Page 44 of Craving Paradise
She wants me to take her photo, is she serious? Did I not do my due diligence with my cyberstalking on this one. I feel like I’m letting my game slip.
“Sure.” I grimace, being polite.
She hands me her phone, and I take a series of photos before handing her phone back to her.
“Thanks, babe, for doing that.” She giggles.
Yeah, I was most definitely thinking with my dick when I said yes to this girl. Her profile photos look good, and she’s great at chatting via text, but in the flesh? Yeah, maybe I need to occupy her mouth with something else.
“What’s good on the menu?” she asks.
“The lobster or the wagyu is good,” I recommend.
“I’m vegetarian,” she explains to me, sounding rather annoyed I hadn’t realized her food preference.
When I asked her out, I’m sure she didn’t tell me she was vegetarian.
“The beetroot carpaccio or the grilled artichoke hearts are nice,” I suggest.
Becky wrinkles up her nose at my suggestions. “What are you getting?”
“I was thinking maybe the Scottish salmon or the Kobe beef.”
There goes that twitch of the nose again.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Oh no. It’s just that … I hope I’m not being too forward, but at the end of the night, I wouldn’t mind a kiss. However, I can’t kiss you if your breath smells like a dead animal,” she explains.
My breath will smell like a dead animal. What the hell? This woman better have the mouth of a hoover because I’m ready to call it a night.
“I’d feel more comfortable if you went for a vegetarian option too,” she suggests, fluttering her eyelashes at me while leaning forward and showing off her large breasts. This probably works in many situations, but I’m annoyed and don’t think this is even worth my time. Not when I could go to The Paradise Club and see Lauren.This is the reason you’re on a date because you’re trying to forget about Lauren.
“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth as I look back down at the menu, wishing I was having a steak. Instead, I’m trying to explain to my stomach that my dick is in control tonight, and we’re eating vegetables for dinner.
“Do you mind if I give my trainer a call and ask him which meal I’m allowed to have?” Becky asks.
What in the hell! You’re eating fucking vegetables, so just pick one. This time she doesn’t even wait for me to answer before she’s already on the phone with him.
I throw back the rest of my red wine. I’m going to need to be drunk to get through this date before calling one of the waitstaff over and ordering myself another red wine. I sit there staring at this beautiful woman in front of me, who is making me give up the will to live with her inane conversation with her trainer, when a gorgeous raven-haired woman walks into the restaurant. The color of her hair reminds me of Lauren.Stop it. You’re not to be thinking of her.My eyes travel down the red dress she’s wearing that clings to her curves down to her knees. Tight, tanned calves are on display in her red heels. The woman has a perky ass too. I wonder if she’s vegetarian. I bet she doesn’t have to call her trainer to get permission to eat. Her laugh filters across the room at something her date says, and it’s not until she flicks her hair back over her shoulder that her profile comes into view.
No.
There’s no way in hell Lauren is here tonight. I’ve manifested her somehow, or my date is so boring I’m imagining things. My eyes narrow as if that’s going to make the vision of Lauren change. She sits opposite her handsome date at the table in front of mine. I can watch Lauren over my date’s shoulder. I could throw my bread roll at her from here—she’s that close. I watch as she chats away with him animatedly. She has a bright smile, looking like she’s having fun.
I instantly hate the guy.
Lauren looks up to order a drink from her waiter, and after she orders, her eyes land on mine. Those ice-blue eyes flare with surprise as she sees me seated in front of her. They then look over at the back of my date before returning to me. I raise my red wine glass in her direction and smile. Lauren shakes her head for a moment as if trying to see if she can rid my image from her, but I’m still here. I’m not an apparition.
“Sorry about that, we can order now. I know what I can eat,” Becky explains, pulling my attention from where Lauren is seated.
Thank fuck. We order our meals and more drinks. I’m going to need them to get through this.
“Cheers, Jasper. Thank you for inviting me to dinner tonight,” Becky says, raising her glass.
Guess that’s nice as we clink our glasses together. Then Becky launches into a monologue I don’t know what the fuck about because I’m not listening as I subtly watch Lauren over her shoulder. I’ve noticed her smile is beginning to fade as her date continues to chat. Maybe her date isn’t turning out the way she had hoped, either. I notice her attention is being pulled to me more and more. I send her a smile, which she welcomes and returns it back.
“I’m just going to pop to the loo, babes. I’ll be right back,” my date tells me.