Of course, I can’t help but admire her amazing tits.
Sorry, I mean breasts. But come on: They. Are. Right. There. The low-cut neckline is an invitation for my eyes to ogle away.
To be completely honest, I’m shocked she’s wearing this dress. This dress means she considers this a real date; this is not a dress you wear when you’re Friend Zoning a guy. It’s a sexy-ass dress you’re able to untie with only a gentle tug to the sash. One you drop to the floor at the end of your date.
The kind of dress you wear when you want him undressing you with his eyes all night.
And tonight, it’s damn good to be Collin Keller.
The fabric is flirty, silky, and light—touchable everywhere. My eyes wander, my hands impatient to shove her back in my car, drive her back to my place, and screw her brains out until she can’t remember a single reason we shouldn’t be here together—and give her a million screaming reasons why we should.
As my eyes rake over her cleavage, again, I wonder if she’s wearing lingerie underneath and what it looks like. My hand settles at the small of her back to guide her towards the restaurant—and hell if it doesn’t graze her ass while I’m checking it out.
Damn fine ass.
Makes me wanna slap it, too.
Mind out of the gutter, Keller.
Inside, we’re greeted by the hostess.
“Hi,” I start, clearing my throat. Here goes nothing. “Party of two for Neumann. That’s N-E-U-M-A-N-N. Not to be confused with New Man.”
Sadly, the hostess’s features remain stoic, not getting my joke and ruining all my fun. Nodding, she motions for us to follow, leading us to the back corner of the restaurant, taking a left to steer us down a hallway. Tabitha glances at me over her shoulder, puzzled, so I feign a shrug, pleading ignorance.
Shit. I hope this wasn’t a mistake.
“Here you go, sir. The private room you requested.” A door opens and the room we enter can only be described as opulent. Lavish. In the center of the secluded dining room, beneath an ornamental crystal chandelier, is a single set table. Draped white linens cover the surface. Candles and a crystal vase of four long-stem roses occupy the center: red, peach, yellow, and lavender. Several steaming plates of Tabitha’s favorite foods have already been served.
The hostess hangs back. “Your sommelier will be back shortly with the Chardonnay.”
Tabitha’s head rears towards me and her smoky eyes widen, appearing a shocking shade of blue. “Collin, what on earth…”
“Now, Rachel, before you say anything, don’t overreact.”
“Why are you calling me Rachel? What… Oh, sweet Jesus.” She looks around, confused. “Did you..? Wait. Is this what I think it is?”
“No?”
Her eyebrows shoot up into her hairline, skepticism written all over her face. I can’t tell if she wants to smack me or not. “Collin Keller, what is going on? Is this the date scene from the paperback proof you stole?” She whispers this last part. “Be honest.”
“Okay, yes. This is what it looks like. Are you mad?”
She gives pause, sets her purse down on the table, and then rewards me with a smile when I pull the chair out for her, a gentlemanly gesture that has her blue eyes softening.
I know I’ve got her.
Score one for Team Collin.
Nervously, she pushes a few strands of hair behind her ear. Sparkling green emeralds shine in her lobes. “I don’t even know how to be furious with you right now. I’m speechless. Later it might be possible that I’ll want to kill you, but right now… I can’t even believe you did this.”
This is the recreation of the first date scene from her very first book.
This is me romancing a girl who’s making it damn near impossible to romance her.
But I’m sure going to fucking try.
“Give me your best line.” Collin watches me from across the table, taking a forkful of steak and chewing slowly. “Tell me something you’ve only put on paper. In one of your books.”
“It’s only the one book, remember? Well, two. But the second one is just… me playing around.”
He rolls his eyes, still chewing. “Let’s assume there will be more.”
It’s right then that my chest swells and my heart begins beating wildly. Becomes huge. His words release a spark of affection inside me that I can feel—actually feel—blossoming into something bigger.
Something wonderful.
Collin believes in my dream.
Collin believes in… me.
I could leap across the table and kiss him all over his beautiful, sexy, freshly shaven face.
I bet he smells good. All sexy and mannish.
