When he didn’t look up, she studied the menu, trying to ignore the disturbed thoughts roiling around in her brain. She had to have imagined it, there was no other explanation.
“Mmmm,” Rick mused. “I do like the double bacon and cheese pizza. How about you?”
Cherry peeked at him over the top of the menu. He was engrossed in his own menu. “I rather like the chicken and bacon myself.”
“Maybe I’ll switch to the supreme spice.” He glanced up at her and his teeth flashed whitely. “I like some spice.”
“Really?” she managed, avoiding his gaze by looking back down at the menu and hoping her cheeks weren’t red. “I like a milder version.”
“Spicy is a little more adventurous.”
“I’ve never been partial to a lot of spice.”
“Shame. I’ll just have to show you how delicious spicy can be.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Cherry took a tighter grip on the menu. He doesn’t mean anything by it. Nothing sexual. He’s just talking about food. Get a grip! “Can’t convince me.” Rather proud of how unaffected she sounded, Cherry glanced up coolly...and met hot eyes.
Rick’s grin was pure sin. His voice was like seductive silk across skin as he answered low, “A challenge I’m going to relish.”
Ye gods! Her hands actually shook a little, but she miraculously maintained a cool façade. “Nevertheless, I’ll stick with the chicken and bacon.”
“Each to their own.” He practically purred like a lion. “I’m going to have me some spice when the time comes.” His eyes definitely had a predatory glow in them. “I’m also partial to sweet. I like some cream.” His gaze slid down the front of her to where the rest of her body disappeared below the table, and she knew exactly what he was insinuating.
“Stop it,” she hissed.
That damned eyebrow arched up in silent amusement.
“Are you always this irritating?”
“You bring out the best in me.”
“It’s not very obvious.”
“You have no idea at the beast you bring out in me.”
“The what?”
“The best. I said the best.” Those green eyes sparkled with laughter. And heat. Most definitely heat.
The waitress arriving at their table stopped further conversation for a few blessed moments.
“One bacon and chicken, and one supreme spice,” Rick drawled, adding with a wicked glance at Cherry, “Extra spice. I enjoy some extra spice.”
“Extra spice,” the waitress repeated. “Honey, you’ll go on fire with the spice on this food.”
“You have no idea,” Rick replied. “I’m looking forward to it.” His eyes raked over Cherry boldly, but his smile was all pleasantness at the waitress.
Cherry didn’t think she was going to last the dinner time if he kept teasing her like this. Or maybe it wasn’t teasing. Maybe he did like tasting. Her pulse picked up pace and she drew a shaky breath. Was he into…oral sex? There, she’d thought it. Glancing at Rick to find him calmly giving a drinks order to the waitress, she studied his mouth.
Oral sex. That mouth on her. Oh God, it didn’t bare thinking about. He was just teasing. He was only teasing.
Flustered, she looked away, trying to banish the sudden image of his head between her thighs – like that was ever going to happen. Cripes, she was creaming just thinking about it. Creaming? No, not creaming! Damn him for even putting that thought in her mind as well.
As if he was going to see her naked anyway, or get close to her thunder thighs with that handsome face and that wicked mouth. Not happening. No way.
The thoughts rampaging through her brain had her going hot and cold all at once. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all. There was no way anything could happen between them. It was a mistake.
“So where did you get the cats?”
It took several seconds for Cherry to realize that Rick was watching her with interest, every sign of sinful teasing gone. “Pardon?”
“Your cats. You have two of them. Where did you get them?”
Not quite trusting the change of the conversation, she eyed him suspiciously. “From the cat shelter.”
“Have you had them long?”
“Three years.”
“They were lucky you took them.” He shook his head. “So much animal cruelty. Were they dumped?”
Cherry relaxed a little. “Good guess.”
“Not really. People don’t sterilise their animals, and when they have too many puppies and kittens, the heartless ones dump them.” The distaste was clear in his voice. “They’re the same colour. Siblings, or just coincidence that you chose the same colours?”