Unmatchable (9 page)

The connotation behind his words makes me blush. I know he's thinking of something perverted.

“
I guess I'll just have to wait and see when we get there.”

“
Well, you're no fun.”

“
I could have told you that.” I smirk.

“
Maybe some wine will loosen you up.” He draws a circle on my knee with his index finger. Electricity shoots up my leg from the contact. Part of me doesn't like that he's touching me, but a needy, neglected part of me does.

“
I know better than to drink around you.” I stare at his hand, considering brushing it away.

“
I promise I'm not the monster you're making me out to be.”

“
Oh?”

“
I'm worse.” His grin turns wolfish, and my nerves spike thinking that he's going to advance on me. He doesn't. Instead, he keeps his distant. That teasing distance where he's close enough to touch me. Close enough for me to inhale his scent.

We pull onto South Shepherd Drive and stop in front of the Backstreet Cafe, a large 30's-era house that's been transformed into a restaurant. As I gaze up at the lighted windows, immaculate landscaping, and tall trees, I can't help but think that this is a lot closer to what I had originally imagined when he said we were going to a restaurant. A lot closer, but not quite.

“
This is nice,” I mumble as I step out of the limo.

“
You approve?” He glances over at me.

“
That depends on the menu.”

“
It's not sushi. I promise.” He winks at me, and I feel the butterflies in my stomach flutter. What he can do to me with just one look. I hate to think how I'd feel if things got intimate between us.

The hostess leads us through the building and onto the patio. It's a perfect night to dine outside. The sun has been down just long enough to cool the air but not make it too chilly. We're seated next to a large fountain, which gives the place a romantic feeling. It reminds me of a date that Richard would take me on. That sours my mood a bit. I wonder if I have as little in common with Colton as I do with Richard. If that's the case, I might not want to see him again. While the physical attraction between us is out of this world, if I don't feel like I can connect with him on some level emotionally, this definitely won't work.

Why are you thinking about that? Dating him is just temporary, remember. You shouldn't be taking this so seriously.

When our waitress places the menus before us, I'm thankful that everything on them is somewhat familiar. For the things that I don't know, there's a description printed next to the item.

Colton orders a Moscow Mule and then glances over at me to see if I'd like any alcohol. I politely decline and order water instead.

“
I wouldn't take you for a fruity drink kind of guy.” I watch him continue to look over the drink menu even though he already ordered.

“
I like to live a little from time to time. Drinking the same thing all of the time gets boring.”

“
So you don't have an old faithful?”

“
An old faithful?” he laughs.

“
Yeah. Something you would normally order.” I make a circular gesture with my hand.

“
I've never heard it called that before.” He pulls his chair in a bit closer to the table. The metal legs make a scratching sound against the brick floor. “If I had a drink of choice, I'd say it's brandy. That's my go-to when I'm too lazy to make myself something else. Generally, I tend to drink whatever I feel in the mood for at the time. But I'm certainly not a snob about alcohol. I can enjoy a cheap beer just as much as an expensive bottle of wine. I'm really not picky.”

“
Hm. Whoda thunk it?” I continue looking over the menu to avoid making eye contact with him even though I already know what I plan on ordering.

“
What about you? What's your poison?”

“
If I'm out with co-workers, margaritas. If I'm at dinner, wine, typically.”

He wrinkles his nose. “I'm not much on margaritas. A lot of places make them too tart. Gives me reflux.”

“
That makes you sound like an old man,” I laugh.

“
Has anyone ever told you that you have a beautiful laugh?”

I glance at him over my menu and immediately regret it. His charming smile makes something inside of me melt, and that wetness goes straight to my panties. He looks like a model sitting lounged back, his leg crossed over his knee and his elbow resting on the arm of his chair with just the tip of his index finger touching his jaw.

Thankfully, the waitress saves me from having to respond by coming to take our order. I order the fried green tomato salad, and Colton orders the lamb shank. He asks if I want anything else, and when I decline he adds an appetizer of duck spring rolls to our order.

“
I refuse to allow you to eat like a bird around me,” he tells me once the waitress has left.

“
Demanding much,” I huff at him, though I'm not really annoyed. I'm too nervous to have much of an appetite, despite the fact that everything on the menu looks delicious.

“
Sometimes.” He winks at me.

“
Are you always this bold?” I place my napkin across my lap.

Colton cocks his head to the side in thought. “Most of the time.”

“
So tell me a little about yourself. You told me I'm going to get to learn about the real you today.”

“
You'll learn about the
rea
l
me later.” His eyes suggest a different meaning.

I give him a sarcastic look. “I'm being serious. How did you get to be so rich and arrogant?”

“
Wow. You make me sound like a total snob,” he chuckles.

“
You know what I mean.”

“
Well, if I'm being completely honest, I was born to privilege. My parents own the mineral rights to about two dozen oil wells in West Texas. On top of that, they also collect real estate. Ambition runs in my family.

“
I have two siblings, both older than me. Mary, my eldest sister, is a doctor. My other sister, Joyce, is a model. She's currently in Jamaica doing a photo shoot. And then there's me, immersed in buying out struggling companies and turning them into profitable ones.”

