Page 119 of Head Over Heels

“Excellent,” Evan said.

They seemed to share a private look that told Ryder that Penelope Donovan was only proper on the outside.

“I think both you guys are going to be happy,” Sophie said.

“On that note.” Ryder glanced down at her. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah.” She beamed up at him, and his heart skipped a beat.

He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You know you’re still going to get fucked before dinner.”

“Oh, I know.” She brushed her lips against his cheek. “Just not in expensive, slutty lingerie.”

“How slutty?”

“You’ll find out.”

“Tease.”

“Absolutely.”

She was the absolute best.

* * *

Over the third course of their meal, Sophie smiled at Ryder. “So what do you think?”

His gaze hooded. “I think it would taste a lot better if I knew what you were wearing under your dress. Other than it not being black, I can’t tell a thing.”

Sophie wore a white dress that dipped onto her shoulders, hugged her curves, and fell to her knees. It was form fitting and she couldn’t be happier with how it looked on her, but it was nothing compared to what was underneath.

She took a bit of goat cheese, sliding it off her fork with her tongue, moaning a little at the tangy flavor. She waved the utensil. “Do you like the restaurant? I chose it with you in mind.”

“I do. Is it places like this that made your blog so successful?”

“It is.” She glanced around the upscale pub. It was one of her favorite places in the city, so much so that she’d become friends with the owner and his significant other. “This was one of the last places I reviewed. I love hidden gems and this was a unique idea. Whoever would have thought of combining upscale dining with pub food?”

He sat back in his chair and took a sip off one of the beers in his flight, a dark amber ale made locally. “Do you miss it?”

“Chicago?”

Jaw tightening, he nodded. “You haven’t mentioned it in a while.”

Fear knotted tight in her sternum. This wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have. Not now, when everything was so perfect between them. She smiled. “You’ve been keeping me so busy it’s hard to mind.”

His lashes flickered. “But do you?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “This is my home. Of course I miss it.”

“What do you miss?”

Time to distract. “Wouldn’t you rather find out what I’m wearing under this dress?”

He studied her, intent and coplike, and she resisted the urge to squirm in her seat. “Can’t we do both?”

Ugh. First Penelope and now him. She didn’t want to talk about this. She wanted to have fun, show Ryder the city, and have sex all night. She didn’t want to think about anything serious. Her mind scrambled for what to say, but she was saved when she heard her name behind her. “Sophie, darling girl, you’ve come back to me.”

A muscle in Ryder’s jaw jumped as he looked over her shoulder. Sophie peered around to see the chef and owner coming their way.