His Reverie (Reverie #1)(16)

“What’s wrong with the dress?” The color looks good against her golden skin and blonde hair. Really, good doesn’t even cut it. She looks f**king amazing.

“It’s too short. Too sexy. My mom says—”

“Forget what your mom says,” I say, cutting her off.

Her eyes go even wider. “But…”

“Do you like it?”

She bends her head down, her wavy hair falling across her face and obscuring her from view. I wish I could reach out and tuck all that pretty hair behind her ear but I keep myself in check. She seems too fragile right now and I don’t want to push my luck. “Yes. I bought it when I went shopping for her birthday present. My brother encouraged me but he’s always looking for a way to rebel against our parents.” She lifts her head, panic written all over her face. “Oh no. I never gave my mom her gift.”

“You can give it to her later.” I give in to my urges and reach out, tuck a few strands of silky soft hair behind her ear, my finger tracing the gentle curve before my hand drops away. I don’t dare touch her anywhere else. Once I start I might not be able to stop. “I can go stand in line and order at the pickup window.”

A shuddery breath escapes her. “You’d do that for me?”

“Yeah. Sure. We can eat in the car. Or if you’re feeling more comfortable by the time I’ve got the food, we could eat at one of the tables over there.” I gesture toward the group of picnic tables that are in the back of the tiny restaurant, facing the ocean. A few of them are occupied.

She glances down, presses her lips together, as if she was trying to suppress a smile. “Maybe. We’ll see.”

Her words are like a victory.

And I feel like I just won the grand prize.

I order our food to go and the chick behind the counter flirts with me as she bags it up. She has no idea I have the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met sitting in my car, waiting for me. I can hardly believe it.

“Hot date?” she asks as she hands over the bag of burgers and fries. I already took Reverie’s drink to her and she accepted it gratefully, taking a big sip of her Sprite, those pretty lips pursed tight around the straw.

She’s so good she doesn’t even drink caffeine. Realizing that reminds me yet again I could never measure up.

I take the bag from the cashier, not wanting to encourage her. “Yeah.”

“Does she know she’s a lucky girl?” She flashes me a smile, obviously flirting with me despite my saying I’m on a date. Which I guess I am. Sort of.

I don’t know what to call what I’m doing with Reverie Hale but I don’t want to question it.

Saying nothing, I turn and leave, knowing I probably pissed her off but not really caring. I stride toward my car, notice that the picnic tables are fast filling up, mostly with families coming off the ocean after a day in the sun and sand. I go and knock on the passenger side window. Reverie rolls the window down, smiling at me.

“Dinner?” She nods toward the bag.

“Yeah.” I hold it up. “So have you decided?”

She frowns. “Decided what?”

“Car or picnic table? Your choice,” I offer, tilting my head toward the tables, indicating my preference without saying a word. The weather has cooled down and there’s the usual breeze coming off the ocean. It’s a beautiful night and I want her to forget all her troubles and enjoy it.

“Oh.” She chews on her lower lip with her teeth, dropping her gaze so she can study her lap. I try my best to be patient, but my stomach is growling and I’m hopping from one foot to the other like I’m eight and ready to run.

“If you’d prefer sitting in the car—”

“No.” Reverie cuts me off, her gaze meeting mine, direct and sure. “Let’s go sit outside at one of the tables,” she says, her voice firm.

“Let’s do it,” I agree, opening her door.

She steps out, my drink and hers gripped in her hands as she walks by me with a small smile. I slam the door behind her and lock the car, then follow her as she makes her way to the tables. Her scent trails after her, bathing me in her sugary sweet fragrance and I inhale as discreetly as I can so I don’t look like some sort of crazed junkie.

But I am. A junkie. Addicted to Reverie.

“It’s so nice out here,” she says as she settles at a table, setting both drinks on top.

“It is. Really cooled down since it was so hot earlier.” I slide onto the bench seat across from her and open the bag, the scent of the freshly cooked food making my stomach growl. Loud.

Reverie stifles a laugh behind her hand before she asks, “Hungry?”

“Hell yeah,” I say as I hand over her burger and fries.

She blushes. Again. She is definitely not used to bad language. I really need to learn how to control my mouth around her. “Smells good,” she murmurs as she unwraps her burger.

“Tastes even better.” I glance up to see her cheeks look like they’re on fire so I decide to leave her alone and attack my burger instead.

We’re quiet for a while as we eat, which allows me to check her out more closely. She’s devouring that sloppy burger and pile of fries like they’re the best meal she’s ever had. I wonder what sort of food they eat at the Hale house. Probably healthy food, no junk allowed. Definitely no greasy burgers and fries from the Shit Shack. Her dad—and especially her stick-up-her-butt mom—would probably have a heart attack if they saw their precious little girl right now. Eating fast food all alone with the summer hire that just got out of jail a few months ago.