“
I wasn't aware that Full Hearts was struggling.” I take a sip of my water. “Then again, Freddie almost never talks about the business in regards to profits and losses and what not.”

“
He doesn't strike me as the most competent person when it comes to effectively running a business.”

“
What makes you say that?”

“
He kept you on to scare away customers, didn't he?”

The comment is biting. It makes me feel like a bad employee and even worse...a bad person. Colton is making it sound like I'm the reason the company has been suffering.

“
He could have always just fired me.” I allow my agitation to shine through.

“
I can see why he didn't.” He swirls the ice in his glass.

“
And why is that?”

“
I think that somewhere beneath that snarky, rude exterior is a nice person.”

“
I was only doing my job, you know?” I avert my eyes.

“
That's bullshit, and we both know it. I spoke to Freddie Montanez about you, and he told me that he specifically created that position to match your personality type.”

“
If that's true, then why don't you just fire me?”

“
It seems we both have a soft spot for pretty, snarky girls.”

I exhale a defeated breath. “So you're saying that you just created the online sales associate position for me. Just like Freddie created the other position for me.”

“
Not really.” He glances away, perhaps realizing that the conversation is upsetting me. “I did want to implement a new online chat client for the website. It's the progressive thing to do. But yes, I also wanted to save your job.

“
I like you, Ember. You have a good work ethic. As you so brazenly pointed out to me in your office earlier, you've worked for the company for three years. You almost never call in. And it's definitely not like there isn't a place for you there.”

“
This isn't making me feel any better, you know.” I'm beginning to wish I would have ordered some alcohol.

“
I know. You asked, though, and I wanted to be honest with you. Honesty is very important to me.” He meets my gaze as he says it.

“
Is that why you were such a liar in your dating profile?”

“
That was different.” He grins.

“
Was it?”

“
It's obvious that this conversation isn't headed in a good direction. We've already argued about this once today. Let's find something else to argue about.” His eyes brighten in amusement.

“
I don't want to argue anymore,” my voice is small.

“
Then tell me about your family. I told you about mine. I'm guessing that you were not born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

“
Is it that obvious?”

“
No, it's not. I'm just making conversation.”

“
Oh.” I sink back into my chair.

The idea of talking about my family makes me uneasy. It's not a happy subject.

“
My parents are still married. I also have two siblings. Brothers. One older, one younger. My younger brother has autism.”

“
I'm sorry to hear it. That must have been hard for you growing up.”

I inhale deeply. “I don't want to talk about my family anymore.”

“
Why not?”

“
This is getting a bit too deep for a first date. How about we talk about something else?”

The waitress saves me from any further awkward conversation by bringing our appetizer. We nosh on the spring rolls, and I hum at how tasty they are. When all of the food is gone, I worry that Colton might ask me more questions about my family and past. Thankfully, he decides to change the subject, though I'm not exactly comfortable with this one either.

“
So what's a beautiful girl like you doing single?”

“
I could ask you the same thing, but the answer is already quite clear to me.” I turn the tables on him.

“
Oh? So tell me, my dear, why do you think I'm still single?” He smirks in amusement, eagerly awaiting my answer.

“
Because you're the self-serving type. Settling down probably isn't in the cards for you. Frivolous sex is more convenient. Did I hit the nail on the head?”

“
Yes and no.” He tilts his head from side to side. “Believe it or not, I have had serious relationships in the past.”

“
Until you figured out that you didn't need one to get laid.” I take a long sip of water.

“
No one needs a relationship to get laid. I'm sure that getting laid is easy for you too.”

“
Except I'm not interested in that.”

“
Why not? Sex is amazing.” He shifts his weight.

That queasy feeling returns to my stomach. Memories flood back to me like salt being poured into an open wound.

“
I haven't had the best experiences with sex,” I confess.

“
Then you haven't had it with the right men.”

“
Are you saying that you could make it better for me?” My heart thuds in my chest as I realize I'm taking things in a direction that I shouldn't.

“
I could.” He leans forward and props his elbows up on the table.

“
I don't believe you.” I turn my nose up to him.

His mouth falls open for a split second. “Miss Washington, I'm hurt.” The mocking in his tone is so thick that I can't help but laugh. “But believe me, I'm well equipped to take care of all of your needs.”

“
I don't believe you. A pretty face
an
d
a big dick. Sounds like a fairytale fantasy to me.”

“
I'll show you later if you're game.”

When he winks at me, I turn about fifty shades of pink. Why did I try flirting with him? I'm definitely outmatched.

Our food is delivered, and everything tastes absolutely delicious. The fried green tomatoes in my salad crunch in my mouth but aren't too greasy. The blue cheese gives it just the bite of flavor it needs.

Colton seems to be enjoying his meal as well. We eat in near silence, which suits me just fine. I spend most of the time trying to decide if I enjoy the date or not. We're still feeling each other out, but I do find him amusing. He seems interested in my life but doesn't push too hard on the subjects that I obviously don't want to talk about. For that, I'm grateful. Plus, despite his filthy mouth, he actually is being quite the gentleman.