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With ton"

As she leads ranite-topped bar where a few couples perched on the stools are lost in deep conversations--hands on knees, faces a little too close, hooded eyes I reirl I ever cairlfriend was S’belle But ain, it depends how you define flirting To a on the char to bed her So I stand by the idea that I’ve never really puttells ht ends

"Letelse," the hostess says before leaving me at a table near the ith two menus

I check the ti ifto show and findNot a minute ticks by before I spot her Her back’s to hts fro red hair But it’s as vibrant as ever against her bare back She pulls it to one side as she laughs at so it for me? She twists in my direction as the hostess points over to me Fuck, I think I’m busted

I stand up and she s e and tight jeans that hug her shape perfectly with the highest fking heels I’ve ever seen She sashays towardover her shapely chest swing back and forth She isn’t a girl anyone could pass by without drooling over I consciously closeopen At our table her eyes look me over--head to toe I see it plain as day and I have to pull back the knowing grin frorin, and lean in to kiss her

"Hi," she answers, turning her face so mymy best not to be affected by the kiss snub

"Thank you," she says softly, and there it is--that look of innocence that sets my body ablaze Okay, I’ll let the snub pass Who knows? Maybe she has so in her head

I extend my hand and she places hers softly inher hand to ht as I let her hand go

"Madam," I say as I pull out her chair Maybe I could be thepatron?

She sits and sets her phone on the table and her purse on the floor When she sits back up, I breathe in her scent as I take her napkin and place it on her lap Leaning down, I let my warm breath caress her neck "In case you want to add it to your collection before it gets dirty"

She looks up at me "Very funny"

"I try to be"

"Oh, I think you try to be more than that"

I raise an eyebrow "Please explain"

"Kelsie toldyou are"

There must be a puzzled look on my face "The hostess," she clarifies

I shake my head "Ah yes She was veryhelpful"

Herof a s just above her lips "I can bevery helpful too Especially to daht pink blush colors her skin, and it’s such a turn-on that she can play dirty but gets e about it

Our eyes lock for a few intense moments until I break the spell "So, hoas your Sunday?" Just like that the night begins like a real date The funny conversation leads into discussions about our day, and when the waitress approaches to take our order, we both ask for sparkling water with lemon and peppered beef skewers

S’belle looks over toward me when the waters are placed in front of us "You don’t drink?"

I cast her a tentative look "I do Well, I don’t"

She scrunches her eyebrows in confusion

I laugh "That soundedI just think it’s healthier for h or question why, but instead she says, "I get it Saforward in my life"

I nod and s the lump in my throat at how much what she just said mimics my life over the past three years I look at her and raise lass "Perfectly said"

We end the topic there, but that short conversation tells ht have more in common than either of us realizes I look across the table at her The glow of the candle, the inti--everything et closer to her

Her phone buzzes and I can see the name Tate Wyatt flash across the screen She silences it and switches her phone to vibrate "Sorry We have a big wedding next weekend and I’ the to-do list"

I try to read her She seems nervous or maybe just uncomfortable "Well, that only proves my point--he’s an assle"

"Ben You don’t even know hih"

She shakes her head "Tell ot awesome news today My buddy Beck finally found so to work for me full-time this week" I lower my voice as I finish the sentence It’s a casuala my voice softer than I normally speak

She leans forward "I’m so sorry, but I can’t hear you very well"

I slide into the empty chair next to her and repeat myself "My buddy Beck finally found so to work for me full-time next week" This time I speak directly into her ear and savor the closeness I’e here, but her scent overwhelhoutme on beyond control

She inches away fro in her neck "What does he do?" she asks a little hoarsely I’ve heard that tone before

Her hands are on her glass gripping it tightly One slides to the table

I grab raze but don’t fully touch The heat of her hand seeps down my arm--electric "He’s a whiz at social media He’s just what I need to push forward and e picks up and her green eyes bore into me "You mean like apps, Twitter, and Facebook--social media?"

"Yes Both Surfer’s End and Sound Music are so behind they don’t even have issues available online or apps to accompany them"