Page 45 of I'll Carry You
She gave a scoffing laugh as though she’d never heard something so strange. “What?”
“I can probably extend my leave for a bit. I still haven’t been able to resolve my family matter. And I”—he pushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek—“I sort of cost you an opportunity that could have helped you.”
She narrowed her gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“The baking competition.”
Her face lit, unexpectedly. She let out a relieved breath. “Oh my gosh, you scared me there for a minute. The baking competition. I honestly didn’t even think about that. I signed up on a whim, and Brad didn’t bake anyway—”
“But you do. And you’re good. You could probably win.”
She smiled widely. “I saw you making playdough today, Jason. I’m not sure you’re up for the challenge.”
“You just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. And then, when you win, you can feel completely entitled to the entire twenty-five-thousand-dollar prize since I was basically a handicap.” Jason cupped her face with his hands. “You could accept that, right?”
“Would you do that for me?”
“For the girl who didn’t spit in my food when I wasn’t looking? Anything.” He kissed her lips gently.
She returned his kiss, her lips warm and inviting. As the kiss deepened, she tilted her head back toward the bedroom. “You sure you don’t want to just stay here?”
Don’t tempt me.
But he wasn’t about to let her know what an ass he really was. Not after she’d been so vulnerable with him.
“And miss our date?” Jason held her coat for her and helped her into it. Then he swatted her gorgeous ass. “Not a chance.”
ChapterSixteen
“All right, two truths and a lie.”Jen sat forward in her seat, holding her wineglass in one hand. Hard to believe it was only eight o’clock. She’d told Travis she’d pick up Colby at eleven. Which felt a bit too late. Travis had told her not to worry about the time, but she couldn’t help checking it.
Jason leaned across the table with the last spoonful of crème brûlée. “Let’s see. I graduated from college at age twenty. I’ve climbed Mount Everest. And chocolate and peanut butter is my favorite flavor combo.”
She took the crème brûlée he’d offered and grinned. “Don’t expect me to suddenly take up running because you’re my fake boyfriend, by the way. Which also means you probably shouldn’t feed me all this dessert.”
She hadn’t had this much fun on a date in a long time.
Then again, she’d never been to such an expensive restaurant. She’d nearly fallen over when the server had handed her the menu.
And since they were there on a Tuesday, they seemed to have most of the restaurant to themselves. On their one side, a wall of floor-length windows gave a view of ski slopes. With the clear night and full moon, the view was gorgeous.
She refocused on his answers, squinting at him. “You know, we might not make it. Because I have a feeling you don’t like chocolate and peanut butter.”
“Hate it.” Jason smiled, then signaled the server. “And you, of course, love it.”
“Because I’m not crazy.” Could she even pretend to date a guy who hated chocolate and peanut butter?
“Chocolate and mint is a far superior combination. Not that I really like chocolate all that much.”
She winced and put one hand over her heart. “Maybe this was a bad game.” Then she leaned closer. “You really climbed Mount Everest?”
He nodded, then sipped his wine. “A buddy of mine from college wanted to do it. I was the only friend he had who didn’t mind the cold. So we did.” A shadow crossed his face. “But it feels like a long time ago.”
Jason slipped a card from his wallet, then handed it to the server. Between the bottle of wine and the food, they must have run up a bill of a few hundred. The ease with which he handed the server his card without even waiting to look at the bill was stunning. She swallowed the last sip of her wine. “You’re not some sort of con artist who pays for dates with one woman while running up another woman’s credit, are you?” She gave him a teasing glance.
He chuckled, grazing her fingers with the knuckle of his forefinger. “We should probably send Natasha a thank you for this amazing meal. Oh, damn, I shouldn’t have told you her name.”
She laughed. “Well, if you are, you made a poor choice in women this time. I still maintain I’m completely underdressed for this place. I’m in jeans.”