Indeed, the fluffy, powdered-sugar-sprinkled stack was unmatched. Jannie smiled as she watched Nick swipe the one she hadn’t been ableto finish. “You sure don’t shy away from carbs.”
The triangle of syrup-covered pancake disappeared between his lips. Those lips that had been all over her last night. She itched to lick the syrup off his glistening mouth.
He chewed, briefly closing his eyes and savoring the sweet bite before he swallowed. “I thought we’d visit the Statue of Liberty this morning. Do you still want to go?”
“Not really. My feet are burning.” She took his hand, dipped his index finger into the syrup left on his plate, and licked it off the tip. “Mm. The real deal.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “Our flight isn’t until five thirty.” He held her gaze for a few beats. “I could arrange for a late checkout.”
She nipped his finger. “Do it.”
He tossed some twenties on the table, and soon they walked out into the bright morning sunshine. The hotel wasn’t far away, but it seemed to take forever to get there.
“Well, now, you seem like the perfect client for us,” a man said, stepping up to Nick and effectively stopping him in his tracks.
Jannie looked at the guy, who devoured Nick with hooded eyes.
“Here, honey.” His tone was openly flirtatious. He extended a flyer with a flourish. “Take it.”
Nick took the glossy paper. Jannie glanced at it and saw that the guy was trying to attract customers to the barbershop behind him.
“The world needs to see the gorgeous face hiding under all that hair,” the guy said. “Trust me on this.”
Jannie laughed. She agreed, but she wasn’t about to tell Nick that. He slanted a glance at her, frowning, then nodded politely to the man, saying nothing.
“Have a fabulous day, beautiful!” the man called after them as they walked away, and Jannie knew he wasn’t talking to her.
As they approached the hotel, Nick stayed quiet, and she could tell something was bothering him. Was it the guy’s obvious interest? She couldn’t imagine it was the first time a man had hit on him.
By the time they reached the elevator, his mood was decidedly dark. He swiped his key card, pressed the button for their floor, and faced her. “I’m going to ask you something, and answer honestly, please.”
“OK.”
“My beard.”
“What about it?”
“I heard you laugh back there.”
“And?”
“Do you agree with the guy? That I should shave it off?”
“No,” she said cautiously. “Not if you don’t want to.”
“I hear abutcoming.”
She hesitated for a moment. “But it’s scratchy.”
His eyes widened. “Scratchy?”
“Yeah. Sometimes when we’re close, it can get rough.”
A pause. “I see.”
“I know you try to be careful,” she quickly added, wanting to kick herself when she saw his expression shift from surprise to dismay. “Don’t listen to me. Forget I said anything.”
Way to go, Jannie, now you’ve hurt his feelings.
