Chapter 3
RYAN
Iput a hand on the small of Rose’s back as I guide her through the swinging doors and into Fast Joe’s.
The place is quiet since it’s not yet late enough to get the rush of drunk people leaving the surrounding bars. The tables are scattered in front of a counter lit by fluorescent lights; it’s not the type of place that encourages customers to stick around for long.
After we take a seat in the corner at a small table, Rose studies her menu in silence while I study her.
She’s pretty in an unconventional way, with youthful skin and round cheeks. Her forehead pinches together as she reads the menu. If she’s nervous being here with me, a stranger, she doesn’t show it.
“What’s your favorite pizza?” I ask as I pick up my menu.
“Hawaiian,” she says without hesitation.
“Me too.”
She looks up and smiles. It’s maybe her first genuine smile of the night, and I already crave more.
I want to make her smile like that as much as I can tonight.
“I would’ve had you down as a meat lover’s guy.
” Her gaze flicks to my arms resting on the table, the muscles of my forearms clearly visible. She’s checking me out, and I like it.
“Hawaiian all the way for me and with the pineapple, thanks.”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Of course. It’s got to have pineapple. Otherwise, it’s just a ham and cheese pizza.”
“So you’re definitely in the pineapple belongs on pizza camp?”
“Oh yeah. The sweetness offsets the saltiness of the ham. It’s…” She does a chef’s kiss.
I like this playful side of Rose. She caught my attention at the bar with her looks and attitude, but now that we’ve left it, she’s lowered her guard a little and become more relaxed. I find myself enjoying our time together even more than I expected.
My lips quirk up. “It’s nice to meet a woman who appreciates the symbiotic relationship between ham and pineapple.”
I’m rewarded with another smile. “I didn’t have you down as a guy who used the word ‘symbiotic’ either.”
I chuckle. “We’re not all knuckle draggers in the military.”
She raises her eyebrows at me. “Fifteen minutes in that bar back there, and I beg to differ.”
“Spend fifteen minutes with me, and I’ll convince you otherwise.”
Her eyes smolder as our gazes lock. Heat courses through my veins, and my gaze darts to her ruby-red lips. I imagine Rose spread out before me, kissing her so hard I wipe the lipstick right off her mouth.
“Do you want to share a Hawaiian?”
I’m brought back to the moment and the smell of fresh pizza dough and baked cheese. She wanted to go straight to the hotel, and I’m the chump who insisted on stopping here first. Not a chump. A gentleman, I remind myself as I slide out of my chair, hoping she doesn’t notice the tenting in my pants.
“I’ll go order.”
A few minutes later, I’m back at the table with two cans of soda. As I slide into my seat, Rose leans forward.
“You want to play a game?”
I eye her mock-warily. “Does it involve electrical tape and lemons?”
“What? No.” She presses her lips together, trying not to laugh.
“Phew.” I pretend to be relieved. “Then I’m in.”
She wiggles forward in her seat. “Aside from both agreeing pineapple belongs on pizza, let’s see if we agree on the other big issues.”
“And by big issues, you mean…?” I get the feeling she’s not talking about foreign policy, which suits me just fine.
“I’m going to ask a question, and we have to answer at the same time.”
She’s smiling now, and the haunted look is gone from her eyes. I’m not the only one who’s enjoying the light relief.
“Cats or dogs?” she asks.
“Dogs,” we say at the same time.
“Spring or fall?”
“Fall.” We both raise our eyebrows as we answer together.
“Mountains or beach?”
“Mountains.”
She laughs, and I chuckle with her. “We might be the perfect match.”
“Baseball or football?”
I say baseball at the same moment she says football.
She wrinkles up her nose. “Not quite the perfect match.” She takes a sip of her drink, but her eyes remain on mine, smiling.
“I’ve got one,” I say. “Doughnuts or cupcakes?”
She cackles, and a bit of drink comes out of her nose, making her laugh harder. “Sorry, but you don’t look like the kind of guy who eats cupcakes.”
I put a hand over my heart, mock offended. “I’m not too manly to enjoy a little chocolate frosting.”
She raises an eyebrow at me. “Okay, then. Doughnuts or cupcakes?”
“Doughnuts,” we say together before cracking up. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so free.
When our order is called out, I get up to collect the pizza. It isn’t the type of place that does plates, so I grab a stack of napkins and bring the pizza box back to the table.
As I open the box, the fresh smell of warm pizza wafts out of it, and Rose closes her eyes, breathing in deeply. “That smells good.” She takes a slice of pizza, dragging a trail of gooey cheese with it, then takes a large bite and nods appreciatively.
I grab a slice, and we eat in silence for a few moments.
“I skipped dinner,” she admits before grabbing another piece.
She glances down at her slice, and the troubled expression creeps back onto her face. I wonder how many meals she’s skipped lately. Was she too nervous to eat? Did whatever have her heading to a bar to pick up a man keep her from eating?
I long to ask, to find out more of her story, but I don’t want to make her sad.
The last half hour of chatting has been the most fun I’ve had since I found out about Mom.
And it may be the same for whatever demons are chasing Rose.
All I can do is help her forget for a night and hope it does the same for myself.
She takes another piece, and I choose one for myself. She’s not delicate or self-conscious, and I love that she’s enjoying her food.
Rose eats this one more slowly, savoring the taste. As she takes a bite and closes her eyes, I watch, mesmerized, as she lets out a little moan.
My blood heats, and I forget about my pizza as I watch her enjoy hers. When her eyes flutter open, she finds me watching her.
“We should get to that hotel room,” I murmur.
She holds my gaze, and for a moment, I think she’s going to back out, which would be a damn shame. I’m enjoying my time with her.
But she gives me a small smile and holds up a finger. “I’m going to have to finish this first. It’s too good.”