02 Buck Naked by Desiree Holt Read Free Book Online Page B

more comfortable this way, I’m fine with it.”
    She could actually see the tension drain from his body. Whatever this was, sooner or later she was going to find out. But for tonight she’d just concentrate on enjoying herself.
     
    The hostess led them to a corner booth where the lighting was dim and enhanced only by the glow of the candle on the table. Watching Amy walk in front of him, hips swaying with a natural rhythm, it had taken every bit of his self-control not to smooth his hands over her body. The fact they were in a public place was a great deterrent. He’d promised himself to go slow tonight, not leap on her like a starving man. Try to take his signals from her. If and when the stories of his past came out—and he had no doubt that at some point they’d surface—he hoped she’d have a picture of a man totally different from the one he’d been. And know he wasn’t capable of such a savage crime.
    Amy ordered a glass of white wine, but he settled for his usual black coffee. She looked at him across the table, curiosity in her eyes.
    “I noticed you didn’t drink the other night either,” she said. “Any special reason?”
    “Alcohol doesn’t agree with me.” He forced a smile. “Does that make me socially unacceptable?”
    She laughed, a light, musical sound. “No. Just an object of curiosity. Of course, for me it puts you at the top of the list.”
    “Oh?” He raised an eyebrow.
    “Uh-huh. Before he settled down, Matt could drink anyone under the table. And often did. Sometime we’ll get him to tell you about the night he and Reenie met.” She studied him and then set her wine glass aside.
    “Amy, don’t leave your drink just because I’m not having one. I’m aware that I’m usually the odd man out.” Too bad he hadn’t started this years ago.
    “Don’t give it a thought.” She took a sip of her ice water. “Actually I’d have to say being sober makes an evening more memorable.”
    “Okay, then.” And he planned on thoroughly enjoying every minute of this night, as well as making it memorable. For both of them.
    Watching her eat was another seductive episode. She cut her meat carefully, chewed slowly, the enjoyment plain on the face. When she scooped some of the fully loaded baked potato into her mouth, he couldn’t stop himself from reaching across the table and catching one bead of the potato at the corner of her lip. It reminded him of the smear of mustard when they’d had lunch.
    She looked at him when he touched her, and for a moment he was afraid she’d brush his hand away. Then she smiled and very slowly ran her tongue over her lip. In an instant, he was almost painfully hard, his cock begging for freedom from restriction. He imagined those full lips wrapped around him, pulling on him, and took a healthy swallow of coffee to distract himself.
    Amy lowered her eyes to her plate, that same little smile playing at her lips, as if she knew exactly what she was doing to him. By the time they got to the chocolate cake, he was nearly ready to rip off her clothes in the restaurant. And she, the little minx, was well aware of it. He could barely even remember all the things they’d talked about during the meal. And watching her slowly eat a slice of Heavenly Chocolate Cake almost had him pulling her across the table then and there. Who knew a meal could be so sensual?
    They had finished the last of their coffee, the mood surrounding them one of intimacy and heat, when a man walked by with his friends. One of them stopped and turned back to their booth. Buck didn’t recognize him, but he knew his kind—slick, moneyed, arrogant. Full of himself. Was he a friend of Amy’s? No, couldn’t be. Amy was looking daggers at him.
    “Hey, short stuff.” As the man touched her hand, his mouth turned up in a self-confident grin. “Where you been keeping yourself?”
    “Same place as always.” She yanked her hand away from him. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
    “Aw,