There's Something About Sweetie(49)

“I guess not.”

The waitress came then and deposited Sweetie’s Greek-style marinated salmon and tzatziki sauce and Ashish’s moussaka on the table.

“Okay, then,” Sweetie said, leaning back and crossing her arms. “My turn.”

“Bring it.”

“Downton Abbey: Matthew Crawley or Henry Talbot?”

“I don’t know what any of those words mean in that order.”

Sweetie stared at him. “I don’t think we can be friends unless you have at least a passing understanding of Downton Abbey.”

“Sure. I’ll get right on that.” He grinned lazily.

“Okay, let’s move on. Sunsets or sunrises?”

“Sunrises.”

“Rain or snow?”

“Rain.”

“Dogs or cats?”

“Dogs.”

“Endings or beginnings?”

He held her gaze for a moment. “Beginnings. Definitely.”

She dropped her eyes and reached for her Coke. After she’d had a deep gulp, she said softly, “Well, see? You answered exactly the way I would have for all of those questions.”

“Except the Downton Abbey one.”

“Right. Except that.” She smiled, but it was a small, shy thing that he wanted to look at all day. “We’ll have to rectify that someday.”

Neither of them had even begun eating yet. Ashish unrolled his silverware. “Maybe if I break both legs and have nothing else to keep me occupied.”

Laughing, Sweetie put a forkful of salmon in her mouth. Closing her eyes, she said, “Ohhhh. My. God. So good.”

Ashish realized he could watch her make that expression all day. Clearing his throat to get his mind out of the very fun gutter it was swimming in, he said, “Gl-glood. I mean, glad. I’m glad you like it.”

Sweetie opened her eyes and gave him a look that told him she knew exactly what he’d been thinking. Smiling, she looked down at her plate.

Great, Ash. That’s what you want: Sweetie thinking you’re a total perv. He shoveled his food into his mouth before he could say yet another stupid thing in the course of this meal.

They lingered over their food and then over dessert—Ashish made sure to tip the waitress generously for the privilege. And then, since neither of them wanted to leave yet, they decided to walk to the reflecting pool for a while.

It was easy with Sweetie in a way it never had been with Celia. Sure, it had been fire and sparks and heat and passion with Celia. (And then it had been ice cubes and thunderclouds and hailstorms and tears. Hers, not his, naturally. Ashish didn’t cry.) (Okay, the tears had been his. But only a few.)

But with Sweetie time passed in gentle waves. A conversation with her was like a warm hug and a cup of hot cocoa on a cold day—comforting, familiar, a place you never wanted to leave. And the thing was … he found her really physically attractive, too. His brain still held on to the vestiges of Celia, sure he’d never be over her. But his body seemed not to be conflicted at all. It was a huge improvement, especially considering he’d barely been aware of Dana Patterson, cheerleader hottie extraordinaire. He thought he knew what it was: He was genuinely attracted to Sweetie’s personality, and that just made her body even more attractive to him.

By the time he drove her to his house, the late-afternoon sun had stained the day gold. They sat in the garage, the Porsche turned off, everything quiet and dark and still. Sweetie looked at him and then darted her glance away, smiling a bit.

He turned in his seat to face her. “I had fun today.”

She said softly, “Me too. You’re good company. Except when you admit to not knowing anything about Downton Abbey.”

Ashish rolled his eyes. She’d told him the premise. “Downton Crappy, more like. I can’t believe people like to sit around and watch ancient British people get dressed by their butlers.”

Sweetie sighed. “No, they’re dressed by their valets and lady’s maids. Jeez. Weren’t you listening?”

They laughed together. Then Ashish got serious. “You know, I wasn’t kidding earlier.”

Sweetie frowned. “About what?”

“That you look beautiful today.” He reached over and wound a strand of her hair around the bun she’d tied at the base of her neck. Her eyes widened for a moment, but then she leaned into his touch. His heart sang.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Ashish shifted slowly in his seat, leaning forward an inch at a time to make sure she was okay with this. She held his gaze, her eyes dark and shining, until they fluttered shut. From just a breath away, she smelled heavenly, like sunshine and mint and something so soft it caressed his skin like silk.

Ashish meant for it to be a quick kiss. But once his lips found hers, her skin like velvet, he felt his hands cupping her face and gently pulling her closer; he couldn’t get close enough. She tasted like dew and sweets, exactly how he’d expected her to taste. She made a quiet moaning sound in the back of her throat that drove him crazy, her own small hands sliding up against his chest and resting there between them. She was all soft, decadent curves—so different from any girl he’d ever kissed and still so incredibly, mind-blowingly sexy.

They pulled apart finally to catch their breath. Ashish smiled and rested his forehead against hers. Her eyes shone even more brightly, that faint dimple making an appearance and burrowing itself into his heart.