She’d ordered three desserts. He glanced at her average frame. She wasn’t tiny. But she wasn’t overweight either.
“Where do you put it all?” he asked.
“What?” She stared at him. “You told me to order them all.”
“I know. But that’s because you couldn’t decide between the chocolate torte, the lemon tart, or the apple dumpling. I would have been okay with our date dragging on for hours, but the restaurant does close at eleven.” He paused to stare at her trinity of desserts. “I’m just wondering how you’re going to eat all that.”
“I won’t have any problem.” Her eyes flashed at him. “You’re going to help me.”
He put his hand up. “Whoa, whoa. You know I’m not big on sweets.”
“I know, but you can still try them. You never know when you’ll find something new that is just to your taste. I’m betting you’ll like the lemon tart.”
“Oh, you think so, huh?”
She nodded emphatically. “Uh-huh.”
“What makes you think that?”
“You clearly have a secret craving for sweet things.”
“And how do you know this?”
“Because you asked me out on a date.”
He laughed. “Are you implying that you’re sweet?”
She shook her head. “Not implying. Flat out admitting to it. I am a sweetheart. That’s the general consensus anyway.”
He squinted at her. “Doesn’t admitting to it make it untrue?”
She set her chopsticks down and stared at him with her wide, innocent eyes. “You tell me. Am I a sweetheart?”
“Absolutely,” his face curved into a wide smile.
“Thank you. I rest my case.”
Yoongi chuckled.
She glanced sheepishly up at him.
Perplexed, he furrowed his eyebrows slightly. “What is it?”
She glanced down at her trinity of desserts before looking at him. Then she swallowed.
“Nari?”
Finally, she whispered, “Can I come sit next to you?”
They were seated in a booth. She was resting on one bench. He, on the other. He felt something electric in the air between them.
Where was it coming from? Her words? The expression in her eyes? The anticipation of something sweet developing between them?
He wasn’t sure of its origin, only of his desire to dive head first, all in, into anything with this beautiful woman. With this beautiful girl who was a day younger than him.
“What?” he whispered, confused.
She cleared her throat suddenly in a desperate attempt to rid it of the lump that had just sprung up there. “You deserve a treat for defending me earlier.”
His eyebrows flew sky high. And she wondered if he’d misunderstood her intent. Her cheeks now blazing, she rushed to clarify her meaning, “I want to share my dessert with you.”
“Do you now?” he chuckled as he noticed her blushing. Then he patted the bench next to him. “By all means, come sit with me.”
She felt as if a cord was wrapped around her, and Yoongi was pulling on it. Drawing her closer to him. What was it about this tousled-haired boy that made her crave his company?
It was those eyes. They flashed their fire at her suddenly, and she wanted to slide even closer to him.
She stood up. Slowly. It seemed to take her a year to travel the two feet between their benches. She watched as he scooted into the booth to make room for her. She imagined him snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her near him. But he didn’t do that.
She had to slide onto the bench herself. So she did. Plopping herself down next to him. Then, nervously, she turned towards the desserts. She picked up a knife and cut a couple wedges from the lemon tart.
Before she could pick one up, several long, slender fingers were sliding across the plate to liberate a wedge of tart. Her eyes slid sideways to meet Yoongi’s. And an arc of intense electricity bit into her. Piercing her with awareness. She swallowed.
“Open up.”
Yoongi’s hand hovered over her lips with that piece of lemon tart.
Her mouth was watering, but she wasn’t sure why. Was it the anticipation of that bite of sweet, tart dessert? Or was it Yoongi himself she was anticipating sampling? For a moment, her eyes found his lips. But then those lips curved into a satisfied smile that irked her a little.
So her eyes lifted to his own. But that was definitely the wrong way to go. For as she gazed into his beautiful, mahogany eyes, she felt herself falling forward into them. She felt something brush her lips. Her mouth parted, and her tongue darted out for a moment. Lemon exploded on her taste buds reminding her of his intent. She opened her mouth and let him pop the piece of tart between her lips. Intense, sweet lemon exploded on her tongue. She closed both her mouth and her eyes and savored the pleasantly tart treat.
Yoongi didn’t even need to take a bite. He was enjoying it simply by watching her pleasure. But he wasn’t getting off that easily.
“Your turn,” she smiled as she opened her eyes.
He gazed into those sparkling gems. It was his turn to be drawn to her. He slid his arm across the top of the seat behind her. He bent his head towards her.
Her eyes widened suddenly, and she swallowed. Why was her heart hammering so hard? Yoongi wasn’t going to kiss her. That was an absurd thought. This was just their first date.
He closed his eyes and opened his mouth. She grinned. Then she picked up the little piece of tart and slipped it between his lips. Her fingers brushed his lips. She was trembling as she withdrew her hand.
His eyes opened, and he stared into her eyes again. Slowly, he pushed that little tart around his mouth with his tongue. It was sweet yet tart. Pleasing. Just like her.
He grinned suddenly. “You were right.”
“What?” She blinked.
Why was she suddenly so nervous?
She’d never been this attracted to any of the guys her parents had tried to set her up with. It scared her a little.
“I do like it,” he murmured. “It reminds me of you. I might need another bite.”
She blushed, uncertain of his meaning.
He leaned towards her, and his breath passed over her cheek before he reached out in front of her to pick up the knife and cut another couple of wedges. Grinning, he picked one up and turned towards her. He held it up in front of her lips, but his eyes were caressing hers. She couldn’t breathe. She simply stared at him.
