He leaned toward me. I held my glass and kept my focus forward.
“You’re already flushing from what you’ve drunk,” he said softly, near my ear. “A pretty pink that draws my eyes to your lips and makes me wonder what it would feel like to kiss you. What you’d taste like. You say I’m not supposed to think like this, but I can’t seem to think about anything else.”
I turned my head and found his face inches from mine.
“You promised,” I whispered.
“I did.”
He leaned back with a sigh and rubbed his chest.
“Are you hurting?”
“Yes. But not the way you mean.”
I blushed further and took another big drink from my glass, trying to ignore him and the insistent fluttering in my stomach. Several deep breaths calmed everything. Just in time, too, because we heard Jim’s name called from the side of the room. He helped me from my chair and held my hand, leading me while I carried my glass.
“Your server will be right with you,” the man said after he’d seated us at our table.
Not a moment later, another shape approached.
“Can I interest you in a new…”
I tilted my head and waited for more, unsure why he’d trailed off like that.
“Her pupils don’t work. She’s blind,” Jim said.
I blushed, understanding, and ducked my head in embarrassment.
“But she can hear just fine,” I whispered, annoyed with myself. How could I have forgotten? Because being with Jim, I felt normal. Whole.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t your eyes, ma’am,” the man said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as pretty as you.”
I grinned but didn’t lift my eyes.
“Just tell us the specials,” Jim said impatiently, making me smile even wider.
The man rattled off several things then gave me a few recommendations from the menu. After we ordered and he went away, I focused on Jim.
“Are you frowning?” I asked.
“Maybe.”
“Pouting?”
“Yep.”
I laughed, feeling such pure happiness, I couldn’t contain it.
A sudden stab of rage right between my eyes made me wince and my stomach sink to my toes with dread. I stilled and turned my head, trying to sense Blake. He wasn’t as far away anymore.
I swore and reached for my phone, but Jim covered my hand.
“Leave it. Whatever you’re feeling from him can wait. This is supposed to be a fun afternoon just for you.”
The phone chirped. I frowned, confused.
“That can’t be Blake. He wouldn’t text. He knows I wouldn’t be able to read it.”
