“You’re a busy man, Max.” She cut a piece of meat and took a bite. A combination of flavors burst in her mouth, making her taste buds do a happy dance.
“If I knew getting you steak would get that kind of reception, I’d have gotten you some long before now,” he said of the moans she made with each bite. “I love that about you.”
She stopped to take a drink from her wineglass. “You love what?”
“That you like to eat, because I like to eat too.”
She eyed his plate, noticed how quickly he’d reduced the amount of food, and grinned. “I do like to eat, but unlike you, I gain weight.”
“Where? I don’t see anything but a beautiful body when I look at you. A sexy body.”
Another arrow pierced her heart.
“Believe me,” she groaned. “I gain weight. Every time I eat, it goes to my hips, legs, and butt.”
“Your legs, hips, and butt are the sexiest I’ve seen on any woman.” He licked his lips, and she forgot all about the food. “I could spend the entire day touching your body and stroking your curves.”
She took another sip of her wine. “You sure know what to say to a woman.”
“I’m only saying what comes to mind. You’re beautiful. End of story. Now enjoy your food.”
Her heart flipped-flopped in her chest. The way he looked at her, so hot and possessive, ignited a fire in her core.
“Nina, you are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. You’re beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She gulped. “You’ve made today really special.” Much more than she could have ever anticipated from any man. With him, she felt not only sexy, beautiful, and desirable, but special too. And that combination had never happened for her. Ever.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm, all the while watching her. “I don’t know what it is about you, but I can’t seem to stay away from you.”
She swallowed at the dryness in her throat. “Do you want to? Stay away that is.”
His gaze landed on her lips. “No.”
“Max.” She took a deep breath. “I want us to continue seeing each other.”
A wolfish grin covered his face, and he squeezed her hand on the table. “Thank you. I had hoped you’d want to try that.”
“I just…can we keep this to ourselves?” She winced when he frowned, obviously not fond of her idea.
“Keep it to ourselves?”
“You know it’s just that the people at the office are already strange about office romances, Eve in particular. And she’s my manager. I don’t want to create any tension at your business.” An uncontrollable flip-flopping took over her heart.
He picked up her hand again and rubbed his scruffy cheek on it. Electric currents ran up her back.
“If that’s your wish, we can take things slowly and see where it goes.”
She smiled and nodded. “It is. Thank you.”
He stood, took her empty plate to the cart, and returned with two pieces of cheesecake.
“I know it’s not Junior’s.” He winked. “But the chef that made this is fantastic, and I really think you’ll like it.”
Emotion clogged her throat as she stared down at the piece of strawberry cheesecake on the pristine white plate. “Thank you.”
She wasn’t going to ask him how he knew about her cheesecake obsession. Clearly Max had been paying a lot more attention to her than she’d realized. She took a bite of the dessert in silence. Thoughts of a relationship filled her mind.
“Do you like it?” Genuine curiosity filled his eyes.
She took another bite and really savored the cheesecake. “Oh,” she moaned. Sweet, creamy flavor exploded on her taste buds. “This is so good.”
He beamed. “I know the chef. He said he’d make his special cheesecake just for you.” He twined his fingers through hers. “I told him you’re a very special woman, and I wanted to impress you.”
Her heart melted. “You definitely impressed me.” Which reminded her. “So.” She grinned. “Is someone dropping off the bag?”
His confusion made her smile.
“The one you have with all those things you got to make the evening more pleasurable for me?” Her smile widened when he flushed.
He was embarrassed. After everything he’d done to her, he was embarrassed.
“Come on, tell me.” She dropped the fork next to the half-eaten dessert and focused on Max. “I want to know what you have planned for me next.”
Heat sparked in his eyes. Her nipples pebbled when he licked his lips and glanced down at her mouth before looking at her in the eyes.