Page 70 of Small Town Swoo
She watched me sear the marbled New York Strips but said nothing. Her expression was a mixture of trepidation and skepticism, her brow furrowed.
“You’re making me nervous with that face,” I told her. “Are you worried I don’t know how to cook a steak?”
Her pinched forehead relaxed. “Sorry. It’s not that. I trust you to cook dinner. And I appreciate your confidence in me. But it won’t do me any good to go see that truck—I can’t buy it.”
“All we’re doing is looking at it.” I added butter, cloves of garlic, and sprigs of rosemary to the skillet, watching it carefully. “What’s the harm in that?”
“What if I fall in love with it?”
“Then we figure out a way to make it work. We convince your parents to buy it. Or you apply for a loan. Or you accept my offer to invest in you.” Removing the steaks from the skillet, I placed them on the cutting board to let them rest and dropped the rabe into the boiling water. “You have options.”
“Maybe.” She was silent a minute. “But I also have doubts.”
“You can’t let doubt cloud your good energy, Ari,” I told her. “It will build and build, and before you know it, you have to walk around naked to cure yourself.”
She laughed. “Are you trying to get me to take my clothes off right now?”
I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her temple. Her hair smelled like the beach. “I’m trying to make my friend believe in herself. But if you want to get naked, I will not stand in your way.”
She laughed. “Thanks, but I’ll keep my clothes on for now.”
“Are we watching a movie tonight?” I asked, draining the vegetables.
“Yes. I have a great idea—Dirty Dancing.”
“I have a better one. Dirty talking.”
Behind me, she slipped her arms around my waist. “We can do both.”
By the time the movie finished, the food was gone, the wine bottle was empty, and Ari was sound asleep with her head in my lap.
She was so fucking cute. I brushed her hair back from her face and remembered a dozen moments from last night—her legs over my shoulders, her mouth wrapped around me, her hips swiveling over mine. My cock jumped at the memory, and I felt it begin to swell. I was dying to do it all again, but I didn’t have the heart to wake her.
And unfortunately, Fritz was going to need to be let out soon, so I had to get going. When I reached for my phone to check the time, she stirred and sat up.
“Sorry,” she said, rubbing her face with both hands. “Did I miss the ending?”
“You did. They danced. She didn’t do the lift at the show, but it was fine.”
She smiled. “Did you watch the whole thing?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not lying to me, are you?”
“I watched the entire thing, I promise. Give me a quiz.”
“What does Johnny say to her when he asks her to dance in the final scene?”
I rolled my eyes and poked her shoulder. “Give me a hard one, at least. ‘Nobody puts Baby in the corner.’”
“Good job. You passed.” She put her arms around my neck, and I pulled her onto my lap. “Thank you for making dinner tonight. It was delicious.”
“You’re welcome.” I pressed my lips to hers. “I know it wasn’t corn dogs and deep-fried-whatever on a stick, but I tried.”
“It was even better than carnival food, and I appreciate it.” She pulled my head down, and our mouths met again. The kiss grew deeper and more intense, our tongues meeting, her hands moving into my hair. I slipped a hand up the back of her sweatshirt and groaned when I realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. Moving it around to the front, I covered her breast with one hand, feeling the nipple change shape beneath my palm. With a reluctant moan, I tore my lips from hers. “I hate to say this, but I can’t stay much longer. I have to let Fritz out.”
“Oh.” She sucked in her breath as I caressed the hardened nipple with the tip of my thumb. “We could be quick.”