Collin breaks the silence. “Well? If you can’t think of one, I can supply one for you. Confession time: I read your proof three times before giving it back to you. I’ve got a few good zingers locked away up here.” He taps his skull with a forefinger, saying it so casually I have to replay it in my mind a few times.
“Three times!” I sputter ineloquently. “Why?”
“Because it was good?” He lays his fork on his dinner plate and leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Mostly I just thought it was nuts that you wrote it. You. That’s what went through my head while I was reading. Holy shit, Tabitha wrote this. I’m in awe of you.” He says it so matter-of-factly, his voice a low purr. “I couldn’t stop picturing you at your laptop in that sexy little baseball hat, pen tucked behind your ear, dreaming up that shit. You’re so fucking smart.”
Tilting my head a little, I gaze at him with doe eyes. I know they’re doe eyes because my entire face softens and my whole body gives a blissful, dreamy sigh.
Collin straightens in his seat. “What’s that look you’re giving me right now?”
I quietly exhale. “What look?” Even that comes out sounding breathless and wistful.
His lips curve into a knowing smile. “Don’t deny it. You’re looking at me like this.” He puckers his mouth and flutters his dark, sexy eyelashes. Lowering his voice, he arches one perfect, masculine brow. “You’re totally thinking about climbing into my lap right now, aren’t you?”
Yes. “No.”
He relaxes in his seat and crosses his arms.
God, those arms.
“Pfft. That is not how I’m looking at you.” My lying eyes go to his lips—his full and soft and pliant lips. Well, I don’t know for sure that they’re soft, but right now there’s nothing I’d love more than to find out.
I almost groan out loud at the wayward ideas running rampant through my mind that have nothing to do with enjoying the rest of our four-course meal: Unbuttoning his dress shirt, one button at a time to expose his warm skin. Climbing into his lap. Kissing his neck. Finding out how happy his trail actually is, all the way down to his…
I take a sip of wine to occupy my hands and my tongue, guiltily glancing away.
Collin laughs. “You dirty, dirty pervert.”
“What?” It’s on the tip of my tongue to point out that, as a romance writer, it’s practically my job to picture him naked. “If you must know, my thoughts weren’t dirty. I was—” I clear my throat so I can lie with a straight face. “I was just…” God, this is torture. “I was just thinking about how soft your lips look.”
“Soft. My lips?” If a man has ever looked disappointed by a pronouncement, it would be Collin Keller right in this moment. Actually, disappointed doesn’t even cover it; the man stares at me, crestfallen. “That’s it? You weren’t undressing me in your mind?”
“Pretty much.”
“Not my muscles or my… cash and prizes?” He raises his eyebrows again. “Soft lips don’t sound sexy. Soft lips sound like a snooze-fest.”
“Are you sure about that?”
The table we’re at is square. Small.
Intimate.
Just enough room for the two of us, a few plates, and not much else. Which means with very minimal effort I can prod. “Lean towards me for a second.”
I remove the napkin from my lap and brace my elbows on either side of our table. I watch, fascinated, as Collin’s hazel eyes run down the length of my neck, over my collarbone, and land on my exposed skin. On the smooth skin of my cleavage.
My breasts.
Lifting myself off the chair gets me closer still, my laser-like focus directed entirely on his mouth. He chooses that moment to slide his tongue over his lips. “Should I pop in a breath mint?”
He sounds so hopeful I almost giggle.
“Shhh.” My whisper is centimeters away, so close we’re sharing the same breath. Parting my lips ever so slightly, I kiss just his bottom lip. Softly, I rest my lips there before teasing him with one small suck. A tender pull. I was right: warm, tender, and so, so soft.
His large hands grab fistfuls of white linen table cloth and clench when I brush my mouth against the irresistible divot above his chiseled chin. Back and forth, back and forth, taking the opportunity to inhale the masculine smell of him. Fresh. Woodsy. Delicious. Virile.
I could have the Big O just from the smell of him.
My kiss lands in the corner of his lips. Left side… right side.
His lips part a fraction and holy mother of… it feels so good.
Eyes quivering closed, his body shivers on an inaudible moan. Collin sits utterly still when the flick of my tongue meets his cupid’s bow, and I press my entire mouth firmly against his one last time before pulling away.