I’m going on a date with Jagger Harden tonight.
37
JAGGER
Fuck me. She’s beautiful. I open the passenger side door and offer my hand, helping Violet inside. I haven’t been on a date since high school. I haven’t needed to. Harden Nights were more than enough to facilitate easy hookups with random girls, no date necessary. Does it make me an ass? Yes. Is it somewhat biting me in said ass at this moment? Also, yes. Once she’s tucked safely in the passenger seat, I climb in behind the steering wheel but hesitate before backing out of the parking spot. “I planned out a few options for tonight, but first I need to know if you have any allergies,” I tell her.
Violet shrugs. “Not that I know of.”
What the hell does that mean?
My mouth twitches because seriously, what kind of answer is that? Smoothing my expression, I ask, “You don’t know?”
She looks down at her lap. “I mean, I’ve never reacted to anything, but I also eat the same things ninety-nine percent of the time, so…”
“So, you’re picky?” I prod.
“No?”
Hiding my amusement, I scratch the side of my mouth. “You’re not sure?”
With a huff, she glowers at me. “Not all of us have thousands of dollars to spend on frivolous things.”
“Like…food?” I offer dryly. The girl can’t be serious.
A mock glare ignites in her pretty gaze as she presses her lips together.
“Let me rephrase,” I say, because even though I like getting under the girl’s skin, being flayed alive isn’t on our itinerary for this evening. “Do you like Thai?”
Violet’s shoulders lift in another shrug. “I don’t know. I’ve never had it.”
My eyes bulge. “You’ve never had Thai?”
Seriously, who is this girl?
“Stop looking at me like I’ve grown a second head,” she whines. “I’m already nervous enough as it is.”
Nervous? She’s nervous? The revelation makes my chest swell with interest, while managing to ease my own nerves in the process. It’s a reminder of how she’s as new to this as I am.
“Okay, let’s try this one more time.” I smooth out my expression and reach for her hand. “Would you, Violet Reeves, be interested in trying something new tonight, or would you prefer to stick to a comfort food you’ve had before and have enjoyed, or would you like me to take the lead and make all the decisions?”
The furrow in her brow smooths as she studies me carefully. “You can decide,” she murmurs.
Perfect.
“Then I think it’s time we expose you to something other than peanut butter and coffee.” She gasps, her expression already twisting back to the faux outrage from seconds ago, but I bring her hand to my lips and kiss the back of it. “Not that there’s anything wrong with peanut butter and coffee,” I clarify. “All I’m saying is…new isn’t always bad. Am I right?”
She runs her thumb along the back of my hand, though I can’t decide if she realizes it. The subtle movement. Whether it’s subconscious or deliberate. I’m not sure it matters, either. This girl has a way of making even the most innocent of touches feel like…more.
“Or,” I offer, “I can get you an entire jar of peanut butter and a spoon, and we can hang out at my place, but I don’t know if that’s technically a date. Not that I care, but if our goal is to label this as dating instead of fucking, then?—”
“You’d do that?” she asks. “Change all your plans for the night just for me?”
The girl has no idea.
Only half-kidding, I grumble, “I have a feeling I’d do a lot for you.”
My confession must hit the right mark because a bright grin nearly splits her face in two. “Now that, I like.”
