"Whatever you want, Alex."
I grin."To a fantastic day with a handsome man who better satisfy all my needs."
His low, rumbling laugh shoots straight to my core."Time will tell.But first..."His eyes lock with mine."What do you find attractive about me?"
"Oh, feeding your ego, Walker?"I gesture to our surroundings."But after all this, you deserve it."I study him, heat building under my skin."Physically?Your height, that broad build.That deep voice that could melt steel.Those blue eyes that probably make women faint.But I'm sure you know all that."
His lips curve into that devastating half-smile.
"And those muscles," I continue, leaning across the table to trace the edge of his shirt."Which should definitely be on display at a beach.Why don't you lose this and give me something to look at while you answer the same question about me?"
He grins, fingers moving to his buttons."Most men would call you plain sexy.I prefer naturally seductive."
My tongue darts out to wet my lips as his chest comes into view, button by button revealing pure masculine perfection.
"Your aura radiates femininity and seduction.But what truly draws me to you is your fiery spirit, that sass mixed with genuine care.The way you connected with Samantha from day one - that's when I knew you were special."
He shrugs off his shirt, draping it over his chair.My eyes feast on the defined muscles of his chest.Heaven.Pure muscular perfection.
"Alex, stop eye-fucking me.I'm trying to be a gentleman here, to relax and talk.But you're making it hard."
I slide my foot under the table, brushing his obvious arousal with my toes."Oh yes, I can feel exactly how hard," I say innocently, tilting my head."What did you want to talk about?"
His eyes narrow to slits."Your actions will have consequences."
"I'm counting on it," I purr, withdrawing my foot and picking up my fork.His growl of frustration fills me with satisfaction.Now we're both burning.I take a bite of salad, moaning at the explosion of flavors.
"That good?"
I look up to find his gaze scorching over me."Yeah."
"What's your dream, Alex?What do you want from life?"
I sit back, taking another sip of wine."Happiness.I want to fill my life with people and things that bring joy.And I want to keep helping women through fashion."
"What aspect of your work do you love most?"
"Helping women feel good about themselves.We live in a society that profits from women's self-doubt.Too often they come in with low self-esteem or distorted self-image, even wealthy clients.I've made it my mission to help them overcome that, teaching them to dress for their body type.When you love what you wear and feel confident, you radiate that energy."
His lips curve into a knowing smile."Have you always loved your body?"
I snort."Hell no.As a teenager, I obsessed over magazine models, convinced I was ugly.Then my mom sat me down and said, 'Alisha, beauty begins the moment you choose to be yourself.Comparing yourself to others only breeds unhappiness.Just be you, sweetheart.'She was right.Being myself was the best decision I ever made."
"The world needs more parents like that," Cole says softly."Unfortunately, that's a utopia."
We fall into comfortable silence, enjoying our meal.I study Cole as he gazes into the distance, lost in thought.There's so much more to this man than meets the eye, and I want to unravel every layer.
I've learned his grumpy attitude only surfaces when he's stressed or worried about someone he cares for.He's all-in with everything he does - the way he stepped into fatherhood without hesitation, how he opened up to Samantha about his demons and his past.It was soul-stirring watching him share the piano room with her.
Then there's our attraction - like a dormant volcano when we're apart, but the moment we're together, it erupts with unstoppable force.My eyes trace the defined muscles of his chest.
"You're doing it again."
His deep voice sends that simmering heat inside me to boiling.I meet his blue eyes, deliberately provocative."What am I doing?"
"Eye-fucking me.Stop it."
"No."I slide my foot between his legs again.My body's satisfied its hunger for food.Now it craves something else entirely.His gaze follows my foot as I rub against his hardness, and his answering growl sends shivers of excitement through me.
