Page 22 of Take the Bait

“Why do you seem to have such a problem accepting that Ilikeyou?”

“Because… nobody else has?”

“They’re idiots. But it worked out well for me. Do you like oysters?”

“Yes, of course, but?—”

“Then let’s eat.”

He placed a few saltine crackers in front of her and squeezed a lemon over the oysters before grabbing one and downing it in one quick swallow. Hanna found herself transfixed by the way his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the delicate veins in his neck popping as he licked his lips.

He smirked. “You’re staring.”

“Because you’re—” she cut herself off, gesturing toward his face wildly.

He quirked a brow again. So annoying that he could do that.

“I’m?”

She rolled her eyes. “You know.”

“I really don’t.” He crossed his arms.

Instead of dignifying that with a response, she grabbed a saltine, used a small fork to place the oyster on it, and topped it with cocktail sauce.

“Mmm,” she said as she chewed. “God, I love oysters.”

Tucker didn’t push her to finish her thought from earlier as they finished off the oysters, easy conversation flowing between them as Hanna’s nerves began to settle.

Immediately after the oysters were cleared from their table, Sheila placed a decadent strawberry shortcake in front of them.

“Okay, now you’re definitely not going to like me,” Hanna said as she eyeballed the dessert.

He stiffened, eyes going wide. “Don’t tell me you don’t like shortcake.”

“Quite the opposite.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I’m not very good at sharing desserts.” She shifted in her chair, eyes looking anywhere but him.

It was the least ladylike thing about her—that she loved eating, that she didn’t eat like a bird. And there were a lot of ladylike things about her, penis face paintings notwithstanding.

Tucker guffawed, and she jerked her gaze back to him in surprise. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’re not very good at sharing food, period. You ate most of everything I brought out.”

“My family never lets me live it down,” Hanna said, blushing.

Surely, this was it. The other shoe was about to drop.

“Good thing that’s the best compliment you can give a chef.” His gaze held hers, and she looked away again as a flush of warmth washed through her. “You can have the whole shortcake, Hanna. I made it special for you, anyway.”

Her heart thundered.

Special… for her? Because of the nickname he called her?

It was sweet. Too sweet.

She still didn’t want to share dessert.