She looks absolutely floored. “‘True intimacy’? Not words I’d expect a tattooed dude in a bar to use.”
“Well, I don’tlivein the bar. Sometimes I walk the streets. Go to work. Go to the gym.”
“You know what I meant.”
“Yes, I did.”
She places her palm on my forearm and my cock jolts at her unexpected touch. “Are you looking for ‘true intimacy,’ Ryan?”
“Absolutely,” I say without hesitation. “I’m done with the bullshit. I’m just so over it.” I look into her dark eyes. “To be perfectly honest, I’m looking for something real. I just haven’t found it yet.”
Her eyes blaze. “So am I.”
We stare at each other for a long beat, the heat between us palpable, my dick hard.I want this woman.
“Please tell me what the fuck happened in your last relationship to make you check out from dating for so long,” I say. “I want to understand so I don’t do whatever the fuck that fucker did.”
She shrugs. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Hmm. Is ithighlyembarrassing or onlyslightlyembarrassing?”
She purses her lips, considering. “Slightly.”
“Okay, no biggie then. You can tell me that story now, and some other ‘highly embarrassing’ story when I take you out to dinner.”
A glorious smile spreads across her face. “When are you taking me out to dinner?”
“As soon as humanly possible. Tomorrow night?”
“Great.”
I’m smiling from ear-to-ear. “You like steak? Sushi? Italian? Indian?”
“Surprise me. I’ve never been out on a date in Seattle. I’m at your mercy.”
“I’ll take you to my all-time favorite place. And, after dinner, I’ll take you on a little tour of my city—I’ll show you all the cool spots—and, after that, I’ll take you to this little bakery with the best cupcakes in the city. They’ll blow your mind.”
“Thank you. Wow. That sounds amazing.”
There’s a long beat as we stare at each other, smiles plastered on our faces, heat wafting between us, our chests visibly rising and falling. Shit, I feel like my heart’s gonna explode.I want this woman.“I think we should do a shot, don’t you?” I say. “I suddenly feel like this is a celebration.”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” she replies, making me laugh. “What are we celebrating?”
The start of something real, I think. But, of course, that’s not what I say. “How much fun it is to go out and meet new people, on occasion,” I say.
She laughs. “Perfect.”
I signal to the bartender. “Tim? Bring us some shots of tequila, sir. This gorgeous woman and I are celebrating.”
9
Ryan
Samantha puts down her empty shot glass, a devious smile on her face. “I tell you what,” she says. “I’ll tell you my ‘slightly embarrassing’ story if you tell me one of yours first,plusanswer one question of mine with complete honesty.”
“Why do you get a bonus question? It should be a tit-for-tat exchange.”
“It’s basic supply and demand. I’ve got a monopoly on the information you want, so I’m naming my premium price.”
