“When was the last time a man you fucked, or wanted to, took you out for dinner?”
Rae considers as she starts down the sidewalk next to me. I get the feeling she’s weighing something bigger than an offhand comment.
“Never.”
It’s my turn to be stunned.
“That would require someone to ask me,” she goes on, “and for me to say yes.”
“Endless complexity,” I say dryly, but I’m fascinated. “Let’s start simple. You tell me what’s bothering you. I fix it, or use noncommittal male vocalizations to empathize.”
She laughs, and the sound pleases me long after her smile fades once more. “I approached Wild Fest about a spot next spring. One of the recruiters is coming to my show next weekend in Long Beach. It would be a huge deal. They’ve never had a DJ headline who wasn’t in the top twenty of Billboard’s Top 100 DJ list.”
We start down the concrete steps to the beach.
“I’ve met the cofounders. I could—”
“Don’t you dare intervene for me,” she says. “I need to do this on my own.”
“Even if it was partly my fault your career was hindered? For the record, I don’t feel an ounce of guilt,” I go on. “The media will watch you and judge you as if it’s their job. Your job is to live your life.”
I take the last three steps to the beach as Raegan pauses to pull off her heels. When she straightens, I take advantage of her busy hands to lift her by the waist and set her on the sand in front of me. She’s close enough her body brushes mine through our clothes.
“Just because you can do something yourself doesn’t mean you should.” I skim my hand around to her ass and squeeze lightly. She sways closer, and I bend my lips to her ear. “Goes for all manner of things, love.”
When I step back, her eyes are nearly black.
We’re surrounded by people, but I wish we were alone.
I want to run my fingers down between her legs, see if she’s wet.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she murmurs.
With every taste of her, I only want more.
It’s startling and unnerving.
Rae’s attention drifts past me, and I turn to see a food stand, half a dozen patrons clad in swimming trunks and casual wear waiting to order. I want to recoil on instinct, but she doesn’t look away.
Fuck me.
“You want tacos.” The three words land heavy in my gut.
“No.” Rae turns back, pasting on a quick, false smile I never want to see again. “The restaurant is fine.”
I’ve never been with a woman who didn’t want the most elegant things I could give her. Rae’s differences are challenging to understand, but I want to try.
That’s why I pull out my phone.
“What are you doing?” she demands.
“Texting the concierge to cancel.” When I’m done, I hold out a hand for her shoes. “If we’re going to eat at a restaurant with a queue, at least I can carry these for you like a gentleman.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Too damn bad.”
She hands them over, but the wry shake of her head has me frowning as we take our spot at the end of the queue.