Page 26 of Structure of Love
A slow grin took over my face because somehow I could picture this. “Like, shirt off and in compromising positions kind of modeling?”
“I see that lecherous thought running wild in your head and stop it. The poses weren’tthatsmutty.” Gage made a face. “I was paired up with Ash last time, and let me tell you, the awkwardness was just…no. Told him I’d never do it with him again. I’m somehow getting voluntold again, though, because they want me to model some other character they have in mind. How they’re already planning another series on top of working a full-time job is what I’d like to know.”
“I would pay money to be a fly on the wall.”
“Don’t say that in their hearing,” Gage warned. “Otherwise you’re the next victim.”
“Who, me?”
“The walking temptation on legs? With those tats, your build, and the sexy-nice voice wrapped up in a bad boy package? Yes, you.”
His flattery seriously boosted my ego. I thought of myself as nice looking, but I was also aware the long hair, tattoos, and my resting bitch face normally gave people pause. It almost made me shy those very things were what he liked best about me, enough to rattle those traits off without pause. If my look worked for him, I could definitely use it to my advantage. Anything to tempt this man further.
The conversation stayed easy and flowed throughout dinner, and we got ice cream on the way home, making active plans for the next date. It was always a fantastic sign when mid-date you planned the next one. I hadn’t had a date go this well in years, so I was cautiously optimistic that perhaps Gage and I could build something. I’d love to have a long-lasting relationship.
With our ice cream eaten, we got back in my Jeep and headed for his house. “Gage, are you ask culture or guess culture?”
“I’m sorry?”
Ah, didn’t know those terms. “I mean, do you prefer it if someone asks you directly, or for them to give you a broad hint? Guess culture will say something like, ‘I need to be at the dealership to get my car at four o’clock’ and then expect you to pick up on the hint they want a ride. Ask culture will straight-up ask you, ‘Can you take me to the dealership at four?’”
“Oh! Oh man, I’ve never gone from being so completely confused to something making perfect sense so quickly. Ha! So there’s terms for that?” He seemed delighted by his newfound knowledge. “I’m ask culture. Definitely.”
“Okeedokalee. So am I. Then let me just ask. What do you want from dating? Do you want more of a hookup situation or an actual relationship?”
Gage considered me for a long second. “I’m going to be very blunt. I stopped dating for years because every man I met only wanted to hook up.”
“Whoa, sounds like your turn for story time. Literally every single man?”
Gage let out a long, resigned sigh. “A few I tried to wrangle into actual dates, and it sorta worked for short stints, but for the most part? Yeah, every single man. I’ve learned the hard and painful way to not have sex on the first date. It somehow sets the wrong tone. Or maybe it puts us on different pages. My date seems to hear ‘casual sex is fine, no commitment required,’ andthat’s all they expect of me afterward. When really, I wanted the intimacy to be a stepping stone into something more.”
I could easily see how things had gone wrong for him. Gage was naturally gorgeous, and he was also well-spoken and charming, with just enough mischief to catch someone’s interest. So of course most men would look at him and get locked into this endless loop of sexual fantasies.
That was not what he wanted. He wanted something real.
Could I be that person for him? I dunno. I didn’t know if we were the right fit for each other—it was too early to tell.
But god, I wanted the chance to try.
“So you don’t want sex to be on the table for at least a few dates while we get to know each other better.”
“Frankly? Yes.” He said the words with caution, a weather eye on me. “Is that a deal-breaker?”
“Nope. I’m glad you set the expectation now, and explained why, and it honestly makes sense. I’m good with it, just let me know when sex is back on the table, okay? I’m content to wait a while. Being mere hookup buddies with you would be such a fucking waste.”
“You know how to say all the right things to make me super happy.”
He leaned across the armrest and kissed the side of my mouth. It sent a thrill right through me. Damn, I’d made us both happy.
In that case, I knew what to do. I pulled into his driveway and parked, but I left the engine idling. “I’m going to walk you to the door.”
“Oh?” He grinned, blue eyes dancing. “Stealing a kiss good night, are you?”
“I can’t?”
“I never said that.”
Such a fucking tease, I swear. I got out, caught his hand as he rounded the hood of my Jeep, and was happy to hold hands. We’d been doing so on and off all evening, but touching him still sent a zing right through me.