He nodded, looking contemplative. “Okay, so I shouldn’t say something like, how good you look naked and on top of me,for example.”
“Oh my God!” I was stunned. “I can’t believe you just said that.”
“I didn’t. I only asked if it was okay to say something like that.”
“No, it is not okay to say that! At all. At all.” I felt flustered.
He looked at me with those large chocolate-brown eyes. “Great! Then I won’t say how perfect you look when you’re naked and on top of me.”
But it was too late. He’d said it again and all I could think about was climbing right back onto his lap. I shuffled from side to side and then away from him. “Did you come here to eat or to discuss the parameters of our friendship?”
He was looking way too pleased with himself right now, but he finally looked down at the menu on his table. “What do you recommend, Sera?”
“I recommend you stop saying my name so often and order something.”
“Whoa,” he said and slapped the menu down on the table. “Feisty.”
“Well, I do have other customers,” I said, flashing him a stern look. “As difficult as that might be to accept, my world doesn’t revolve around you.”
“Fine. Bring me whatever you want.”
“Fine.” I took the menu. “And would you like anything to drink with that?”
“Sparkling water.”
“Sparkling water? Not Tequila? Not beer—”
“I’m not drinking tonight,” he said, leaning back in his chair and crossing his legs. He wasn’t wearing a suit, but he still looked way too formal in his black jeans and long-sleeved black and white checked shirt.
“I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry,” I heard him say as I walked away.
I had about three other tables to deal with, but the place was laid out so that, everywhere I went, I could see Ben. Ben from behind, Ben from the side, Ben from the other side. His eyes followed me from table to table, even when I walked behind him he would swivel his head around to look at me. His stare was intense and I was acutely aware of the way it made me feel, how it made me want to peel my clothes off and throw myself at him. I wasn’t sure how it was actually possible, but tonight he looked hotter than I’d ever seen him. Maybe it was because he’d reminded me that he’d seen me naked. I was feeling both excitement and utter dread at the prospect of going over to his table again.
“Here you go.” I put the burger down. “A Big Johnson with everything.”
“A Big Johnson?” He looked amused. “I must bring my brother here.”
“Mmm.” I nodded, although I knew that would probably be a terrible idea.
“Enjoy your meal,” I said and started walking away, but as I did I felt a hand clamp around my wrist. I turned. Ben was leaning all the way out of his chair now clutching my wrist tightly.
“Go out with me?” He looked at me with such intensity that my face flushed instantly.
“Are you being serious?”
“Yes.”
“So why am I not sure whether to believe you, then?”
“I told you, I don’t say things I don’t mean.” He pulled me closer, let go of my wrist, and brought his hands up to straighten my shirt which had bunched up a bit at my jeans—inappropriate.He slowly straightened it and pulled it back down, his hands dangerously close to an area that should have been totally off-limits. I stepped back, but he hooked his finger in my belt loop.
“One date.”
He kept his finger hooked in my belt loop and we looked at each other. But the more he looked, the more the sexual tension that I feared threatened to overwhelm me built up.
“I’ll think about it,” I said quickly, but more so he would leave me alone and I could free myself from his sexual clutches.
