Read Online Afternoon Delight by Mia Zachary - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mia Zachary
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drink?”
She considered it for a second then nodded. “Sure.”
Chris looked at the bartender. “A draft beer for me and the lady will have…?”
“Maybe a shot of tequila, I think.”
He chuckled at the contradiction of her decisive tone and uncertain words. “Really? I would have guessed you were a white wine drinker.”
Jade gave him an enigmatic smile. “I’m trying new things.”
“All right. Then go for the best. Two shots of Cuervo 1800 Gold, please, and a glass of ice water.”
They sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence, not touching and yet hyper-aware of each other. Chris was perceptive to the heat from her body, the scent of her skin and the hint of uncertainty in her eyes even though she kept them averted. She glanced at her hands then around the bar, looking everywhere except at him. Jade seemed less confident than she’d been at their first encounter and he wondered what had happened.
Practicing what he preached to his clients, Chrisset out to put her at ease. “I’m glad you called. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
She finally looked up and the heat of her gaze seared him. “You’ve been on my mind as well. Last night was…hard to forget.”
He laughed, having noticed where her eyes had focused.
The bartender set two small glasses, a shallow dish of salt and a bowl of limes in front of them. Chris paid the tab then stopped Jade from reaching for a lime wedge. “This is premium quality tequila, aged to be much smoother. So we don’t need the taste killers.”
“If you say so.” She tipped her head, lifted her glass and touched the rim to his.
Watching her with veiled amusement, he knocked back the shot and began silently counting. One, two…He didn’t wait long. Jade’s eyes widened then started to tear as she dropped her shot glass on the bar top and gasped for breath. He handed over the ice water and grinned.
After several sips, the bright color in her cheeks receded and she was able to talk. “Smooth, huh?”
“I spent a wild drinking weekend in Tijuana back in college. Trust me, this is smooth.” Chris shook his head when the bartender gestured for another round, thinking she’d probably opt for a different drink next time. “Do you still want to try something new?”
Jade dropped her gaze again, a slight frown between her brows, and didn’t answer. She toyed withher shot glass, rotating it between her palms one way and then the other. Her expression fascinated him. Despite her sexual confidence and provocative outfit, her long dark lashes couldn’t shield her insecurity.
It would seem that the exotic temptress had an unexpected conservative side.
Chris stroked his fingers along her arm before offering her an out. “You said on the phone you were hungry. We could have a light dinner at the place across the lobby.” He angled his head in the direction of Shrewsbury’s. “Or would you rather go somewhere else?”
Just when he figured they’d be going to the restaurant, she raised her head and he watched her draw a deep breath. She looked right into him and in her gaze he saw both hesitation and longing; caution and white hot desire.
Whoa. Apparently he’d misinterpreted her expression. Jade was definitely a bad girl trying hard to be good—and failing.
“I’d rather go upstairs.”
His stomach clenched, as did other parts of his body, but he didn’t let his reaction show. He just nodded slowly, playing it cool. “Okay—”
“But first we need to talk.”
Chris reached out to take her hand. Her fingers were warm within his grasp and once again he felt sparks of attraction travel along his nerves. “I’m not seeing anyone right now but, when I was, I was careful.”
“Thanks for answering what I couldn’t ask.” Jadesmiled at him and relaxed a little. “But the other thing we need to talk about is what you expect of…this?”
He knew better than to put up boundaries at this early stage, thereby limiting what could
She considered it for a second then nodded. “Sure.”
Chris looked at the bartender. “A draft beer for me and the lady will have…?”
“Maybe a shot of tequila, I think.”
He chuckled at the contradiction of her decisive tone and uncertain words. “Really? I would have guessed you were a white wine drinker.”
Jade gave him an enigmatic smile. “I’m trying new things.”
“All right. Then go for the best. Two shots of Cuervo 1800 Gold, please, and a glass of ice water.”
They sat in a surprisingly comfortable silence, not touching and yet hyper-aware of each other. Chris was perceptive to the heat from her body, the scent of her skin and the hint of uncertainty in her eyes even though she kept them averted. She glanced at her hands then around the bar, looking everywhere except at him. Jade seemed less confident than she’d been at their first encounter and he wondered what had happened.
Practicing what he preached to his clients, Chrisset out to put her at ease. “I’m glad you called. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
She finally looked up and the heat of her gaze seared him. “You’ve been on my mind as well. Last night was…hard to forget.”
He laughed, having noticed where her eyes had focused.
The bartender set two small glasses, a shallow dish of salt and a bowl of limes in front of them. Chris paid the tab then stopped Jade from reaching for a lime wedge. “This is premium quality tequila, aged to be much smoother. So we don’t need the taste killers.”
“If you say so.” She tipped her head, lifted her glass and touched the rim to his.
Watching her with veiled amusement, he knocked back the shot and began silently counting. One, two…He didn’t wait long. Jade’s eyes widened then started to tear as she dropped her shot glass on the bar top and gasped for breath. He handed over the ice water and grinned.
After several sips, the bright color in her cheeks receded and she was able to talk. “Smooth, huh?”
“I spent a wild drinking weekend in Tijuana back in college. Trust me, this is smooth.” Chris shook his head when the bartender gestured for another round, thinking she’d probably opt for a different drink next time. “Do you still want to try something new?”
Jade dropped her gaze again, a slight frown between her brows, and didn’t answer. She toyed withher shot glass, rotating it between her palms one way and then the other. Her expression fascinated him. Despite her sexual confidence and provocative outfit, her long dark lashes couldn’t shield her insecurity.
It would seem that the exotic temptress had an unexpected conservative side.
Chris stroked his fingers along her arm before offering her an out. “You said on the phone you were hungry. We could have a light dinner at the place across the lobby.” He angled his head in the direction of Shrewsbury’s. “Or would you rather go somewhere else?”
Just when he figured they’d be going to the restaurant, she raised her head and he watched her draw a deep breath. She looked right into him and in her gaze he saw both hesitation and longing; caution and white hot desire.
Whoa. Apparently he’d misinterpreted her expression. Jade was definitely a bad girl trying hard to be good—and failing.
“I’d rather go upstairs.”
His stomach clenched, as did other parts of his body, but he didn’t let his reaction show. He just nodded slowly, playing it cool. “Okay—”
“But first we need to talk.”
Chris reached out to take her hand. Her fingers were warm within his grasp and once again he felt sparks of attraction travel along his nerves. “I’m not seeing anyone right now but, when I was, I was careful.”
“Thanks for answering what I couldn’t ask.” Jadesmiled at him and relaxed a little. “But the other thing we need to talk about is what you expect of…this?”
He knew better than to put up boundaries at this early stage, thereby limiting what could
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