Page 39 of Bourbon Truths
“You’re frustrating,” Lyla huffed, putting her menu in front of her and blocking her beautiful face from my view.
This was going just as well as I thought it would. My awkwardness and inability to relax was shining brightly as silence fell between us. I thought about saying something to break the tension that quickly fell upon our table, but I had no clue what to talk about.
There were so many things I wanted to tell her. A part of me wanted to open up to her because I felt like she would understand where I was coming from. A part of me wished she would understand, but I couldn’t take the risk. Right now, she at least wanted to be in my presence. If I told her what kind of a monster I was, would she ever want to see me again?
Did I want to see her again? I didn’t want a relationship—it would be too complicated—but the short walk from her apartment to the restaurant with her arm in mine had been one of the best couple of minutes I’d experienced in a long time. Her body had been soft against mine, and I’d enjoyed how her ponytail brushed against me when she turned to point at something, or the way little whiffs of her perfume fluttered into my nose. She was so incredibly feminine and so incredibly fuckable.
“Here you are,” the waitress said, placing two waters on our table. “Have you decided what you’re having?”
“I have,” Lyla said while glancing at me from over her menu. I motioned for Lyla to go first. “I’ll take the special with red beans and rice.”
“Very good, and for you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same,” I replied. “And can we get an appetizer of the boudin, please?”
“Yes, certainly.”
The waitress wrote down our order and took off.
“Wow,” Lyla said while leaning back in her chair.
“What?”
“You know the word ‘please.’ I’m actually kind of shocked.”
“Don’t be a smartass,” I replied, not liking the snarky look on her face.
She smiled sincerely at me and then grabbed my hand. She entwined her fingers with mine and for some odd reason, I liked it and didn’t pull away. Normally in a situation like this, I would tighten up and bail, but Lyla made it seem so easy. A light touch felt good.
I allowed her thumb to glide across the back of my hand while she spoke to me, and I let myself, for this brief moment in time, enjoy it.
“Thank you for taking me out tonight, Kace.”
“You’re welcome,” I said uncomfortably. “It’s the least I could do after taking you in the back of Kitten’s Castle,” I tried to tease.
“It’s the least.” She smiled brightly.
“Speaking of Kitten’s Castle, how much longer are you going to work there?”
“Kace…,” she warned. “We’re not going to talk about that unless you want me to ask you questions about your past.”
“Nope,” I said. “Fair enough.”
I wanted Lyla out of Kitten’s Castle, but it looked like she wasn’t going to budge, at least not right now. I still had plans to try to convince her otherwise.
“So tell me, are you excited about Justice opening soon?”
I nodded and took a sip of my water. “I think it’s come along nicely other than some of the classes the girls have come up with.”
“I think the classes will be well received. Pole dancing is all about fitness.”
“Is that right?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“It is. Do you think it’s easy hanging upside down with only your legs to keep you in place while your boobs flop around?”
“Well, I’ve never tried it with my boobs flopping around, but I can’t imagine it being easy.”
“Was that a joke?” she asked, tightening her grip on my hand.
