Page 27

Chapter 26

Annette

I played with my hair, trying to get my blonde curls to lay just right. I wanted to look good for Terry since this was our first date as adults.

All of a sudden, I heard heavy steps coming down the hall. I turned my head and hit my ear with the curling iron. “Oh fuck.”

I put down the curling iron and looked to see how bad of a burn it was.

Terry appeared at the open door and kissed my ear.

Fuck, everything about him was delectable at the moment. His hair was pulled back in a way that showed off his jawline and his scruff. And his shirt highlighted both his stomach muscles and his arm muscles. The only thing I couldn’t see was if his jeans were hugging his ass.

Concern was etched across his face as he hugged the door. “You okay? I heard you swearing.”

My first instinct was always to minimize, especially when it was so minor. After having so much bruising and swelling even up until a couple of weeks ago, it was nice to feel pretty again.

“It’s fine. I just burned myself.”

Despite it being something minimal, he came in and scooped me against his chest.

It was like being at home again. Strong, sturdy, and caring. He whispered, “Well, I think you look fabulous. Ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

Yet, for a guy who was asking if I was ready to go, he made no effort to move. There was no way I was strong enough to break out of his grip, not that it was anything more than a loose hug.

Once we got to the restaurant, Terry pulled out my chair so I could sit down.

He was really pulling out all the stops.

Sadly, after the last five years with Luke, Terry being this friendly and sweet didn’t exactly relax me. If anything, it put me more on edge because I feared the moment I let my guard down or recommitted to the relationship, things would turn bad.

In some of the self-help books I’d been reading, they called this behavior love bombing.

I had to repeat the mantra: Terry is not Luke.

But no matter how many times I told myself that, it was hard to believe I wouldn’t get love-bombed again.

The only thing that allowed me to think it was genuine, and I didn’t need to wait for it all to break down again, was the fact that I knew Terry’s character. Even if he had turned into a massive playboy, which I still hadn’t seen real evidence of, he was still honest and caring.

Scanning the menu, I saw they had some of my favorite foods: barbeque, pizza, and steaks. But even thinking about what I wanted to eat still seemed like a pipedream. Luke would always order for me.

Terry is not Luke.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Terry observed.

Peeking over my menu, I noticed he already had his set down on the table with his hands folded and one of those lust-laden smiles.

At least he wasn’t trying to look into my soul to figure out why I was so quiet.

I just shrugged.

No way in hell I wanted to go over my trauma while on a date. Hell, I just wished I wasn’t scared of a dickhead ex-boyfriend and could really enjoy myself without worrying that I would get hit.

Soon, the waiter came up to us, and she looked at me for my order.

I didn’t speak until there was a kick to my shin. Okay, Terry didn’t kick hard, but it was the only way he could subtly nudge me into speaking since I was too far for him to elbow me.

I looked at the menu quickly to remind myself of what sounded good. “I’ll have the salmon with roast potatoes.”

Terry smiled as if he was glad I had ordered something that I liked. I felt his foot come up my leg for a game of old fashion footsie. He must have taken off his shoe since I could feel his toes work their way up my thigh.

He then looked at the server. “A serving of the tzatziki, please, and then I will have the Odyseas pizza.”

I couldn’t believe his foot was massaging my thigh and getting ever closer to my pussy. His eyes were focused on me and full of mischief.