"And what would that be?" I moved out of the booth and stood beside it.
"Addictive, but only when she eats?" He took the bill and pulled a card from his back pocket.
"Only when I eat? You've seen nothing yet." I gave a cheeky grin and turned. "I'm going to the restroom. I'll meet you at the front."
My cockiness was only enhanced thanks to the liquor. I needed a warning label on my forehead to warn everyone not to give me more than two drinks.
It was harmful to everyone involved. Most of all...me.
Chapter 10
Easton
I couldn't have forced myself not to stare at her as she walked to the restroom. Her beautiful legs caught my attention first, but her ass was second on my ever-expanding list. Walking with a hard-on was going to suck, and yet I was sure it would only be the first of many if I hung out with Vivian much more. She had a wickedly sensual way with her descriptions, and the fact that she was innocent in using the terms she did only made it more enticing.
I was in trouble where she was concerned. As long as we didn't end up in a bedroom together later that night, I would be okay. She was bubbling with passion, and where I wanted a taste of it, I realized that I'd not be quick to let her go. She didn't need that, nor did I.
"All done. Thank you again." She slid her hand into mine, which shocked me a little.
With the building crowd around us, I was grateful that she had. She must have realized the need to stay together. It had to be the need for a sense of security more than attraction. I couldn't tell if she was into me at all, which was unnerving, and yet a good place to be.
"There's a great ice cream shop down here. Did you save room?" I asked her as I pulled her closer to my side. The hordes of people in the streets were kind enough to let us pass through, but it was impossible to do so without brushing by twenty people on the way.
"Room for ice cream?" She smiled up at me. "Who doesn't save room for dessert?"
"I like you more already." I squeezed her hand and turned down an alley to our right, the place a little scary, but with all the crowds behind us, it would be fine.
"Do you always take your dates down dark alleys? I guess your mother didn't teach you anything, hm?" She snuggled in closer, and I couldn't help but groan internally as her breast pressed against the back of my arm. It was horrible of me, but I wanted so badly to know the color of her nipples, if she enjoyed having them adored and worshiped, if she made sounds when being pleasured.
"Date? Is this a date?" I chuckled as she gave me a look my mother would be proud of. This was a girl I could take home and have my family go ga-ga over. They all would, especially my youngest brother. His obsession with redheaded woman was almost too much. A sense of propriety rose up in me, and I forced it back, not yet ready to allow any strong feelings to guide my actions where Vivian was concerned. I had just met her, and we were simply on a fun date. Nothing more.
A dark shadow moved in front of us, pulling from the wall. I pulled Vivian roughly behind me, not thinking twice about protecting her from anything that came at us.
"You got any spare change, man?" A raspy voice resounding from under the dirt-stained hoodie the man in front of us wore.
"I don't. I'm sorry, man." I took a step back and held onto Vivian's hand, though it put me at a bit of a disadvantage not to have both of my hands in front of me.
"That sucks. You rich fuckers and your credit cards nowadays." He took a step toward us and pulled off his hoodie to reveal a weathered face with a long jagged scar across his cheek.
Vivian gasped behind me and pressed herself to my back.
I turned my head to the side, but never let my eyes off the guy. "Turn back and run. I'll meet you in the hotel."
"Fuck that. I'm not going anywhere without you." She released my hands and started to move around me as I blocked her.
"Stop it. Get back," I barked at her as the guy pulled a knife and lunged for me. My father had been a cop all of my life, and one thing he made sure to do was to teach my two brothers and me how to defend ourselves.
I spun out of the guy’s trajectory and grabbed his wrist, twisting hard until he dropped the weapon. Pushing him against the wall, I put my knee in the back of his leg and gritted my teeth.
"Not happening, dude. I don't have cash because I don't carry it. I should put your ass on the ground for attacking me and my girl." I worked to not breathe in the horrid odor of his soiled clothes.
"I'm getting a cop." Vivian turned and jogged back down the dark alley, her white dress and shimmery hair almost making her look like an angel fleeing the scene.
"I'm sorry, man. You don't know what it's like. You have your fancy clothes and your beautiful wife and...and..." The guy didn't get to finish as Vivian turned the corner with a cop next to her.
I released the man and moved back as the cop went into action, handcuffing the guy’s wrists behind his back.
He glanced over at me as he pulled the creep from the wall. "No more dark alleys. They aren't safe here. Got it?"