Page 53 of Reckless With You

“I’m the one who’s going along with this.”

“And I still don’t know why.”

“Because I don’t want you to feel as if people pity you.”

The way he said that, I wasn’t actually sure if that was the whole truth. But then again, I didn’t think either of us really knew the reasons foranythinganymore.

Probably not the best thing. “I need to tell him.”

“Okay. We will.”

“I don’t know when, though,” I said quickly as we got out of the car.

“Yeah, that’s going to be a fun conversation, but we’ll get through it. Now, enough of that. It’s just a friends date, right?” he said as he took my hand, giving it a squeeze as we walked into the restaurant. “That means there’s nothing to worry about. No need to be nervous or feel weird. We’re going to have fun, talk about stupid shit, and just be friends.”

“Is that what a friends date entails?”

“Since we’re making up the term, we can damn sure ensure that’s what it entails. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“I like going on friends dates. As long as they’re with you, I guess.” I couldn’t believe I’d just said that. What was wrong with me?

But Tucker smiled at me, ignoring my idiocy as we went up to the hostess stand.

The woman was a brunette with wide eyes and a gorgeous smile. Her white button-up shirt and pants fit her so well, I could see every single curve she had.

“Hi there, Samantha,” Tucker said after looking at the lady’s nametag.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes given where her nametag was strategically placed. Considering that her boobs were even bigger than mine, there really wasn’t anywhere else to put it but right there on the swell of them.

I didn’t blame her, though. She was hot. And I felt like I wasn’t. But I wasn’t going to let myself feel jealous. It was a friends date. Tucker was allowed to flirt with anybody he wanted. Not that he was actually flirting. He was only being nice. Because he was Tucker. Of course, from the way Samantha’s eyes lit up, and she looked like a cat in cream, I had a feeling she wanted all the flirting. Well, she could have it. Because I didn’t need it. Tucker and I were friends.

Keep telling yourself that, Amelia. It’s totally true.

“Well, hi there. What can I do for you?”

Was Samantha’s voice breathy? Yeah, there was a little smoke in there.

I was pretty sure she’d had a higher-pitched voice when I heard her earlier. But what did I know? Clearly, this was the Tucker effect.

“Table for two, please.”

He looked over at me and then reached out to squeeze my hand, but this time, he didn’t let go.

I looked down at our clasped hands and then up at him, shaking my head.

Okay, then. Weirdo.

I didn’t miss the look of disappointment, and maybe even a little anger in Samantha’s eyes.

Well, Tucker was hot. I couldn’t blame her. I’d feel jealous too if I thought he was flirting with me. Yes, he had kissed me. But it was only a little kiss. One that was barely anything. It meant nothing.

It had to mean nothing.

“Oh. Yeah, right this way.”

She took the menus, gave Tucker a long, lingering look, and then turned on her heel, expecting us to follow her.

Tucker looked at me, and I gestured after the very curvaceous and sexy Samantha.