You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(57)

She smirked then looked out the window.

I glanced at her in my peripheral vision. She wore sky-high pumps that made her legs look even longer, and her short dress showed her toned thighs. My cock was hard the moment I saw her.

When we arrived at the restaurant, I pulled out the chair for her then sat across from her.

She gave me a look of approval then stared at her menu.

“Did you tell Yates no?” I asked while I read my menu.

“No to what?”

“The date he asked you on.”

“He didn’t ask me out on a date.” Her eyes scanned the menu. “Tortellini, it is.”

My eyes moved to hers. “I heard him, Alex. He asked you out on a date.”

“No, it was just a friendly request.”

Was she stupid? “Believe me, it wasn’t.”

She rolled her eyes. “It’s awfully early in a relationship to get jealous…”

“I’m sorry if I don’t want my girlfriend spending the evening alone with some guy.”

“Not your girlfriend,” she reminded me. “Too soon.”

“Whatever,” I said. “When you start seeing anyone, it’s rude to see other people at the same time. There are rules for this sort of thing. Why bother dating someone if you aren’t putting everything into it? So yes, you are my girlfriend.”

She eyed me but didn’t object.

“Besides, we’re sleeping together…” I smirked at her from across the table.

She chuckled. “I guess we are.”

“And I always leave you exhausted.” I winked at her.

She rolled her eyes. “Enough with the innuendos.”

“So, are you going to go out with him?” I pressed.

“I’ll think about it…”

I growled in irritation.

We ordered our food then stared at each other across the table.

“You look beautiful tonight.” I liked staring at her. She was a vision. Her hair was styled and her dress highlighted all her features. She was petite and strong, but curvy in the places I loved.

“Thank you.” She fidgeted with the necklace around her throat.

I’d known Alex for a while but I really didn’t know anything about her. But that didn’t bother me. What I did know, I liked. She was sweet and funny, and she had a rockin’ body. “When did you first pursue martial arts?”

“Years ago.”

“Why?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Why did you?”

“My parents put me in lessons when I was young. It became my passion at some point. What about you?”

“I started when I was in high school.”

“That’s kinda old,” I noted. “Any reason why?”

She shrugged. “No.”

Her vague responses made me wonder what she was hiding. I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable so I let it go. “Did you grow up here?”

“No, I grew up in the Bronx.”

Really? “That’s pretty close.”

“Yeah, but it’s a different world. Where did you grow up?”

“Manhattan. So, we weren’t that far away from each other.”

“Actually, I think we were,” she said with a light laugh.

Was I missing something? “You look beautiful tonight.”

“You already said that.”

“It’s worth mentioning again.”

Her eyes softened. “It’s weird seeing you be this nice.”

“I’m actually a good guy. I understand why you didn’t notice…since I never showed this side of myself to you.”

She continued to stare at me, her face giving nothing away.

“I’m really sorry for my behavior. I was a jerk to you and I wish I could change that.”

She nodded.

“And I’m not apologizing because I feel bad for you,” I said quickly. “I’m apologizing because I want to sleep with you.”

Her eyes widened in alarm and she looked like she might slap me.

“Kidding.”

She relaxed and released a sigh. “Not funny.”

“If I wanted to sleep with you, I already had the perfect opportunity. So that’s obviously not what I want.”

“And what do you want, Theo?” she asked.

I shrugged. “Whatever happens, happens.”

“Meaning?”

“My dad always told me not to live my life on a timeline. I would marry and settle down when I found the right girl. It doesn’t matter if I meet her in high school or when I’m thirty-five. So, I’m just going with the flow, basically.”

“Have you ever been in a serious relationship?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I’m very picky,” I said honestly. “It takes a lot to impress me and hold my attention.”

“Do I impress you?” she asked.

“What do you think?” I asked with a smirk. “You’re the only woman who’s ever kicked my ass—and my mom has a good arm.”

She smiled. “So, you actually admit it?”

“I guess so. And you know what? It’s actually kind of hot.”