“Can you tell meonetrue thing?”
I lift a brow. “And you’ll stop asking questions for a bit?” I ask, even though I’m the one who started us down this path. It’s just easier talking about her than me.
“I’lltry.”
“Lies.”
She grins. “Maybe. You won’t know unless you answer.”
I exhale. “One true thing?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Alright. I don’t trust easily.”
“That’s obvious. Give me something else. Something Icouldn’tread off your beautiful face.”
Woman. You better stop this.
“I’m a sustainable housing developer,” I confess. It’s nicer than saying the true things that are flowing in and out of my mind every time she flirts. Or swallows. Or breathes.
Her eyes brighten. “Like…you build bamboo houses or something?”
I smile, taking a sip of my water. “Or something. I design and build homes from salvaged materials—train cars, buses, fire trucks. I repurpose them into fully livable homes for low-income individuals or families.”
She smiles. “That’s impressive, Bear.”
“Thanks,” I say, grinning. “Drake actually builds furniture with bamboo.”
She raises her glass in a toast. “Cool points for ethically-sourced Drake.”
I laugh. Hard. “That’s actually what I call him.”
She pauses, surprised. “Really?”
“Yes. No lie.”
The look she gives me…it’s genuine. Surprised, amused, maybe even a little impressed.
It’s…endearing.
Before I can say more, the food arrives. Vegan oxtails, greens, sweet potatoes, cornbread—the works. She takes a bite like she’s been starving for days and lets out a moan that makes me have to look away.
“This is amazing,” she says around another bite, eyes closed like the food’s taking her somewhere spiritual.
I hum in agreement, trying to focus on my own plate, when I catch it—a slow trail of sauce sliding from the corner of her mouth down to her chin.
And before my brain can stop my body, I lean in and swipe it away with my thumb.
She freezes.
So do I.
Everything shifts.
And suddenly, it’snotabout food anymore.
“Sorry,” I murmur. “I…don’t know why I did that,” I say. Only, I know exactly why. I’ve got a thing for taking care of what’s mine.
