselves at home. Are we about ready for the check?”
He gestures to me.
“That sounds good. Can you split it?”
“Down the middle?”
“Seventy-thirty,” the alpha says.
“No. Fifty-fifty.”
“Sixty-forty,” he counters.
“You’re insufferable. Fifty-one, forty-nine.”
“Deal.”
I throw my hands into the air. “Really?”
“What? I ate more than you.”
“I’ll be right back,” the waitress says softly, almost like she’s afraid to interrupt.
“Listen.” I pause and frown. “What’s your name?”
“You can call me Ly.”
Where have I heard that name before?
“Listen, Ly, I appreciate you sharing the bill, but do you have to be so contrary?”
“Do you have to be so uptight?”
“I’m not uptight.”
“Is that why you picked Matthew? You wanted someone to tell you what to do and when? You wanted it to be easy?”
“I didn’t pick Matthew—he picked me—and I didn’t know he was going to tell me what to do or correct me every five seconds. I just wanted—” I cut off. “I just wanted to go on a nice date.”
“Looking for love?”
“No.” The answer comes out harsher than I expected.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“Now you apologize? You spent the entire night prying. You weren’t on the date with Matthew—I was—and I didn’t ask for you to interject your witty thoughts.”
“So you think I’m funny?”
“Ly,” I say with a soft, barely there growl. “You know what I mean.”
