Page 21 of Adoring Ink

Only he knew it was a lie as soon as the words left his mouth. He’d noticed that both of them had steered clear of topics surrounding their childhoods. And while he had a reason for that on his end, he was afraid she had a reason as well. And maybe, just maybe, they were getting a little too serious too quickly for his liking. But he’d suck it up because, once again, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t hurt her.

“You’re so weird, Brody Deacon, but I like you.”

He pulled into the parking lot of a rundown building and winked at her. “I like you, too.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she turned away, giving the place a once-over. “This is where we’re eating?” She sounded as if she didn’t quite believe it. Hell, he couldn’t blame her. The place had a small, faded sign in front of the door and dark windows. It looked like a place for a robbery gone bad, not a place to find good food, but he’d been inside, and he loved it.

“I have a trucker friend who delivers here and told me about it. The place is clean, and the kitchen is spotless. It’s one of those hidden treasures around Denver everyone talks about but doesn’t go into detail on for fear of it getting overrun. The parking lot is only half full because we’re a little early for a normal dinner, but I did that on purpose. We wouldn’t be able to get a table after six without a long wait.”

“If you say so,” she said with a laugh. “And you know, Brody, you always seem to know a guy or have a friend who knows someone.”

He frowned when they got out of his truck, and he took her hand to lead her to the front of the restaurant. “Is that a bad thing? I mean, I guess it sounds like it’s shady or something, but it’s not. I know a lot of people.”

And didn’t let them get too close. That’s how he kept himself sane. Of course, he didn’t say that last part.

“There’s nothing wrong with that,” she said quickly. “You have a lot of people in a lot of different circles, and I think that speaks more to your character than anything. You’re a good guy that helps out anyone who needs it, regardless of how crazy it sounds. I mean, hello, that’s how we met, after all.”

He leaned down and brushed a kiss on the corner of her mouth before he opened the door. “I just wanted in your pants.”

She pushed at him. “Liar.”

He laughed, tugging her inside, hoping once again he wasn’t making a really big mistake. The hostess smiled at Brody before glaring at Holly and then stomped them over to a corner booth. She sashayed away, and Brody winced.

“Oh, boy, another fan of yours,” Holly put in with a laugh. “But not, apparently, a fan of mine. She looks like she’s still in high school so I’m going with a crush and not an ex?”

He scowled at her. “Despite what our friends think, I’m not a player. And I’m sure as hell not playing with a seventeen-year-old. Her parents own the place, and I’ve known her since she was like eleven or something. She’s always given me those doe eyes of hers, but I just smile and eat.”

Holly pointed at him with a mock glare. “That’s your problem, mister. You smile, and that dimple shows up, and women fall for you without even thinking. It’s a very dangerous dimple.”

Had she fallen for him?

He pushed that thought away. Of course, she hadn’t. They were having fun and would part as friends when they were through like the other women he’d dated in the past. It was far too early for serious thoughts, and he’d been careful. Hadn’t he?

“You like my dimple?” He grinned just right so both dimples came out. Yeah, he’d been a dumbass teenager who’d practiced that look in the mirror, but he knew how to work it.

She rolled her eyes. “Dangerous. Dimple.” She waved to her menu. “Now, what’s good here? I love Mexican by the way, so yay for spicy food.”

He cleared his throat, a little sorry she hadn’t wanted to make out right there with the appearance of his second dimple. Maybe she was immune to it.

Or maybe he needed to get a damn grip.

“Everything’s good, but I like their combo platter that gives me some of everything.”

Her eyes rounded when she looked at it. “Brody, that’s enough for four people.”

He shrugged and pointed to one item below it. “Actually, the one you were looking at was the small combo. We can get the large combo and share if you want. And if somehow we can’t eat it all, we can take the rest to your place and eat it later.”

She closed the menu and nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Just roll me out the door when we’re done, okay?”

He chuckled. “Deal.”

When they lay next to each other later that night on the couch, a random movie on TV and their bellies full, Holly groaned. “Why did you let me eat that much?”

Brody let out a shaky breath. “Babe, I’m pretty sure even I ate too much.” His stomach protested as he shifted on the couch to try and find a way to get more comfortable. She lay in front of him, her back to his chest so they could both see the TV without having to move. Normally, this would have made him horny as hell, but he might have done something he’d never done before.

Gotten full.

“This is so sexy,” she mumbled. “You literally almost had to roll me out of that place. Why was the food so good? Why did we do this to ourselves?”