After a few moments, he popped the bite into his mouth.
Surprised, she hollered, “Hey!” in his ear. He winced. So did she. “Wasn’t that my bite?”
“I thought you didn’t want it.”
She blinked and dragged her eyes away from his. She reached out and picked up her fork and pulled the chocolate mousse torte closer to her.
“I can’t believe you’re going to eat that,” a deep voice rumbled in her ear. “It’s guaranteed to be rich.”
His breath was now sliding over the skin under her ear. She shivered. She glanced sidelong at his lips.
Just like your lips. Rich. Indulgent.
She shook herself. What was wrong with her? She’d never pictured herself kissing any of the guys her parents had hoped she’d marry. She’d never been drawn to their lips. Or fascinated by them.
Suddenly, those lips moved closer to hers. When his face was just a couple inches away, those lips whispered, “Are you really going to eat that?”
She nodded dumbly. But that was the only movement she made. His eyes were caressing her mouth right now. A bevy of butterflies erupted from her stomach suddenly.
Was Yoongi thinking about kissing her?
She felt instant terror. She didn’t even know this guy. It was crazy to think about kissing him. Wasn’t it?
She pulled away from him and shoved the bite of chocolate torte into her mouth. This time the rich, velvety savor of dark chocolate slid along her taste buds, coating them in pleasure. She closed her eyes again. Just to enjoy the pillowy cream filling her mouth. She rarely indulged in such wonderful food anymore. Ever since she’d left her parents’ house, she’d been denied the finer things in life. She was discovering how much she missed them.
Yoongi watched as a melancholy air invaded her countenance. Her lovely eyes were closed as though in pleasure. But she wasn’t smiling. She was clearly savoring her treat. Yet…something was troubling her. He could feel it.
“What is it?” His gentle purr broke the silence surrounding them.
“I rarely get such a decadent treat, Yoongi,” she whispered, her eyes still closed. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
She sounded so sad. He was confused.
“Anytime. I’ll bring you here anytime you want a treat. It doesn’t have to be rare.”
Her eyes opened, and she gazed at him. “Why?”
“Why what?”
Her eyes flooded with tears. “Why are you being so nice to me?” she breathed her question.
Then, she blinked, and a tear slid down her cheek.
He didn’t know her. There was no reason for him to think he’d get anything out of a relationship with her. So why was he pursuing her?
Perplexed, he frowned. Why was she crying?
“Don’t cry over whipped cream,” he whispered as he bent near her. A rueful smile played about the corners of his mouth.
“I’m serious. You don’t even know me. But you walked me home. You bought me shoes. You chased that horrid guy out of my diner. You took me to your friends’ basketball game. You bought me this lovely dinner. And three desserts. Just what exactly are you expecting in return?”
Her words stung.
“Nothing,” he responded as he sat up and moved away from her. “Not one single thing.” What was wrong with this girl?
She gazed at him. Maybe she’d been wrong. She could feel him withdrawing from her. Her heart slid downhill. The last thing she wanted was to alienate this guy.
“Okay,” she whispered. She reached up and brushed her tear away.
She stared at her torte.
“Aren’t you going to eat it?”
“I’ve lost my appetite,” she murmured.
Yoongi stared at her in consternation. “I told you that you wouldn’t be able to eat three desserts.”
“Normally, I could!” she shot back at him. “But…”
“But?” he prompted her.
Why was she trembling?
She didn’t respond.
“Hey,” his voice softened. “Are you cold?”
She nodded. But it wasn’t the temperature. It was fear. Fear of loss. She closed her eyes. And remembered…
A sparkling lake in the midst of summer. Her fourteenth year. Summer camp. And a boy. The first one to ever like her. For her.
They’d become fast friends. Spent all week in each other’s company. Splashing each other in that lake while they both laughed uproariously. Sharing s’mores over a campfire. Sitting under the stars and talking about their dreams. That was back when she’d still indulged in some.
She still remembered the moment she’d discovered the truth. He wasn’t after her for her. And she’d been about to kiss him. To give him her first – and most precious – kiss. The one she’d been saving for someone special. The one she’d yet to spend.
She supposed she should have been happy that she’d overheard his conversation with his best friend. Right before she’d planned to walk into the forest alone with him to lock lips with him. But her dream had been stolen as those words had left his mouth.
He needed her appa’s influence at the school he was trying to get into. That’s why he was befriending her. Wooing her. Not for her. For her appa’s favor.
That was the first time she’d desired to separate herself from her parents. To be her own person. Not dependent upon them. Or their resources.
If someone was going to spend time with her, she wanted him to like her for who she was on the inside. Not for what they could get from her. She’d felt like Yoongi liked her for herself. But what guy would really be as sweet as he had been to her? With no ulterior motive?
As she glanced his way, she felt guilty for believing the worst of him. But her experience of guys had taught her that they were always after something…
Her appa’s influence.
Her body.
Wealth.
She sighed. Would she ever be able to trust another guy?
Now she felt like she’d ruined their date. She just wanted to go home and bury her head under her pillow. And cry. Weep for a long time.
She really liked Yoongi. She was so drawn to him. He was like her knight in shining armor. But…surely that was all a façade. Some mask she couldn’t trust. Really, what was so special about her anyway? That he would notice a homely waitress in a dirty diner?
