Jake smiled, feeling as if he scored a point. “Then we have something in common.”
She returned the smile. “I’ve only been eating sushi for the last year or so. I was always too scared to try it.”
“My parents forced us to a long time ago. I protested the entire time until I actually took a bite.” He shook his head, remembering what a jerk he’d been that night. Thirteen and full of shit, he didn’t know why his parents hadn’t smacked him upside the head for his sullen behavior. “It was even worse when I had to admit I liked it.”
Mia laughed, the sweet tinkling sound sending an electric current jolting through his body. His skin felt hot and tight and the urge to reach out and touch her was so strong he curled his hands into fists to stop himself.
Had he ever reacted this way toward a woman this quickly before?
“Don’t you hate it when parents are right?” she asked, her blue eyes sparkling.
It would be so easy to drown in those eyes.
“I do,” he agreed with a slight nod. He literally felt dazed. Where did the sappy thoughts come from? “Want to sit?”
She shook her head slowly, her gaze sliding toward the empty barstool and then back to him. “No, thank you.”
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
“I’m afraid if I hop onto that stool—” she flicked her fingers toward it, “—my skirt might ride up, and I’ll flash you and the entire bar.”
Hell. The thought of a glimpse of what lay beneath that dress sent his temperature spiking about two hundred degrees. He jerked at the collar of his navy blue polo shirt. “I guess that would be awkward.”
“Terribly so.” She bit her lip as if to contain a laugh that might want to escape. “I don’t normally flash my goods on the first date.”
Pity that. He couldn’t help his gaze from wandering down the length of her body or how it lingered upon the slight curve of her breasts, the womanly flare of her hips. That dress did things to her body that could be considered downright illegal.
“You’re staring,” she whispered, knocking him from his thoughts.
He tore his gaze from her legs and met her slightly amused gaze. “Sorry.”
“I don’t know whether to be insulted or flattered,” she murmured. Her voice had lowered an octave, gone husky and sexy, and he wondered if that’s how she sounded in bed. Right as she whispered in his ear before he made her come.
“Definitely flattered.” He found himself inexplicably drawn to her. If he went with his true urge he’d leave the restaurant with her. Take her somewhere quiet and secluded and kiss her senseless. Peel her out of that dress and discover exactly what she hid beneath it.
His name was called, and he caught sight of the short, dark-haired hostess clutching two menus in her hand and waving at him.
“Our table’s ready,” he said, taking Mia’s arm and leading her toward the doorway that connected the bar to the dining area.
“Good. I’m starved.” She smiled and the sight of it went straight to his dick.
He was starved all right. But not for food.
God, he didn’t know if he’d be able to make it through the night.
His worry had proven correct. He’d barely held onto his control. They talked, they ate and he stared at her like some sort of lovesick fool. She was restrained in her mannerisms. Her voice a sweet melody, she gestured a lot with her elegantly manicured hands but in a very controlled way. Which of course turned his thoughts to sex, and he wondered if she was that controlled in bed.
What he would give to make her fall apart. To make her writhe beneath him and cry out his name, to see her naked body covered in sweat and hear her demand he give her more. Hell yeah, that sounded fucking fantastic…
She was smart, she could hold her own when he challenged her in conversation and he realized she was nothing like any of the women he’d ever dated.
That was the thing he liked about her the best.
Mia was a lady. Polite and raised right and pretty and clean. He’d gone out with more than a few bimbos. He’d gone out with girls who were easy to get drunk, easy to get into bed and easy to leave.
Jake had a strong feeling if he got to know her better, Mia wouldn’t be easy to leave. At all.
That realization should’ve scared the hell out of him.