Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Elliot snorts. “She will. The only thing Clara knows how to do is shower pups and people with love.”
Clara’s face flushes as she shrugs, and I love how cute she is when she’s embarrassed. When she directs her eyes to mine, I stare into hers and can’t help but say, “That’s obvious, with how bright she is.”
Her face flushes more, the red along her chest and neck begging me for a taste. I shift in my seat again, pulling my gaze from hers as Elliot adds, “Very true. Since she was a baby, she’s been a walking ball of sunshine for us.”
That’s a perfect way to explain her, but I don’t say that or ask Elliot to tell me more. I want to know everything, but I have no right.
She’s not mine.
Beside me, Gavin beams. “She really is.”
I don’t miss how Clara looks away to her food, her blush subsiding as she focuses on the pasta in front of her. Unable to resist, I ask, “It’s good, isn’t it, Clara?”
Her gaze jerks to mine, and a wide smile moves across her face. “So good.”
“It’s my favorite.”
“Mine too. We come here every Saturday.”
I nod. “I order from here twice a week, but I only get the pasta when I eat in.”
Her eyes fill with a sureness. “So, I was right? Steak and potatoes?”
“You were right, and sometimes a burger.”
She scrunches up her face. “The burgers aren’t that great. Have you tried the cod sandwich?”
I furrow my brows. “I haven’t, actually.”
“Try that with the asparagus. You’ll love it.” Her eyes are so damn bright, her smile even brighter, and I can’t stop.
“Are you a fan of asparagus?”
“Huge!” she says with excitement. “I coat them with Parmesan and fry ’em. Chef’s kiss, fantastic!” she gushes, kissing her fingers loudly, and I want to beam back at her.
“I bake them with garlic and Parmesan.”
“Oh, that sounds divine,” she says so animatedly, I’m breathless. We continue our discussion of different ways to cook the vegetable. Our conversation is easy, flowing, and I’m consumed by her. She’s so vibrant—with her hand movements, the flush on her face, and the sparkle in her eyes. We then move on to brussels sprouts and somehow find ourselves discussing how to make golden paste for dogs.
“You’re doing too much!” She laughs, shaking her head, and I can’t help but smirk at her. “I’ll bring you some of mine on Monday. You’re adding too much, and that’s why the boys don’t like it. Dogs have simple tastes. They want meat. I’ll show you how to make it.”
“Fine, but I don’t think your way is right.” Shit, am I teasing her?
She grins. “I know I’m right. I’m the expert.”
I scoff. “Should you really speak this way to your client?”
She waves me off. “You’re not my client right now.”
“No?” I ask, challenging her with my eyes. “Then who am I?”
Her eyes darken, hooding a bit. She pauses, and I swear I see lust in her sweet gaze. It can’t be, though. Or could it? “The guy I’m not on a date with.”
That has me chuckling, but then I notice I’m the only one laughing. I look around to see that Gavin is gone, and so are Elliot and Alex. I bring in my brows. “Where did everyone go?”
She pulls her gaze from mine and mirrors my expression. “What the hell?” She reaches for her phone, and then her face fills with a blush. “They left. Elliot said they couldn’t get a word in edgewise with us.”
I mean, we were talking, but surely it wasn’t like that. “I didn’t even notice.”
“Neither did I,” she agrees as she sets her phone down. Clara moves her gaze to mine, and I have to fight for my next breath. Fuck, she’s gorgeous. I might not be the guy she came here for a date with, but I sure as hell feel like this is a date. She swallows hard, and my cock roars for her attention.
Down, boy.
I lick my lips and exhale. I need to get away from her before I start thinking with my dick and not my brain. “It’s getting late.”
She draws her lips between her teeth. “It is, and I gotta be up early for my pups.” I notice that the check is lying beside her, and I reach for it. She tries to take it, but I wave her off. “What are you doing?”
“Well, since your asshole date left without even covering your bill, I’ll make sure it’s taken care of. And trust, he’ll be doing some extra laps.”
Her face flushes as she looks up at me through her lashes. “It’s okay. It wasn’t really a date.”
“No?”
“No. I wasn’t interested in him. I only came for the food and because Elliot asked me to.”
Why does that make my heart do a wee jig? “You like food, aye?”