"What did you get today?" I asked, taking a seat in the same spot I talked with Kari in just hours earlier.
"Some of the best greasy food Boston has to offer."
"Well, I'm sold! Sounds excellent to me."
Stefan pulled a couple greasy burgers, fries, and onion rings from the bag. "See pretty girl, I know what you like."
He winked and I smiled, watching closely while he talked about the first half of his day and divided up the food. Stefan could have picked up dumpster burgers and I would have thought they were the best. Just as long as they came with his company. We became enthralled with every twist of our conversation. Our focus never strayed and somehow, throughout the meal, our chairs became closer. Soon from our knees to our thighs brushed together.
The circular table made us turn into our shared space to converse easier. Moving away a bit would have been just as comfortable but he didn't suggest it and I had no reason to either.
Stefan took a drink from the straw of his to-go cup. His eyes narrowed a bit as he looked me over. Never once during his inspection did I move from my position of leaning my head against my hand with my elbow on the table top.
He replaced the cup and reached out, took a chunk of my hair and twirled it around his fingers. Only the ends of my hair received his touch but the feeling coursed all across my head and down my neck.
"When did you do this?"
"Do what?" I asked with an embarrassingly dreamy tone of voice.
"Dye your hair this dark brown all over? You always had that caramel color with different shades of it naturally mixed in, right?"
Stefan's photographic memory always had a way of impressing me. "It was that way, yeah. I've been doing this color for a couple years now. I'm surprised your stalker files don't go back that far."
He smirked but didn't react. "It's stunning with your face; the way it makes your eyes completely stand out."
This color had been a favorite of mine for years, but with Stefan's praise I loved it that much more.
"Do you like it better than my natural look?"
Playing with a few more pieces he shrugged his shoulders. "Your other color was incredible and I don't want to say I like this better. That implies I didn't like the natural look on you. That was the best suiting for my high school sweetheart, but this … " His eyes moved about, not letting a single strand of hair go unseen. "This is just absolutely beautiful. You're a gorgeous woman regardless, but damn."
He shook his head as if he was truly at a loss for words.
I blushed furiously, looking away from his intensely focused blue eyes.
"Like you're one to talk, Stef. You were always the school stud, but you really grew up so nicely." I peeked up at him and watched as a slow, sexy smile made the sapphire color in his eyes blaze.
"Was that a compliment, Greyson Rose?"
My head shook as I rolled my eyes. "Ever the cocky one."
Leaning in he placed an arm along the back of my chair; closing the already dwindling bubble of space between our bodies.
"You know it, pretty girl."
I sat back, resting against Stefan's arm but neither of us pulled away.
"I'm not sure if I do, but I'll bet just about every attractive woman within a 500-mile radius does."
Stefan chuckled and looked up at me with a hooded gaze. "Were you jealous?"
My hand flew to my chest and my mouth fell in surprise. "Why would I ever be jealous of those … sluts?!" I finally found the best suited word for the kind of women he paraded around on his arm.
A much grander laugh came this time. "Why don't you tell me? Besides, they weren't all sluts, Greyson Rose."
"Highly unlikely, and I don't have to tell you anything because I was far from jealous."
"Was?" He purred out, shifting his face marginally closer.
"Plus, maybe you missed it, but I'm happily engaged." Holding up my left hand I let his eyes take in the vastness of the circular diamond, and equally impressive wedding band.
"Oh, I didn't forget." The casual response was something I hadn't expected. Neither was the way he wrapped his hand around mine to carefully examine the ring. His fingers pressed into my palm while his thumb moved the band to rub the typically covered skin.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I stuttered out. My throat grew dry as I watched him carefully inspect my hand.
"Gorgeous, but the ring is just alright."
Letting our eyes meet for a second he winked and returned to his examination.
"Just alright? What makes you say that??"