Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 65177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65177 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Aly: It’s so loud in here. Let’s go next door and grab a bite to eat.
Me: Great idea, I’m starving!
She smiles as she reads my text then waves at her co-worker and mouths, I’ll be back in an hour, before grabbing my hand and pulling me back out the door I just walked through.
“Is next door okay for you?” she asks, looking up at me once we can finally hear each other talk. “I can’t be too far away, since I need to be back for their finale.”
“I don’t care where we go, as long as I’m with you,” I answer, watching her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink.
“Okay.” She ducks her head in shyness, making me smile.
I give her hand a squeeze then lead her to the restaurant next door that is owned by the same owners of the Exit/In. We’re seated immediately despite the crowd of college students mixed with young professionals who occupy the bar. The waitress comes by with waters and we both order a beer while looking over the menu that consists of mostly burgers and Americanized Mexican food.
“Have you eaten here before?” I ask, wondering what her favorite food is. I’m hoping I can get a clue of where I should take her for our first official date.
“Anytime we have a show here, I stop in and get the nachos. They’re delicious.” She closes her menu and smiles at me.
“I’m assuming by your gorgeous smile that you’re getting that again?” I grin as she nods like an excited child waiting for her favorite ice cream. “Is Mexican your favorite kind of food?”
“Yes, but I just love food in general.” She shrugs, causing the wide neck of her sweater to droop down the side of her shoulder.
My eyes lock on the small glimpse of her smooth, beautiful flesh and I suddenly wonder how her skin would taste and what her reaction would be if I ran my tongue up her shoulder to her neck. I silently groan and adjust myself underneath the table. Focus, I tell myself and force my eyes back to hers.
“Have you been to Texas? Tex-Mex is the best outside of having food in Mexico.”
“I haven’t been to Texas… or out of the country yet.” She laughs at the surprised look on my face. “The only place our parents ever took us to was Disney World, and I don’t even remember that. My sister and I always talk about taking off work and backpacking Europe together, but we haven’t had the chance yet.”
“We’re definitely going to rectify that. You tell me when you can get off and we’ll go to Texas. I am due for a trip home soon. Maybe we can go somewhere out of the country before my tour starts.” My mind starts racing at possible dates when I notice her looking at me funny.
“Do you always bring strange women that you just met home?” she teases, but I don’t miss that flash of concern in her eyes.
“I’m hoping you won’t be a strange woman by the time you meet my family,” I tell her, watching intently to see how she reacts to my words. If things progress with us, would she even want to meet my family? Tori was never interested in going to Texas with me. She always had an excuse anytime I brought it up, so eventually, I stopped asking.
“You’re kind of intense,” she says quietly after a long moment, not giving anything away with her expression or tone.
“Does that scare you?” I question with a raised brow. Obviously, I don’t want her scared, but I want her to know how serious I am.
“No.” The word is soft before she starts biting her bottom lip. “I actually kind of like it.”
Fuck, this woman is going to make me take her to my car and see how far I can get with her in the backseat if she keeps staring at me like this. Thankfully, the waitress shows up with our drinks and breaks our trance. We place our food order and once she leaves, I decide to change the subject so I don’t look like a madman carrying her out of here.
“What else do you have to do tonight for work?”
“Besides making sure the band doesn’t trash the dressing room, nothing much,” she jokes with a smile. “I just need to check in with the band to see how they felt tonight went, talk with the manager about final ticket sales, and then report in with my boss tomorrow. Normally, I wouldn’t need to stick around, but one of our newer employees is with me tonight, so that’s why I need to get back before the band ends. I’m sorry you have to hang with me while I work.”
“I’m not sorry.” I give her a reassuring smile. “Did you always want to work in the music industry?” I’m always curious why people choose this business. Sure, it can be made to appear glamorous on TV or in magazines, but most people who work on stage or behind the scenes know you work like a dog in an attempt to make a name for yourself.