Read Online Pushing the Limits by Jennifer Snow - Free Book Online Page A

popped it into his mouth. Across from him, he watched as she swallowed a piece of lemon-flavored chicken, trying not to regret his own mainly vegetable-dish choices. “You like the fried stuff, huh?”
    â€œYup.” She scanned his plate. “Are you some kind of health freak?”
    He used to be. He shrugged. “Just hoping to live beyond fifty, I guess,” he said, eating a mouthful of jasmine rice.
    â€œWhat’s the point of living a long life if you’re not enjoying it?” she asked, sipping her tea.
    She had a point. Reaching across the table, he stabbed a piece of her ginger beef and ate it. He closed his eyes as the garlic teased his tongue. He hadn’t trained in almost a year, but he’d kept up his healthy diet and worked out at home. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten anything with real flavor.
    â€œGood, right?” she asked with a grin.
    â€œBest thing I’ve had in my mouth in far too long,” he mumbled, his mouth full.
    Her cheeks turned a shade darker and he almost coughed on the meat as he swallowed. “Get your mind out of the gutter, I meant food.”
    She laughed. “Sure you did.”
    The casual flirtation made him uncomfortable. He hadn’t dated anyone since he’d ended things with his most recent girlfriend the year before, after the fight. She hadn’t walked away, insisting she would help him get through the rough ride ahead, but he’d pushed her away, knowing he wasn’t fit to be with anyone. He’d refused to drag her down this dark and unsettling road with him.
    He avoided situations with women that even came close to a date. So, why he’d agreed to this late-night dinner with Colby, he didn’t know. Gratitude for her help? He quickly glanced at her, taking in her shoulder-length dark hair and pretty green eyes. His gaze moved to her lips as she popped a chicken ball into her mouth and the twist in the pit of his stomach told him that what might have started as a gesture of gratitude was quickly turning into an unwanted interest in her.
    Setting his fork aside, he cleared his throat. “So you’re one of those people who are skinny by accident, huh?” His attempt at bringing the conversation to less flirty ground failed as his eyes skimmed over her body and he realized
skinny
really didn’t seem like the correct word.
Hot, attractive, curvy in all the right places, tempting as fuck.
Those were more accurate.
    She laughed. “You mean, one of those people who can eat anything and not gain weight?” She shook her head. “Not at all. You should see pictures of my teenage years. What about you? You’ve had to work for . . .” She paused, her gaze locked on his biceps, then it drifted across his chest.
    He watched her swallow hard and was the tiniest bit relieved he wasn’t the only one appreciating the view. Though he knew nothing could come of any attraction between them.
    â€œYou could say that.” He picked up his fork again.
    She stared at him. “So, do you still work out . . . train, I mean?”
    He should have known the conversation would wind up there eventually. “Not really.”
    â€œIs that tough? To leave it all behind?”
    His chest tightened. “That life is in the past for me. I’m not a fighter anymore.”
    She set the chopsticks down and studied him. “Okay,” she said, finally, after a long moment.
    â€œOkay?” No one had ever just accepted that before. Either they tore him down for the incident inside the cage or they insisted he couldn’t give up what he loved because of it. No one had ever just said “okay” before. And the odd thing was, for the first time, he had actually been willing and comfortable enough with her to say more about it. Now even more so. Her gentle, unassuming, nonpushy way made him feel comfortable around her.
    She nodded. “Yeah.