He's the Man (The Alexanders 3)

“So, you’re not really brushing me off tonight, are you?” Matt leaned on the doorframe, blocking her from closing the door.

“Can we discuss this later?” Penny whispered.

“Tell me you’re coming and I’ll go away.” His eyes glittered as he leaned closer, his dark eyes fixed on her mouth. There was something about the way he looked at her. His eyes didn’t hide anything that he was thinking, so she could see his every dirty thought written all over his face.

“Oh geez, you have to get out of here. You can’t look at me like that in public.”

Heat rushed to her face again as his trademark smirk appeared. “You’re blushing, Miss Lewis.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll be there,” Penny muttered, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed them. “Now I need to go before my next patient gets here.”

“See you tonight.” Then with a wink, he was gone.

* * * * *

THAT NIGHT, MATT thought Penny should direct their date. He’d strong-armed his way into seeing her, but he needed her to come the rest of the way on her own. He’d let her choose the restaurant. It soon became clear it was the right decision because everything she suggested was loud and crazy. She clearly wasn’t angling for an intimate dinner where they could talk.

She needed distance.

“I could go for Italian food again. What do you think?” Penny smiled at him and he thought he’d be willing to eat almost anything if it kept that look on her face.

“Okay by me.”

They walked from the parking lot of the center down the street to the restaurant. Matt held the door open for her, and Penny walked up to the platinum-blond girl at the hostess stand.

“Two for nonsmoking please.”

“Sure, but it’s at least an hour wait. Is that okay?” The girl looked over at Matt and wet her lips. “You could wait at the bar. I’m sure we can provide something to distract you.”

Matt groaned internally as Penny turned to look at him. He really didn’t want to get caught at the bar, fending off advances from this barracuda.

“Actually, I think we’ll try the place next door. Thanks.” He grabbed Penny’s hand and pulled her outside into the cool air.

“Everywhere we go is probably going to be crowded,” Penny said finally.

“Probably, but at least they might not be staffed with man-eaters. She was looking at me like I was a steak and it was time for her last meal. No thanks.”

Penny shook her head but at least she smiled, finally. “You don’t have to pretend not to look. I’m not one of those insecure girls who expects you to develop temporary blindness just because we’re together. She was stunning.”

Matt pulled her against him. “She was obvious. Hair color from a bottle, boobs from a surgeon, and a face covered in paint. There wasn’t a real thing about her. Considering how hot I am for you, you should know by now that’s not my type.”

“What is your type, then?”

“Stern, bossy blondes who yell at me when I slack off.”

“Shut up. I’m encouraging you.”

“I know,” Matt replied. “It’s a little scary sometimes, but always hot. I keep having these fantasies of you hitting me with a ruler.”

Penny giggled. The sound did funny things to his chest. What he wouldn’t give for her to be this happy all the time. “That’s a hot-for-teacher fantasy. I think you’re confused.”

“It’s your fault. You’ve warped me so now I can only get hot for female authority figures. In fact, you might need to take me home and spank me right now.”

“Oh, no you don’t, buster. I’m starving and I need

food. Come on.” Penny dragged him into two more places. They were all crowded.

“Let’s try this one.” Penny pulled open the door to the fourth restaurant they’d tried. It was almost eight o’clock and they hadn’t found a place yet with anything less than a forty-five-minute wait. He hung back near the doors while Penny walked up to the hostess stand. When the dark-haired girl shook her head, he groaned. By the time Penny walked back over to him, he couldn’t take it anymore.