“What’s the matter, Park? You seem a little agitated,” Lizzy cooed like a cat playing with a cornered mouse.
“I’m fine,” he squeaked. He waved his hand faster, craning his neck to get noticed by a passing server.
“I’ll be right with you,” the server said with a friendly, unhurried smile, and disappeared behind the kitchen.
Jack gave up and sank into his chair, avoiding looking at Lizzy. When he heard a small sigh across the table, he finally met her eyes and said plaintively, “Let’s just have some fun.”
Her face fell in disappointment. “So you want to keep things… the same?”
“And different.” He reached across the table to take ahold of her hand.
“This dress is different.” She arched an eyebrow in challenge.
“Yes, it’s very different.” Without his permission, his gaze roamed her body, and heat flooded his veins again.
“In a good way?” she asked, her eyes skittering to the side.
“In a very good way.” His heart wrenched at her uncertainty. “You’re so beautiful. I can’t breathe properly when I look at you.”
“Then why do you want to watch me make an asshat out of myself?”
“Because breathing is an important aspect of a human being’s life,” he said with a dry smile.
“Didn’t you get the memo? Breathing is overrated.”
He pulled her hand close and kissed her knuckles. Her eyelashes fluttered, and a tremulous breath left her lips.Holy shit.He carefully placed her hand back on the table. “And I can’t lose my head.”
“Why not?” Her chin tipped up in challenge.
“Because you’re you.” How else could he explain that he couldn’t risk losing her? That she was too important for him to rush into this?
“Well, being me is starting to sound like a drag,” she grumbled.
“All right, folks. What can I get you started with?” At long last, the server materialized at their table and handed them the drink menu.
“I’ll have the lemon shochu,” Jack said, picking the first drink he saw on the menu. He glanced quickly at Lizzy. “And I think she’s sticking with water.”
“No, I’ll have the lychee shochu,” she corrected him, and smiled. “We’re going to have some fun.”
Once the server left with their orders, Jack laughed with relief and gratitude. “You’re not going to make an asshat out ofyourself because I plan to be the biggest goofball this town has ever seen.”
“Yeah, right.” Lizzy rolled her eyes. “Every time you sing at karaoke, someone always comes up to you and tells you to go onAmerican Idol.”
“That’s because they haven’t seen me dancing.” He winked at her and earned himself a twinkling laugh.
“Oh, please don’t.” She gave him an exaggerated cringe. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
“If you can sing up there, then I can dance.”
“Asshole,” she said, reaching across the table to slap his shoulder. “Fine, boogie away.”
“Ow.” He rubbed his stinging shoulder. Lizzy had spicy hands. It was the Korean description for people whose slightest tap smarted like a son of a bitch. Spicy hands or not, he grinned like a fool at her. “Let’s get this party started.”
“I wonder which one of us will get us thrown out of here first,” she murmured.
Sipping their shochu cocktails, they studied the songbook like they had a final exam on it the next day. He planned to crash and burn to take the heat off Lizzy and chose the perfect song for his public humiliation.
“I’m up,” he said, and took one more gulp of his drink.
