Read Online The Princess Problem by Diane Darcy - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Diane Darcy
Ads: Link
spreading until her whole body tingled. “You didn’t apologize for the last one yet.”
“If I do apologize, then do I earn a point and a kiss?”
She should just shut him down, tell him no, but instead she was trying to hold back a smile. She wanted another kiss, too, preferably without an audience this time. Just to see if it was really as good as she remembered or if she’d built it up in her mind. She lifted a shoulder. “For one measly point? I’ll have to think about that.”
His lips curved. “Hold that thought.” He shut the door, rounded the car, and slid inside. “Okay.” He buckled his seat belt and started the car. “Thinking is good. But just for clarification, exactly how many points would I need to earn? I mean, I have one now for opening the door, right?”
“Yes.” She crossed her legs and sighed. “But I’m taking away that point for the earlier kiss.”
He glanced at her legs, took a deep breath, and pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road. “That’s a little harsh, but okay. So I’m starting at zero?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“No, that’s okay. I just don’t want to find out later there are minus points I didn’t know about.”
“Well, I certainly could add some minus points for other things, but for the sake of making this easier, we’ll start with zero.”
His lips quirked. “That’s very generous of you.”
She grinned. “I thought so, too.”
“Okay. So how many points would it take for a kiss?”
“Let’s say…five? But I reserve the right to minus points for pretty much anything, so…” she shrugged.
He glanced at her. “So be on my best behavior?”
She straightened in her seat and tried to look nonchalant. “Only if you think the reward will be worth it.”
He looked at her lips for a long moment, before turning back to watch the road. “Oh, it’s worth it all right. I intend to stun you with my best behavior.”
She shivered. His words, the way he kept glancing at her, looking at her lips, had heat rising in her cheeks. No doubt she was an idiot or a glutton for punishment. Hadn’t she decided to go to dinner with him so they could learn to act like normal people around each other? She hadn’t planned to flirt with him, but couldn’t seem to help herself. She didn’t doubt for a moment she was playing with fire. He was simply too attractive. One kiss in a day from Jonas was enough of a danger to any girl’s heart, and the way hers raced let her know she definitely wasn’t immune.
The question now was, would she award him the five points? Or would she chicken out by the time he dropped her at her car? Even she didn’t know.
* * *
“What sounds good for dinner?” Jonas asked. “Mexican? Italian? Burgers? Salad?”
“Italian sounds good.”
“Good choice. Matteo’s is just down the road.” A few minutes later Jonas pulled into the parking lot, switched off the car, and turned toward her. “Don’t move a muscle.” He jumped out, rounded the car, and opened her door. He took her hand and helped her out of the car, one warm hand clasping hers, the other cupping her elbow, his actions making her feel treasured and leaving her breathless.
As he ushered her inside, his hand, big and warm, settled on her lower back and goosebumps ran up her neck, then down her arms. She shivered, glad for the lightweight jacket she wore. They were immediately seated and the hostess lit the candle on the checkered tablecloth and handed them their menus before leaving.
After they’d both studied the menu and ordered, Jonas eyed her across the table, his expression slightly predatory. “This is romantic.”
She raised a brow. “How would you know? You’re not a romantic.”
“I never said that.”
“You said you didn’t believe in happily ever afters, remember? Anyway, you don’t like fairytales.”
“I like fairytales just fine.”
“Oh really? Then admit that The Princess and the Pea is a brilliant idea for a
“If I do apologize, then do I earn a point and a kiss?”
She should just shut him down, tell him no, but instead she was trying to hold back a smile. She wanted another kiss, too, preferably without an audience this time. Just to see if it was really as good as she remembered or if she’d built it up in her mind. She lifted a shoulder. “For one measly point? I’ll have to think about that.”
His lips curved. “Hold that thought.” He shut the door, rounded the car, and slid inside. “Okay.” He buckled his seat belt and started the car. “Thinking is good. But just for clarification, exactly how many points would I need to earn? I mean, I have one now for opening the door, right?”
“Yes.” She crossed her legs and sighed. “But I’m taking away that point for the earlier kiss.”
He glanced at her legs, took a deep breath, and pulled out of the parking lot onto the main road. “That’s a little harsh, but okay. So I’m starting at zero?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“No, that’s okay. I just don’t want to find out later there are minus points I didn’t know about.”
“Well, I certainly could add some minus points for other things, but for the sake of making this easier, we’ll start with zero.”
His lips quirked. “That’s very generous of you.”
She grinned. “I thought so, too.”
“Okay. So how many points would it take for a kiss?”
“Let’s say…five? But I reserve the right to minus points for pretty much anything, so…” she shrugged.
He glanced at her. “So be on my best behavior?”
She straightened in her seat and tried to look nonchalant. “Only if you think the reward will be worth it.”
He looked at her lips for a long moment, before turning back to watch the road. “Oh, it’s worth it all right. I intend to stun you with my best behavior.”
She shivered. His words, the way he kept glancing at her, looking at her lips, had heat rising in her cheeks. No doubt she was an idiot or a glutton for punishment. Hadn’t she decided to go to dinner with him so they could learn to act like normal people around each other? She hadn’t planned to flirt with him, but couldn’t seem to help herself. She didn’t doubt for a moment she was playing with fire. He was simply too attractive. One kiss in a day from Jonas was enough of a danger to any girl’s heart, and the way hers raced let her know she definitely wasn’t immune.
The question now was, would she award him the five points? Or would she chicken out by the time he dropped her at her car? Even she didn’t know.
* * *
“What sounds good for dinner?” Jonas asked. “Mexican? Italian? Burgers? Salad?”
“Italian sounds good.”
“Good choice. Matteo’s is just down the road.” A few minutes later Jonas pulled into the parking lot, switched off the car, and turned toward her. “Don’t move a muscle.” He jumped out, rounded the car, and opened her door. He took her hand and helped her out of the car, one warm hand clasping hers, the other cupping her elbow, his actions making her feel treasured and leaving her breathless.
As he ushered her inside, his hand, big and warm, settled on her lower back and goosebumps ran up her neck, then down her arms. She shivered, glad for the lightweight jacket she wore. They were immediately seated and the hostess lit the candle on the checkered tablecloth and handed them their menus before leaving.
After they’d both studied the menu and ordered, Jonas eyed her across the table, his expression slightly predatory. “This is romantic.”
She raised a brow. “How would you know? You’re not a romantic.”
“I never said that.”
“You said you didn’t believe in happily ever afters, remember? Anyway, you don’t like fairytales.”
“I like fairytales just fine.”
“Oh really? Then admit that The Princess and the Pea is a brilliant idea for a
Similar Books
