“I know.”
I looked from the restaurant to Tyler, angling my head inquisitively.
“You mentioned it in one of the podcasts.”
I smiled. “You’re cheating, Tyler.”
“I’d cheat, beg, borrow, or steal if it meant making you happy.”
Another round of those goddamned butterflies. I pressed my hand holding my clutch to my abdomen, and once again, Tyler took my free hand, ushering us inside of the restaurant.
“Mr. Townsend. Your table is all ready,” the hostess greeted right away.
Tyler led me by the hand, through the windy walkway of the Japanese restaurant. We were seated right next to one of the beautiful koi ponds that were housed in the restaurant. I was certain this seat wasn’t an accident either. I’d likely mentioned my adoration for the koi ponds in this place on the podcast as well.
“Thank you,” Tyler addressed the hostess, before navigating behind one of the chairs and staring at me, expectantly.
I moved to the seat, sitting down, and he pushed it in. I shivered as he brushed his fingers along the back of my neck before rounding the table to take his own seat.
The hostess placed the menus in front of us and told us our waiter would be with us shortly.
“Now,” Tyler began, “back to what you were saying in the car.”
I blinked, having forgotten the conversation just that quickly. “Oh, about the—”
“Bad boys. Is that a habit of yours?”
I blew out a breath and a humorless laugh. “Possibly.”
He nodded. “I could see how.”
I twisted my neck, looking at him questioningly.
He shrugged. “Men like challenges. You, Destiny, present us with a challenge.”
“No I don’t.” I shook my head.
“You may not think so but you do.”
“How so?”
He shook his head just as our waitress arrived at our table.
“My name is Asahi and I will be your waitress this evening. Can I get you something to drink to start off with?”
Tyler ordered a seltzer water with lime and I ordered a white wine. I remembered he’d told me that he didn’t drink alcohol during the season. I briefly wondered if he was telling the truth.
“You don’t have to do that,” he leaned across the table and said once our waitress left.
“Do what?”
“Silently wonder or question. If you have something to ask, ask it. I’m an open book.” He sat back, holding his arms out to the side.
Laughing, I shook my head. “If you say so.”
“I do say so. But now back to the topic at hand. You wanted to know how you present usbad boys,as you referenced, with a challenge. It’s the silent confidence you wear like a second skin. The aura of knowing exactly who you are and where you belong.” He leaned back in again. “An aura that I, for one, find sexy as fuck, in case you hadn’t picked up on it just yet.”
I rolled my eyes and was grateful when Asahi brought our glasses to the table. I took a sip of my wine, simply because I lacked any sort of comeback. We gave our orders, and within a few minutes were alone again.
