Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 446(@200wpm)___ 357(@250wpm)___ 297(@300wpm)
He takes his time, threading his fingers through mine, then he rubs the pad of his thumb along my palm. I stop laughing instantly. I stop smiling too. Because it feels so good. I’m quiet, caught in a hushed charge of electricity. His green eyes turn a dark shade of emerald as he holds my gaze with such intensity I can read his desires like they’re a marquee above a theater at night.
My body aches a little for his touch. For those lips to crush mine and for his kiss to take me away.
But he doesn’t make a move. He just strokes the place between my thumb and forefinger, which is officially a direct line to my panties right now.
So far, in the span of five minutes I’ve learned his chaste kisses don’t lie, and nor do his hands. This man turns me on.
“Are you going to show me the others?” If he keeps touching me, I might melt. Best to at least move so I don’t turn into a puddle.
“I am. But first…”
He leans in and dusts a kiss to my left cheek. When he lets go, he gives me a closed-mouth smile, then says, “When I kiss you for real…”
That’s it. He doesn’t finish the thought—just leaves it hanging in the air between us. A sexy promise of more plans I’m sure I’ll like.
He clasps my hand and we wander down the street full of graffiti art.
A rooster riding a bike.
A rooster sunbathing in a flower bed.
Then, a painting of three roosters and a chicken, titled Her Posse. Next, one that says Wake Me Up.
“Well, thank you for the cock art, Gage Archer. I can honestly say I’ve never had a tour of so much cock before.”
“Good. Let’s get something to eat then, Elodie.” He takes a beat. “I’m very, very hungry.”
I hope he says that to me in other ways later tonight.
6
THE WAY TO HER PANTIES
Gage
I already don’t want this date to end, and there’s so much left of it. We’re heading to the restaurant, walking through Hayes Valley now and nearing a boutique hotel that’s giving me all sorts of ideas about how I do want this date to end. The young and beautiful stream out of the hotel entrance as we check it out. This place has become the it hotel in the last year. Celebrities stay here, athletes frequent it—even a famous tennis player and her rock star beau spent the night at this spot. Five stories tall, The Escape has a sleek modern design with a silver facade and clean lines, but twinkling strings of lights cover the entryway, giving it a whimsical feel.
“Love those,” she says, stopping to point to the lights.
Huh. This feels a little like kismet. “Funny, I was thinking about those kind of lights earlier,” I begin, then…Wait. No. Shut the fuck up. I’m not ruining this date by talking about my vision for an outdoor bocce ball court, complete with string lights, for fuck’s sake. Talk about a mood killer.
“You were thinking about…lighting?” she asks, seeming amused but a little befuddled.
Great. Now she’s going to think I have nothing to discuss but the exterior design of my potential second bar.
This is why I don’t deserve nice dates. “Just for a few seconds,” I say, then do my damnedest to right this ship. “Then, I entertained deep thoughts about whether mojitos are better than martinis, the best cock art for a woman I very much wanted to impress, and if I had gloves for tomorrow’s beach cleanup.”
“Don’t tease a girl. Tell me more about the lighting thoughts. I haven’t met a man before who copped to thinking about lighting. Now, I need to know.”
Dragging a hand down my face, I groan, thoroughly busted. “Fine,” I say with a you caught me shrug. After a trio of men dressed more dapper than Zane pass us, chattering about the best sushi ever, I tip my forehead to the twinkling lights. “I thought those would look good with a little outdoor eating area at a potential second bar. You got it out of me, woman. You happy now?” I ask with narrowed eyes and a faux grumble.
“So very happy. Also, do it! I love fairy lights outdoors. They make everything feel like a secret garden. And gardens are sexy.”
Maybe I do get to have nice dates. “Glad I have the Elodie seal of approval.”
“Definitely. Also, are you opening a second location?” she asks, and she sounds fascinated by this topic, so maybe Zane was wrong. But then Elodie’s attention catches on something else. She’s pointing to the busy hotel entrance, and the evening crowds milling nearby. Well, to a little archway next to the entrance and then a storefront just beyond. “Is there a pop-up shop in the courtyard? Wasn’t that one selling those must-have cakes in a jar recently?”