She looked utterly stunned. “I haven’t done anything,” she stammered.
I knew it was a completely cheesy move, and I did it anyway. Picking up her hand, I placed it flat against my chest. “You can’t feel how fast my heart is racing just from looking at you, gorgeous?”
Her cheeks instantly flushed pink, but she held her hand against me for a few heartbeats before snatching it away.
My drink arrived first, and she looked at it curiously. “Is that whiskey?”
“Yes.”
“It’s more auburn than I would have thought.”
Sliding the glass over to her, I said, “Try a sip if you like.”
She flashed me an adorable grin, picking up the glass and swirling it while she took a cautious sniff. Her nose crinkled.
“Think of a campfire in the forest,” I suggested, “Then take two tiny sips.”
She did, looking confused at first, then contemplative. “It’s not my thing, but it’s a lot more flavorful than I would have expected.”
The bartender set a margarita in front of her, and she smiled. “Fruity and tart is a bit more my speed.” She slid it over to me first. “Do you like these?”
“I’ve never had one,” I admitted.
Her purple sparkle fingertips shoved it closer. “Try it.”
I took a sip, making a face as if I were in complete agony to make her laugh. Then I took another sip and raised an eyebrow. “Not my thing, but I get it. If you were on a patio somewhere tropical, this would be super refreshing.”
“Exactly,” she smiled.
I slid my stool a few inches closer to her, needing to feel her almost against me. “So, Lindsay,” I asked, “Are you going to tell me about your giggling friends? Are the three of you trying to pull a heist, and you need a driver with a fast car?” That adorable laugh was almost more than I could take.
“They mean well,” she said. “But sometimes they’re a bit pushy. See, I’m really shy around men, and they’ve been encouraging me to try to learn to talk to guys.”
My bottom lip thrust out in a dramatic pout. “I’m just a science experiment to you? And here I thought we were bonding over cocktails like a real couple.”
Lindsay giggled again, leaning in a bit closer. “Well, I’m really glad that it forced me to come talk to you.”
“So am I.” Sliding an arm around her back, I held her against me. “Is this all right?”
She nodded eagerly.
“I saw you when I first came in, but I would never have the nerve to go talk to a girl when she was in a group. And yet here you are, brave enough to walk over to a strange man.” I flashed her a wink. “I’m completely impressed by how bold you are.”
“I’m not brave,” she whispered. “I’m still completely shaking.”
Holding up her hand, I saw that her fingers were indeed twitching. Taking her hand in mine, I kissed the back of it, watching her eyes as she smiled. Then I turned it over to gently kiss along the inside of her wrist. Those deep blue eyes opened wide, then I watched a shudder flow through her.
Taking a sip of whiskey, I chilled my mouth, then kissed her inner wrist again, sucking gently at her tender skin. This time she gasped, and I could just imagine the soft noises she would make in my bed someday.
“Lindsay, I really like you,” I said, hoping that it sounded more seductive than aggressive. “Will you come out with me tomorrow night?”
She nodded dreamily. “You mean like, dinner or something?”
I grinned. “Or something. You’ll have to trust me.”
Pulling out my phone, I created a new contact for her, holding it up so she could enter her number. I sent her a text immediately but didn’t hear anything.
“Oh, my phone is in my purse back at the table,” she said. I glanced over to see her friends nearly jump from a sound on the bench beside them.