"Yes." I steered my eyes away from Jace's abs and managed to look him in the eyes. "I'm ready. Grab a shirt, and we'll get going."
"You don't want me shirtless?"
"No." I laughed. "I don't want to cause other women to fantasy cheat on their significant others. It would hardly be fair to the other men there to have you shirtless."
Red stained his cheeks before he quickly pulled a white t-shirt over his muscled chest.
Since when has linen looked hot on guys?
Oh right. Since Brad Pitt. Sorry, but you've just been replaced.
Jace grabbed my hand and kissed it. I tried not to sigh or look as nervous as I felt. Tonight felt more real. Maybe it was because we'd kissed a lot, or maybe it was because he seemed to actually be enjoying spending time with me.
It felt like a date.
Then again, anything would feel like a date after the whole sugarcane incident. I gave him another smile and tucked my excitement into the farthest part of my brain.
"So what restaurant is the mixer at?" Jace asked, "You never told me."
He gripped my hand as we rounded the corner toward Blu.
"Habachi Grill."
Jace put his arm protectively around me as he led me around a couple walking slower than us. And then grabbed my hand again. To him it was effortless.
But I'd never had a guy do that before. I'd seen it all around me. A guy being protective without realizing it. Or walking on the outside of the road so the girl is protected and safe. But experiencing it? Felt amazing. I felt… treasured. Crap. I needed to remember it wasn't real. He may be attracted to me, he could think I was the best thing since Netflix — but in the end, he wouldn't be waiting like Mr. Darcy.
"I love Habachi." Jace cleared his throat.
Okay, was it me or were things awkward? Was I overthinking things?
"Beth…" Jace stopped walking and turned me to face him, placing his hands on my shoulders. "I have to tell you something."
"Okay." My throat was seriously starting to close up. He was going to bail. He was going to say he couldn't do it. He was going to abandon me; I was too boring. I knew I should have kept talking. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I be interesting —
His hot mouth pressed against mine as his hands came around my head, pulling me into his kiss, sucking the panic right out of me.
"You look…" He shook his head and let out a string of curses. "Let me try this again." He grabbed my hands and looked down at them as our fingers intertwined. "You look absolutely… stunning."
I couldn't hide my smile.
Mars could probably see my smile.
And I couldn't care less.
"Thank you," I said finding my voice.
"No." Jace released my hands and tilted my chin so his lips were a breath away from mine. "Thank you."
"I don't understand?"
With a wink, he released my chin and grabbed my hand again as we continued walking.
"I love white."
"Okay?"
"And I love wedge heels."