I frowned. “Really?”
“I’m not trying to start an argument,” he promised with a hand to his heart. “Not this time. I actually do reverently respect you. Why wouldn’t I? You work hard. Grind. And put a lot of pressure on yourself. Too much for someone of your background. So, I figure you’re trying to make up for where you come from. It’s admirable. And unnecessary. Those seem to be your calling cards.”
My mouth was open, but nothing came out. David seriously said something nice. Something not laced in disappointment or disapproval. I’d long ago released the desire to glean his approval. But now that it was here, I couldn’t help but bask in its warmth.
“That’s… charitable of you,” I managed.
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it,” he warned with a smile. “I still think you’re annoying.”
I laughed, thankful for his lifting of the soft veil that’d somehow draped over us for a moment, making our exchange feel like coming home after a trip that went on far too long.
“How do you have friends like this, anyway?” I gesturedwith my thumb over my shoulder. “Nathaniel seems kind. And Hart’s a big, beautiful sweetheart. I think one of my org members is involved with Weston, so that’s a good seal of approval for me.”
“Contrary to your very limited belief,” David said. “I can be fun to be around.”
I laughed. “I’d kill to see some of that fun.”
“I have to be around people who bring the best out of me.”
David gave me a knowing smile, and my mind conjured up the memory of us on the rocks. I’m right back to his arms around my waist, with his lips just a breath away from my ear, and I can’t be properly annoyed because I’m properly confused. He stared back at me, also confused about why I didn’t parry his remark.
His phone buzzed on the counter, freeing me from his gaze and the possibility of being seen right through. Whatever was on the screen made him smile.
“Weston’s running a bit late,” David said. “We’ve got about another forty-five minutes until he’ll show up. More than enough time for a dare.”
My stomach caved. “Now? You don’t have more streamers to hang or caviar to plate?”
David held out his hand. “Give me your phone.”
I pulled my bag closer to my chest as if he demanded to take all I was worth. “Why?”
“It’s part of the dare,” he said. “I dare you to let me text anyone in your contacts.”
11
“Phone?”he asked. “Or forfeit?”
My jaw tightened as I considered all the havoc he could wreak with one message. David offered me a dark smile, knowing I was running through scenarios.
“Can we set some ground rules?” I asked.
He shook his head. “We already have rules, Yara. You can’t keep adding to them anytime you’re scared. I’m not going to remember a ten-page document’s worth of dos and don’ts.”
He had a point. The more we had to remember, the more prone we’d be to forget. As much as I loved a good tabbed document, our back-and-forth didn’t warrant such attention to detail.
“Fine.” I slapped the device into his palm.
“Honestly, I thought I might have had you,” David said.
I gave him a fake smile. “It’s going to take more than the threat of a silly little message to have me give up all this groundwork.”
When I let go of my phone, David reached for my hand. I gasped at his warm fingers pressed against myskin—a reaction way more dramatic than I intended. David laughed at the noise. He’d laugh at how my heart leaped into my throat, too, if he were privy to it.
“What are you…” I watched as he gently straightened my thumb and pressed it to the phone to unlock it. As soon as he let me go, I tugged my hand into my lap, massaging out the buzzing sensation he’d left behind.
“You could have asked for the passcode,” I said.
“I could have,” he agreed, voice quiet and distracted as he swiped across my screen.
